Important Nutrients During Pregnancy

     When you become pregnant, you also become the target of many companies seeking to sell their vitamin supplements. Prenatal supplements undoubtedly remain a very profitable market, but are they really that important? Should pregnant mothers be consuming them? Do you consume them? Feel free to comment below about your experiences with them, positive or negative, then read on to find out why we need these certain vitamins, and if we may benefit from supplementation.
     According to the March of Dimes, the main nutrients of concern for pregnancy is folic acid, iron, calcium, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Folic acid is included in most prenatal vitamins, and prevents birth defects of the brain and spinal cord. It may also protect women against stroke and cancer. Iron, also found in prenatal vitamins, helps the muscles in the mother and baby develop during pregnancy, prevents anemia, and can lower the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight at the time of delivery. Calcium, another vitamin commonly found in prenatal vitamins, maintains strong bones and teeth, and ensures a healthy nervous, muscular, and skeletal system. When a mother does not consume enough calcium during pregnancy to support her baby, the body will take some from her bones in order to maintain the fetus' health, which can have devastating effects on the mother's bone health and osteoporosis risk. Last but not least, DHA, which is an omega-3 fatty acid, helps to support the development and function of the baby's brain and eyes. Although it may be hard to find prenatal vitamins containing DHA, some contain DHA is a separate bottle on the side.
     Unfortunately, the March of Dimes failed to consider bioavailability of these vitamins when writing this article. Bioavailability is the "degree to which our body can absorb and utilize any given nutrient" (Thompson & Manore, 2014, p. GL-1). This is important to consider because although pregnant women need calcium, their bioavailability of this vitamin becomes more efficient, and therefore her recommended consumption does not increase. However, folic acid does become critical during the baby's development, and should be consumed even before the mother is expecting. Another thing this article failed to mention was possible interactions between these vitamins, especially calcium and iron. Calcium has been shown to inhibit iron absorption, and should therefore be consumed separately. Furthermore, animal sources of iron (commonly referred to as heme iron), is absorbed easier by our bodies, especially when consumed with vitamin C.

Photo from Nutrition: An Applied Approach, Page 521

      In conclusion, this article mentions the importance of certain vitamins during pregnancy, but also omits important information, such as bioavailability as discussed earlier. While women should certainly pay attention to these critical vitamins during pregnancy, and ensure adequate intakes as a result of their implications on health, they should also approach this cautiously and with an understanding of how our bodies absorb these nutrients. For the most part, these nutrients can be consumed through a highly nutritious diet, but supplementation may be necessary for certain situations, such as if the mother is a vegan. Before supplementation, however, it is important to consult with a physician to reduce the risk of interactions with current medications that may be taken. Women using supplements should also be sure that certain vitamins are not contained in excessive amounts that exceed the RDA, especially vitamin A, which can cause toxicity and lead to birth defects if ingested in large amounts.

Photo of Spina bifida from Nutrition: An Applied Approach, Page 522 (result of folic acid deficiency)

References

Thompson, Janice, and Melinda Manore. Nutrition: An Applied Approach. 4th ed. San Francisco, CA: Peason Education, 2014. Print.

 March of Dimes. "Vitamins and Minerals During Pregnancy." Eating and Nutrition. March of Dimes Foundation, June 2014. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. <http://www.marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/vitamins-and-minerals-during-pregnancy.aspx>.