Did You Know Just That Many Cancers Are Linked To A Vitamin Deficiency?
Prenatal Vitamins: A Primer
Prenatal Vitamins: A Primer
By: Dr. George Obikoya
A
prenatal supplement is a vitamin and mineral supplement
you can take daily to make sure you're getting the right
amount of certain important nutrients during pregnancy.
Unfortunately, though, since the Food and Drug Administration
doesn't regulate what goes into supplements, there are no
set standards for what should be in them. It is, therefore,
up to you and your doctor to make sure you choose one that's
safe and appropriate for you. A high-quality liquid multivitamin
will provide you will all the vitamins and minerals needed
for you and your baby.
Do
you really need prenatal vitamins? Fifty percent of birth
defects can be prevented by pregnant women taking prenatal
vitamins before pregnancy. The quantity of folic acid required
by the fetus cannot be obtained by diet alone. By taking
vitamins as early as three months prior to becoming pregnant,
you are ensuring the health and well being of your future
baby.
What
should you look for in prenatal vitamins? You should in
general look for one that has more of folic acid and iron
than you can get from your diet. Just as important is that
it should not have more than the recommended amounts of
other nutrients. This is particularly so of vitamin A. Too
much vitamin A made from animal products can cause birth
defects. Ensure you are taking a prenatal vitamin or a multi-vitamin
with under 10,000 IU of vitamin A.
This
is one reason that most prenatal supplements contain vitamin
A at least partly in the form of beta-carotene, a nutrient
that you get from fruits and vegetables that converts to
vitamin A in the body. Unlike vitamin A from animal products,
which has been known to cause birth defects when taken in
high doses just before conception or during pregnancy, beta-carotene
is not toxic in high doses.
Also
too much iron in a prenatal vitamin will be poorly absorbed.
So, check on its amount in the supplement you plan to buy
too. When considering absorption, know that liquid vitamins
absorb 5 times better than do pill vitamins.
Your
doctor may recommend that you start taking a prenatal supplement
at your first prenatal checkup. If so, you may be given
a prescription for a particular prenatal vitamin or just
suggest that you buy a particular over-the-counter brand
at the drugstore. If you do take a prenatal supplement,
make sure you're not taking any other vitamin or mineral
supplement along with it unless your doctor so recommends.
Ask
your doctor to prescribe a daily prenatal multivitamin that
contains the recommended amounts of vitamins and minerals
you need for a healthy pregnancy. Folic acid is especially
important. You need 600 micrograms daily, because it helps
prevent neural-tube defects such as spina bifida. Consider
raking calcium supplements if you can't make the quota of
at least 1,000 milligrams a day. And steer clear of herbs
and other botanicals, as their safety remains to be proven
during pregnancy and lactation.
If
you're taking vitamin supplements to try to prevent birth
defects, you may not be getting what you pay for. Back in
1997, a researcher at the University of Maryland at Baltimore
found that just three of nine prenatal multivitamins he
tested released enough folic acid to meet recommended standards,
and some greatly missed the mark. To be sure you get enough
folic acid daily, buy supplements with a USP symbol on the
label and take them with food to enhance absorption unless
directed otherwise by your doctor.
The
use of 0.4 mg folic acid from 3 months before conception
has been shown to reduce the risk of neural tube defects
by 73%. No reduction has been shown in women who start folic
acid after 6 weeks' gestation. It is, therefore, important
that you start folic acid supplementation well before you
become pregnant.
If
you're healthy and you eat a very balanced diet and has
no specific risk factors, some will say you need not take
a prenatal supplement but that you need to take 400 micrograms
(mcg) of folic acid a day plus that you get in your diet
is not contended. Indeed, it is recommended that you start
doing so at least a month before you become pregnant and
during your first trimester.
Since
half of all pregnancies are unplanned, the U.S. Public Health
Service recommends that all women of childbearing age take
400 mcg of folic acid a day because there is research evidence
research that this can reduce the risk of neural tube defects
in your baby by up to 70 percent.
Most
prenatal supplement contain between 600 and 1,000 mcg of
folic acid. You can get your folic acid from a separate
folic acid supplement. If you've previously had a baby with
neural tube defects, you'll need to take 4,000 mcg, or 4
milligrams, of this vitamin each day starting at least a
month before you become pregnant.
Because
most women don't get enough iron in their diet, prenatal
vitamins can ensure that you do. You need to have enough
iron in your body to meet its increased needs during pregnancy.
It is recommended you take 27 mg of iron per day during
pregnancy, 50 percent more than you need when you're not.
Most prenatal supplements contain between 27 and 60 mg.
Your
body makes a lot more blood when you're pregnant to support
your growing baby, and as a result, the iron stores in your
blood can get quite low. To avoid getting iron-deficiency
anemia during pregnancy, most women need to take a supplement.
For some women, the amount in their prenatal supplement
is enough, but others may need to take even more during
pregnancy. Ask your doctor to tell you just how much you
need. Your prenatal blood work will guide your doctor in
doing so.
Unlike
with folic acid, except you are anemic before getting pregnant,
you should wait until you are pregnant or even until you're
through your first trimester to take extra iron, since high
doses of the mineral can make nausea and constipation worse.
Women with iron-deficiency anemia are usually advised to
take between 60 and 120 mg of supplemental iron each day
in addition to a prenatal supplement.
Women
with certain health issues, dietary restrictions, or pregnancy
complications need to take a prenatal supplement, including
folic acid and iron. This group of women includes vegetarians
and vegans, women who are lactose-intolerant or have certain
other food intolerances, smokers and women who abuse other
substances, women who are having twins or higher multiples,
and women with certain blood disorders and certain chronic
illnesses.
A
good multivitamin is the foundation of health and nutrition.
Take a look at our scientific reviews of many of the popular
brands for factors such as ingredients, areas of improvement,
quality level, and overall value. If you are looking for
a high quality liquid multivitamin, we suggest that you
take a look at the Multivitamin Product Comparisons.
http://www.vitamins-
nutrition.org/vitamins/prenatal-
vitamins-primer.html
