Pregnancy multivitamins ((usually)) 'are a waste of money'

[nitpicker]

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-36765161

Pregnancy multivitamins 'are a waste of money'

6 hours ago

From the section Health

Pregnancy multivitamins are a waste of money because most mothers-to-be do not need them, according to researchers.

In Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, researchers say they looked at all evidence and found supplements did not boost the health of mothers and babies. But pregnant women should make sure they take folic acid and vitamin D, as well as eating a well-balanced diet, as per NHS guidelines, they add.
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The researchers said folic acid had the strongest evidence to support its use - taking 400 micrograms a day can protect against abnormalities called neural tube defects in the developing baby. Vitamin D - 10 micrograms a day - is recommended for healthy bones in the mother and baby.
(snip)

A supplement that can be dangerous in pregnancy is vitamin A. Too much can harm the baby.
(snip)

Janet Fyle, from the Royal College of Midwives, said: "We would encourage women who are pregnant or are thinking of becoming pregnant to have a healthy, varied diet including fresh fruit and vegetables, alongside taking folic acid supplements. We would also stress that there is no need for pregnant women to 'eat for two'. This is a myth, and all that is required is a normal balanced amount of food."
(snip)

[SheilaT]

1. Well, gosh.

My oldest is 33 and I understood quite clearly more than three decades ago that prenatal vitamins were a crock.

As are almost all vitamin supplements. The idea that most of us are dangerously lacking in essential nutrients is nonsense. Well, maybe if all you ever eat is fast food, that's different. But if you eat an even semi-balanced diet, you'll be okay.

[merrily]

2. Too much Vitamin A can harm anyone. So, pregnant or not, don't take too much Vitamin A.

Too little of many nutrients can be harmful, too, though, so a pregnant mom should make sure she's getting enough of them.



AFAIK, it's been decades since anyone thought it a pregnant mom needed to eat more than she and the fetus actually need. However, she is in fact eating for two and should be mindful of nutrition. And since controlled substances are horrific for the fetus, I'd worry a lot more about mothers indulging in them than I would about nutritional supplements or a preganant mom putting on weight.

[Mona]

3. contradictory

Pregnancy vitamins are a waste, oh, but be sure to take your folate and D. Uh, okay....

In an ideal world, IF we ate a balanced diet and IF our soils weren't depleted, then we could get enough nutrition from what we eat. However, IMO, that's not the case nowadays. As with many things, this is on a spectrum - we can be deficit in a nutrient without showing gross deficiency.

It should also be noted, that a number of women actually don't process folic acid well and need a non-synthetic form of folate. This is due to a MTHFR polymorphism.