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Prenatal Vitamins

WebMD the Magazine - Feature

Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD

Q: If prenatal vitamins are extra good for you when you’re pregnant, why not take them all the time?

A: These specially formulated multivitamins are designed to ensure pregnant women get all the extra vitamins and minerals essential for the development of a healthy baby and to meet the increased nutritional needs of mom, too. They also benefit women who are trying to become pregnant and new mothers who are breastfeeding.

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Specifically, prenatal vitamins deliver a bigger boost of folic acid (between 800 and 1,000 micrograms a day, much more than the 400 micrograms a day needed by women of childbearing age) to help prevent neural tube defects and iron, which helps ward off anemia.

They also contain amounts of other vitamins and minerals -- including niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, and vitamin C -- that may be dangerous. For example, vitamins A and D can be harmful when taken in large quantities.

The rest of us should focus on getting all our nutrients from a rich and varied diet. If you want to fill the nutritional gaps in your diet, take a once-daily multivitamin formulated for your age group.

Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD/LD, WebMD Nutrition Expert

Reviewed on November 01, 2007