From ingesting Flintstones gummy vitamins as a child to searching for endless supplements at the health food store as an adult, we have worked to find a diet rich in enough vitamins and minerals for good health. Similarly, we are well aware of the benefits of taking prenatal vitamins before and during pregnancy. It is true that all the bottles on the shelf, like many other ingredients, start to mix after a while.
Here we break down the difference between prenatal vitamins and regular multivitamins, and when it's safe (and recommended) to take them.
What is included in prenatal vitamins?
Prenatal vitamins are designed to meet the nutritional needs of the body of a pregnant woman. “Your calorie and nutrient requirements increase during pregnancy, and a typical pregnancy diet leaves gaps in your nutritional needs. That means you're depriving yourself of the essential nutrients your body needs to function and thrive," says Sherry Ross, MD, Women's Sexual Health. specialist, She-ology , and author of She-quel. "Complete prenatal vitamin c," he explained. It's the perfect insurance policy to help you find what you're missing in your diet and give you extra nutritional advice during pregnancy."
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), these key nutrients include folic acid, iron, calcium, vitamin D, choline, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and vitamin C. “These special vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants are essential to support the healthy growth and development of children, especially for the development of the spine, bones, brain and red blood cells, ”said the doctor. Ross said.
Among all these nutrients, folic acid is one of the most important for the healthy development of a child. It's important to make sure your prenatal vitamin contains between 400 micrograms and 1 mg of folic acid. Ross said. "Folic acid has been shown to reduce the incidence of spina bifida, also known as neural tube defects." These include spina bifida and anencephaly.
Iron is also important. “Iron supplements are very important in delivering more oxygen to the growing baby and placenta,” says Dr. Ross. "Maternal blood volume increases by 50%, so it's important to add more iron."
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How are prenatal vitamins different from regular multivitamins?
You won't find much difference between the ingredient list of prenatal vitamins and multivitamins for women. What you see are certain elements of different sizes .
"The main difference between prenatal vitamins and multivitamins is the amount of folic acid and iron," says Sara Toogood, board certified OB/GYN and founder of Women's Health in Los Angeles. “Women of childbearing age often take folic acid and iron,” she says, “albeit in small amounts. Omega-3 fatty acids and choline are found in prenatal vitamins and are not always found in standard multivitamins, but calcium is limited or not included in prenatal vitamins and can be taken separately.
See below for a comparison of the amounts of ingredients found in three vitamin products from the same company.
Folic acid | Metal | Omega 3 | Colin | |
Advanced prenatal once a day | 800 mg | 27 mg | 235 mg | 110 mg |
Full Daily Dose of Women's Multivitamin | 400 mg | 18 mg | 0 mg | 0 mg |
50+ Complete Multivitamins for a Woman Per Day | 400 mg | 0 mg | 0 mg | 0 mg |
Are prenatal vitamins safe if you are not pregnant?
Almost anyone can benefit from taking a daily multivitamin, says Dr. Both are good. "Most of our nutrition should come from the food and drink we put into our bodies, but our diet isn't perfect. Everyone has days when they make poor food choices." If you want to take prenatal vitamins instead of regular multivitamins, Dr. Don't worry, especially if you think you might become pregnant in the future. No. “Many pregnancies are unintended, so taking prenatal vitamins such as multivitamins can be very helpful,” she says.
But if you are taking other vitamins and/or mineral supplements at the same time as prenatal vitamins, the risks begin to show. Dr. Ross says, "It's generally not recommended to take large amounts of vitamins and minerals because they can have harmful effects on other organs in your body."
One of the most prominent examples is iron, which is commonly found in prenatal vitamins and can cause constipation, constipation, nausea, indigestion, vomiting, diarrhea, or serious complications if taken in excess. The upper daily intake limit for iron for non-pregnant adults is 45 mg, and vitamins for pregnant women is usually 27 mg. So, if you're eating iron-rich foods like red meat, poultry, and beans and you're not pregnant, you can stick to a standard low-iron multivitamin.
Similarly, non-pregnant people may experience some annoying issues when taking high doses of prenatal vitamins. Dr. "Many women who take prenatal vitamins and minerals may experience nausea, constipation and diarrhea, which can prevent them from taking them," says Ross.
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There are additional considerations when choosing between prenatal and regular vitamins.
There are a few additional factors to consider when deciding whether to take prenatal or regular multivitamins. First, you can get pregnant relatively quickly. “It is helpful to take prenatal vitamins at least three to six months before conception,” the doctor said. Russia. "Ideally, you want to take prenatal vitamins consistently for optimal health benefits and a healthy pregnancy."
It may also be helpful to start taking prenatal vitamins before trying to conceive to make sure they are right for you. Some of the ingredients in vitamins may vary depending on the formula.
You don't want to spend money on vitamins your body can't use, so it's also important to eat the nutrients. One simple test: look at your urine. If it is bright yellow, it means you are taking in and excreting more vitamins in your urine than your body needs. Or, if you're only taking the recommended amount, this could be a sign that the multivitamin you've chosen isn't breaking down as quickly as it passes through your digestive system, and you may want to choose a different formula.
In any case, if you have questions about which multivitamin is best for you, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor or health care provider. “Don’t think that taking any vitamins and minerals is good,” says the doctor. Toogood said. What is good for one person may not be good for another.
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