vitamin_eVitamin E, which is dangerous in pregnancy

By contrast, high consumption of retinol – the biologically active form of vitamin A – had no statistically significant effect on risk.

Dr. Steegers-Theunissen and colleagues point out that high levels of vitamin E “may change the imbalance of oxidants / antioxidant status (extra) embryonic tissues.

Other possible mechanisms of teratogenicity of high vitamin E, say, would include the modification of genes involved in embryonic heart development and inhibition of a protein involved in detoxification of drugs and endogenous toxins.

The researchers gave support to “future studies (that) focus on such benefits as the teratogenic effects of natural and synthetic antioxidants on reproductive outcomes.