A prenatal vitamin is a dietary supplement designed to provide the nutrients and minerals needed for a healthy pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) states that taking prenatal vitamins and nutrients should provide all the vitamins and minerals needed during pregnancy.
Prenatal vitamins are important for pregnant women because the growing fetus needs certain nutrients that are difficult to obtain from food.
Forbes Health Advisory Board Member and Director of OB-GYN, MD, Ph.D. "Fetal development is rapid and requires a lot of metabolism depending on the right amount of amino acids and nutrients," says James Griffon of the NYU Langone Fertility Program. : Center and CEO of Inception Fertility in New York.
ACOG recommends that pregnant women consume specific amounts of calcium to help build strong bones and teeth, iron to carry oxygen to the fetus's red blood cells, iodine and choline for brain development, and folic acid to prevent birth defects. . He also recommends vitamins A, B6, B12, C and D, which provide benefits ranging from promoting healthy skin and vision to building red blood cells. While many of these nutrients can be obtained through a healthy diet, a prenatal vitamin provides extra assurance that your daily nutritional needs will be met, no matter what's on the menu.
Getting the recommended amount of some nutrients, especially folic acid, can be difficult, even when eating a healthy diet. For example, ACOG recommends that pregnant women consume 600 micrograms of folic acid per day to prevent birth defects of the brain and spine during pregnancy. Although some folate can be obtained from foods such as fortified grains and green leafy vegetables, ACOG recommends taking a prenatal vitamin supplement to make sure you're getting the recommended amount.
