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To raise a healthy baby, you need to get enough nutrients during pregnancy.
However, we are concerned that too many people rely on “pink” multivitamins instead of following a healthy diet to replenish these nutrients.
These supplements are widely promoted for people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant. Includes shopping list for folic acid, iodine, iron, vitamin D, vitamin B12, calcium, and other vitamins and minerals.
Multivitamins during pregnancy are almost always a waste of money. At worst, you risk harming you and your baby.
Most only need folic acid and iodine
Official dietary advice only recommends two dietary supplements before and during pregnancy: folic acid (folate) and iodine.
Folic acid supplements are recommended from one month before pregnancy until the first three months of pregnancy. The recommended dose to reduce the risk of neural tube defects (such as spina bifida) in newborns is 400 micrograms per day. Folic acid requirements remain high throughout pregnancy, and some people may be prescribed higher doses of folic acid or other forms of folic acid based on their individual medical needs.
There is a mild iodine deficiency in Australia, so anyone who is pregnant, breastfeeding or considering pregnancy should take a 150 micrograms of iodine supplement per day to support their baby’s brain development. there is. If you have thyroid problems, please consult your doctor first.
However, depending on individual circumstances, someone may need to take other nutrients during pregnancy. For example, if you are a vegetarian or vegan, you may need to take vitamin B12 or iron supplements as advised by your health care provider. People diagnosed with deficiencies such as vitamin D or iron are prescribed supplements to increase their vitamin D levels. People at risk for certain health conditions, such as preeclampsia, may need to take calcium supplements starting in the second trimester.
So why are multivitamins so popular?
Multivitamins are touted as an important part of the pregnancy toolkit, and maternity care providers often prescribe them.
In Australia, we found that more than four in five women take a multivitamin during pregnancy. People think of this as “insurance” to ensure adequate nutrition.
Our study using data from a cohort of pregnant families in Queensland suggests that socio-economic factors influence the likelihood of using multivitamins during pregnancy. We found that those who had access to private maternity care and health insurance and who ate more meat (all of which are associated with having more money) were more likely to take advantage of them. Ta.
This is not surprising considering the high price tag. The most popular pregnancy multivitamins cost at least AU$180 when taken in the month before pregnancy and throughout pregnancy. Compare this to less than $40 for a supplement containing just folic acid and iodine when taken for the same period of time.
Expensive brands are not necessarily better. Prices are determined primarily by public perception of brand quality and are influenced by strong marketing. Most vitamins are expensive at best because excess is excreted through the urine.
What happens if there are too many?
Our study found a high degree of reliance on supplements, especially folic acid, iron, and iodine, to meet nutritional requirements.
People’s diets already provide adequate levels of these nutrients, and taking additional supplements risks nutrient excess.
For example, in our study, more than 1 in 20 people had high levels of folic acid intake (above the safe “upper intake limit”). Almost half of the study participants exceeded the upper limit for total iron intake. Virtually all of them were taking multivitamins and had higher than normal blood levels of each nutrient.
Consuming folic acid above the upper intake limit is associated with shorter baby height at birth, lower cognitive development levels in children, and higher risk of childhood asthma. However, the recommended 400 micrograms per day of folic acid supplementation from the first trimester onwards may be beneficial for children’s cognitive development, although further studies are needed before this can be routinely recommended. Probably.
High doses of iron increase the risk of high red blood cell concentrations in pregnant women. This condition increases the risk of pregnancy complications, including a baby being small for gestational age, stillbirth, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and low birth weight.
Looking at iodine, we found that about one in four pregnant women taking multivitamins in our study had very high intakes, which was associated with lower neurodevelopmental scores in their children. I understand.
You’re probably getting enough nutrition.
Multivitamins are appropriate in low- and middle-income countries. These may improve weight gain during pregnancy, newborn weight, and reduce the risk of premature birth.
In high-income countries like Australia, food is highly diverse. There is also a mandatory fortification program, with folic acid and iodized salt being used in conventional bread production since 2009.
In these countries, frequent use of multivitamins can pose risks to both maternal and fetal health. These include gestational diabetes (which can be caused by too much iron) and the development of autism spectrum disorders in children.
However, some people do not accept Any Supplements during pregnancy. Our study, which looked at supplement intake around 28 weeks of pregnancy, found that those under 30 years of age and those with lower household incomes were least likely to take supplements. These are the same groups that generally have poor diets.
What should I bring?
You should look for a supplement that only contains the recommended doses of folic acid and iodine, or take these as separate supplements.
Mothers should work closely with their obstetric provider and perhaps a certified nutritionist to focus on getting enough from each of the five food groups.
Supplements should not replace a whole food diet. There are benefits to eating a variety of foods that contain many complementary nutrients and other compounds that cannot be obtained from supplements. Following dietary guidelines may also save you money.
Health care providers also need to stop routinely recommending these expensive “pink” multivitamins and instead focus on encouraging people to eat healthily. Besides folic acid and iodine, supplements should only be prescribed according to a person’s specific needs. Multivitamins aren’t in everyone’s pregnancy toolkit.
