Earlier this summer I spent several days investigating the composition of prenatal vitamin and mineral supplements. Part of the reason I became a supplement sleuth was because Leslie asked me to do that for Bellybar. The other part of the reason was I needed information on currently available prenatal vitamin and mineral supplements for the chapter on Nutrition and Pregnancy I write for a lifecycle nutrition textbook.
I am still getting over the mess I found. Having worked with Leslie and Meredith on the scientific rationale for the nutrient formulation of Bellybar, I had certain standards in mind. First and foremost, I was looking for prenatal supplements that provide reasonable amounts of nutrients most likely to be lacking in the diet of women of childbearing age. These nutrients include vitamin E, vitamin B6, folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, and DHA or DHA + EPA (the important omega-3 fatty acids).
Next, I looked for “filler nutrients” on the label. These are nutrients such as pantothenic acid, biotin, thiamin, and selenium—nutrients most women get plenty of in their diets. Filler nutrients, as I call them, make the list of nutrients given in the Supplement Facts panel look long and impressive, but they are unnecessary and increase the chance that nutrient-nutrient interactions will decrease the absorption of needed nutrients.
Finally, I looked for the inclusion of non-nutrients in prenatal supplement formulations. I hit bingo here. I found prenatal supplements that contain ingredients such as seaweed, (which is not a recommended source of iodine for pregnant women), enzymes, borage, and don guai. None of these have been demonstrated to benefit fertility, pregnancy, or breastfeeding. Some prenatal supplements contain ingredients that are not considered safe for use in pregnancy. Others provide unreasonably high levels of vitamins and minerals, or around 200% of the %DV and beyond.
If you’re in the market for a prenatal supplement, look for a product that contains vitamin E, vitamin B6, folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, and DHA or DHA + EPA. Look for reasonable does levels on the Supplement Facts panel, and beware of supplements that contain non-nutrient ingredients. Plan on getting most of the nutrients you need from a healthful diet that includes 5 or more servings of colorful vegetables and fruits daily. Buy and use iodized salt.
Over the last 4 years Leslie and I have had many discussions about the optimal nutrient formulation of Bellybar products. That changes with time as more is learned about nutrient and health relationships before, during, and after pregnancy. What has not changed is the commitment to making evidence-based decisions about nutrients and dose levels that are in the best interests of women and their babies. It’s the mother in us that makes sure we do that.
**Judith Brown is Professor Emerita of the University on Minnesota School of Public Health and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is the author of “What to Eat Before, During, and After Pregnancy” published by McGraw-Hill, and of Nutrition Now, a Wadsworth/Cengage introductory nutrition textbook. She edits and is an author of Nutrition through the Lifecycle, a textbook also published by Wadsworth/Cengage.
