VITAMINS: SUPPLEMENTATION DURING PREGNANCY
Question: I am trying to become pregnant. Can you tell me which vitamins I should be taking, and if there are any vitamins I should avoid?
Answer: A woman who is planning to become pregnant needs to be concerned about nutrition. Pregnancy requires extra energy and nutrients, and proper nutrition plays an important role in the normal development and growth of a fetus.
One of the most important vitamins a woman of childbearing age should take is folate (folic acid). You should take 400-800 micrograms of folate daily, both before and during pregnancy.
Some other important nutrients that often must be taken in supplement form are calcium (1,200 milligrams [mg] daily), iron (30 mg daily), protein, phosphorus, zinc, and magnesium. Most prenatal vitamin formulas provide the necessary vitamins for a healthy pregnancy.
It is important to realize that with vitamin supplements, there can be too much of a good thing. Excess doses of many vitamins can lead to health problems. This is true in pregnancy as well. Generally, pregnant women should take about 800 retinal equivalents (about 2,700 international units [IU]) of vitamin A daily. Most women can get that much from diet alone. In fact, taking supplements may be harmful in doses higher than 10,000 IU daily, which is the dose of vitamin A in many commercial multivitamin supplements. Vitamin A is fat soluble, which means that it can build up in the body and not get washed out in the urine like most of other vitamins do.
If you are planning to become pregnant, you should meet with your doctor to discuss proper nutrition and whether or not you should take a prenatal vitamin supplement. If you have any other questions, ask your doctor.
