Most Prenatal Vitamins Fail to Deliver
When I practiced medicine as a board certified Ob/Gyn in Atlanta, Ga., I recommended a high-quality, full-spectrum multi-antioxidant, chelated mineral supplement brand to my pregnant patients. In addition, I suggested they take highly purified fish oil capsules, extra calcium-magnesium, and an over-the-counter iron tablet to complete what I felt was a fully rounded prenatal nutrient regimen for the mother’s and baby’s optimal health.
Studies indicate that most prescription prenatal vitamins do not adequately release the folic acid (folate) they supposedly contain. Most prenatal vitamins do not have a full-range of minerals; and what they contain is usually not in what I consider adequate amounts. Pregnancy is a time for extra calcium (on the order of 1000 to 1500 mg per day) and magnesium (on the order of 200 to 600 mg per day), not the relatively small amounts contained in prenatal vitamins.
It wasn’t until the last 4 or 5 years that it has become standard to put pregnant women on DHA (an omega-3 fatty acid) supplement for the development of the baby’s brain and eyes (among many other benefits). This was something that I was recommending to my patients well over 12 years ago. It only became ”acceptable” for doctors to do this once a pharmaceutical company marketed DHA capsules to Ob/Gyn offices, as if anything done outside of what’s provided by a pharmaceutical company is “alternative medicine,” ….a topic for another day.
Although a pregnant woman needs to be careful about fish oil capsules, as organic residues and PCBs can be a problem, I only recommended a supplement brand that I knew was “pharmaceutical grade.” Fish oil capsules do not need to be produced by a pharmaceutical company; the nutritional supplement brand that I recommended to my patients follows Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) that were designed for the pharmaceutical industry, and are producing pure and potent supplements, including fish oil capsules.
The fish oil that I recommended to my patients is highly purified through a double distillation process, and free of PCBs and organic residues. (Needless to say, the capules are free of mercury and other heavy metals that can become a problem by consuming fish.) My general recommended dose of fish oil was at least 2000 mg per day; though I preferred my pregnant and lactating patients to bump that level up to 4000 mg per day.
One last concern that I’ll mention at this time, and that is the fact that, according to laboratory analysis of prescription prenatal vitamins, most prenatal vitamins lack adequate iodine levels or they are highly inconsistent in the levels of iodine they contain. Most prescription prenatal vitamins have the minimum level of iodine (150 micrograms per day) that is required for pregnant and lactating women listed on the label; however, when analyzed the TRUE AMOUNT contained in the tablets was found to be much less!
Fetal thyroid development and functioning is dependent on adequate dietary intake of iodine by the mother. This, in turn, is critical for the brain functioning and normal neurological development in the newborn. It has been shown that even a modest iodine deficiency can adversely affect the development of the baby’s cognitive development. Mild to moderate mental retardation, or developmental delay are very possible outcomes due to an iodine deficiency.
The Institute of Medicine recommends a daily intake of 220 micrograms per day during pregnancy (the amount that is in the broad-spectrum essential multi-antioxidant and chelated mineral supplement regimen I recommend), and 290 micrograms per day while breast feeding. The World Health Organization recommends a flat 250 micrograms per day during both periods of pregnacy and lactation.
Iodine deficiency is the leading preventable cause of mental retardation worldwide, affecting more than 2.2 billion people. Only 28% of prescription prenatal vitamins and 69% of over-the-counter multi-vitamins marketed in the United States even listed iodine as an ingredient on the label. This is concerning enough, and the fact that most do not even have the stated amounts of iodine within the tablet (from 50 to 76% of what is stated), is even more evidence that everyone needs to find a supplement brand that they can trust.
Tags: breast feeding, calcium, DHA, essentials, fish oil, iodine, lactation, magnesium, mental retardation, minerals, Nutritional Supplements, omega 3 fatty acids, pregnancy, prenatal vitamin, prenatal vitamins, thryoid, usana
December 4th, 2008 at 8:01 am
What are your thoughts on krill oil?
December 4th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Certainly, krill (an ocean shrimp-like crustacean that feeds on phytoplankton) is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids. People use krill oil for the same reasons they supplement with fish oil. and it provides similar health benefits to the cells, cholesterol, joints, brain, and eyes. Two of the main differences between krill oil and fish oil are that krill does not cause a fishy aftertaste or burp, and krill has higher levels of an antioxidant (astaxanthin) derived from a red algae that is consumed by krill. (It is this red alage that krill, shrimp and lobster consume that give them their unique coloring).
Certainly, I am in favor of krill oil, like I am in favor of fish oil. If a person choses to use krill oil that is great. My main concern, as usual, whether a person is supplementing with fish or krill oil is that people get quality supplements: supplements that are both potent and pure …free of toxins, PCB’s, and organic residues.
The fish oil that I take contains a bit of lemon oil which eliminates the fishy burp, as well as additional vitamin D to help eliminate the vitamin D deficiency epidemic (please see “In the News Updates” on my website about vitamin D). Most importantly, my main concern is that any supplement one is taking is of the highest purity and potency available.
December 4th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
If nursing mothers taking USANA taking Biomega and Essentials and Active Calcium, does the baby also need to take vitamins or is the baby getting enough through mother’s breast milk?
December 10th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Joyce, certainly a breast-feeding woman taking the high quality USANA supplements (the Essentials, BiOmega, Actical, and an over-the-counter iron tablet) is taking supplments far greater than any prenatal vitamin available, and nutrienting her body to the best of her ability, …. the suckling baby is certainly going to benefit from the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids that will be secreted in the mother’s milk.
However, I am unaware of exactly what levels of each individual nutrient is being secreted, and therefore do not know the exact dose that an breast-feeding infant is obtaining. (Certainly, it is more healhty than any other supplements or prenatal vitamin a mother could take, but I am unaware of the exact dose.)
To answer the question as to whethre the baby “needs” additional vitamin/mineral supplementation through infant drops, the only answer can be that it is not a bad idea, especially if the pediatritian recommends it. It could not hurt, and may only help. Either way, it’s not going to be “too much” for the baby.
December 11th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Hi Ladd. Why Usana supplements (the Essentials) not contein iron?
December 11th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Iron is certainly an essential mineral, critical for hemoglobin to carry oxygen for metabolism and life. Too little iron and one is anemic, too much and a problem known as hemochromatosis could occur. Too much iron could permanently damage the liver and heart, and result in death.
The only way to lose iron is through blood loss; otherwise the body recycles and re-uses iron. Women lose iron with menstrual bleeding. If a man is anemic, or in the case of a non-menstruating women colon cancer needs to be ruled out. During pregnancy, a woman’s blood volume will increase by 50%, and therefore she will require more iron. The body will actually absorb more iorn when there is a need. However, in the face of iron supplementation, even without a need for more iron the body will absorb it and it will get deposited in organs …leading to hemochromatosis.
So, iron supplementation is a balancing act. Not all anemias are due to an iron deficiency. Iron deficiency anemia needs to be properly diagnosed, AND more importantly, properly treated with iron. Repeat blood tests for resolution of iron deficiency anemia need to be done so that a person does not get an iron overload.
About 5 children die every year in the U.S. from iron overload (consumed through taking too many kids vitamins, which they eat in place of candy).
Some companyies, such as USANA, choose not to put iron in their products to avoid the iron overload potential. Therefore, it is up to each individual to have regular check ups, and if iron is required let the doctor recommend and follow such treatment.
Otherwise, iron levels remain fairly stable from an adequate diet once the body has adequate iron stores.