How Much Folate Is In A Prenatal Vitamin
A supplement that contains just folic acid During pregnancy, take a prenatal vitamin each day that has 600 mcg of folic acid in it. Folic acid only works to prevent NTDs before and during the first few weeks of pregnancy. Later in pregnancy, you need 600 mcg of folic acid each day to help your baby grow and develop.
Ease Constipation With These Remedies
- Drink plenty of water with your prenatal vitamin.
- Add more fiber to your diet, like whole grains, oats, and fresh fruit and veggies.
- Add natural prebiotics and probiotics to your diet, like yogurt, bananas, and onions.
- Ask your doctor about taking other supplements that help ease constipation, like fish oil and probiotics.
- Try a prenatal vitamin with less iron in it.
If youre getting a lot of side effects, like itching and stomach irritation, the fillers or additives in some prenatal vitamins might just not suit you. Ask your doctor about switching to a different kind or brand of prenatal vitamin.
What Prenatal Vitamins Have Folate
Best with Methylated Folate: MegaFood Baby & Me 2 Prenatal Vitamins. Folate is a key nutrient for women during their reproductive years, but it’s important to get the right form. Many brands use folic acid, the synthetic form of folate, but this form isn’t necessarily the most bioavailable for everyone.
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Additional Benefits Of Folic Acid Supplementation
In addition to the prevention of NTD, periconceptional supplementation with folic acid also appears to have other beneficial effects, including the prevention of congenital heart disease and oral clefts4245 and possibly preterm birth . The mechanism by which folic acid prevents structural anomalies in the fetus is not known, but may involve the regulation of homocysteine metabolism.46
Q Is It Possible To Consume More Folic Acid Than Is Recommended
Folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin, which means that any excess you ingest will be excreted. In principle, this means that exceeding the RDAs for folic acid is not harmful. A high level of folic acid, on the other hand, might hide B12 deficiency by masking its symptoms, which can be progressively detrimental in the long term. As a result, health organizations such as the World Health Organization advise against exceeding the recommended folic acid upper intake limit of 1000mcg per day.
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How Much Folic Acid Should I Take
The recommended dose for all women of childbearing age is 400 mcg of folate each day. If you take a multivitamin every day, check to see if it has the recommended amount. If for some reason you don’t want to take a multivitamin, you can take folic acid supplements.
Here’s how much folic acid is recommended each day in terms of pregnancy:
- While you’re trying to conceive: 400 mcg
- For the first three months of pregnancy: 400 mcg
- For months four to nine of pregnancy: 600 mcg
- While breastfeeding: 500 mcg
Other Vitamins And Minerals
Some types of prenatal vitamins may also include the following vitamins and minerals:
- Docosahexaenoic acid : This type of omega-3 fatty acid supports your babys brain and eye development.
- Iodine: This mineral supports the development of your babys brain and nervous system. While pregnant, you need 220 mcg of iodine each day.
- Choline: This nutrient is key for your babys developing brain and spinal cord. Its recommended that people who are pregnant get 450 mg a day.
- Vitamin A: This vitamin helps form healthy skin, eyes, and bones and is involved in immune function. Healthcare provider recommend that you get 770 mcg each day .
- Vitamin C: This vitamin supports healthy gums, teeth, and bones. You need 85 mg total each day .
- Vitamin D: This vitamin also helps your baby grow teeth and bones. People who are pregnant need 600 international units per day.
The optimal balance of vitamins and minerals can vary depending on your health history, diet, and nutritional needs, so talk to your healthcare provider before choosing one type of prenatal supplement over another.
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What Are Prenatal Vitamins And When Should I Start Taking Them
Prenatal vitamins are specially formulated supplements designed for pregnancy, and most contain a similar balance of key nutrients to support the health of mom and baby. “These all help with either development in the baby, or they help mom maintain her levels of certain vitamins and minerals,” says Nicole Rankins, M.D., an OB/GYN and site director of the OB Hospitalist Group in Norfolk, Virginia.
Dr. Rankins suggests ideally starting prenatal vitamins three months before you hope to conceive. That’s because women who take supplemental folic acid a key component of good prenatal vitamins before they get pregnant can reduce the risk of neural tube defects .
However, given that many pregnancies in the U.S. are unplanned or mistimed making preemptive vitamin-taking challenging! give yourself some grace if you didnt start taking prenatals early. “Don’t beat yourself up, just take them as soon as possible,” says Dr. Rankins. Make sure to also ask your healthcare provider about continuing to take a prenatal after you give birth and finish breastfeeding .
Is Folate The Identical As Folic Acid In Prenatals
This vitamin has been clinically proven to stop neural tube defects , that are start defects that have an effect on the spinal twine and mind improvement. Vitamin B9 may be present in two completely different types: the shape thats mostly present in prenatal nutritional vitamins is understood as folic acid and the opposite is folate.
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Dha Boosts Baby’s Brain Power
Many prenatal vitamins contain an omega-3 fatty acid called docosahexaenoic acid or DHA. This healthy fat is critical for the development of the brain and nervous system. The brain is 60 percent fat, therefore fat is necessary to help grow a baby’s brain.
The primary source of DHA is fatty fish, but many women are told to limit fish intake due to concerns over mercury contamination. Low intake of omega-3 fats has been linked to a lower IQ, prematurity, autism, and ADHD. Limiting fish can therefore reduce the intake of healthy fats during pregnancy, making DHA’s role in prenatal vitamins particularly important to help supplement the mother’s diet and support the baby’s growing brain.
Possible Prenatal Vitamins Side Effects
The iron in prenatals can cause constipation, and you may also have low appetite, stomach cramps, dark stools, and diarrhea. You can ease your symptoms by:
- Drinking a lot of fluids.
- Eating more food rich in fiber.
- Getting more physical activity.
Other prenatal vitamins side effects that can appear include:
- Back pain.
- Hives.
- Teeth staining.
Let your doctor know if you are taking pain relievers, heart medications, high blood pressure pills, sulfamethoxazole, or diuretics, as these can have negative interactions with prenate pills. Your healthcare provider can advise you on when to start taking prenatal vitamins.
Now, we can move on to the next section: Do prenatals help you get pregnant? where we will address the following question: Do prenatal vitamins make you fertile? and also discuss when to start taking prenatals.
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Vegetarian Vegan And Special Diets In Pregnancy
A varied and balanced vegetarian diet should provide enough nutrients for you and your baby during pregnancy.
But you might find it more difficult to get enough iron and vitamin B12.
Talk to a midwife or doctor about how to make sure you’re getting enough of these important nutrients.
If you’re vegan or you follow a restricted diet because of a food intolerance or for religious reasons, talk to a midwife or GP.
Ask to be referred to a dietitian for advice on how to make sure you’re getting all the nutrients you need for you and your baby.
Find out more about healthy eating if you’re pregnant and vegetarian or vegan.
How To Get Enough Folic Acid To Prevent Neural Tube Defects
In addition to eating foods with folate from a varied diet, women can get folic acid from
- Taking a vitamin that has folic acid in it:
- Most vitamins sold in the United States have the recommended daily amount of folic acid that women need for the prevention of neural tube defects. Vitamins can be found at most local pharmacy, grocery, or discount stores.
If taking folic acid for reasons other than neural tube defect prevention, talk to your healthcare provider.
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What About Other Nutrients
There are other nutrients that may improve the health of your pregnancy. Your doctor can help you decide if you need to take supplements that include:Omega-3 fatty acids: These fats, which include DHA and EPA , come only from food sources such as fatty fish and nuts. Studies show omega-3s can lower your risk of preterm birth and of having a baby with low birth weight. If you donât eat much food thatâs rich in omega-3s, ask your health care provider if a supplement is right for you.
Choline: Although your body can make some choline on its own, you get most of it from food. Rich sources include beef, pork, chicken, fish, and eggs. Many pregnant women donât get enough choline, which the baby needs for healthy brain growth.
Selecting A Multivitamin Containing Folic Acid
For women who can become pregnant, health care professionals play an important role in motivating them to use supplements . To ensure proper use of multivitamin supplements:
- Use the âKey messages on folate for women of childbearing ageâ to write or talk about folic acid supplementation during the childbearing years.
- Encourage women to look for a multivitaminFootnote 13 that provides 400 mcg of folic acid per daily dose. The product should also include vitamin B12.
- Advise women that prenatal supplements contain higher amounts of nutrients than are usually needed by women who are not pregnant. A non-prenatal multivitamin supplement is often enough. Following this advice can help women avoid taking excessive amounts of nutrients over time.
- Ensure that women look for a Drug Identification Number or Natural Product Number on the product label showing that the product is government-approved for safety, efficacy, and quality.
- Emphasize the importance of reading product labels. Some supplements may include cautionary notes about their use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Caution women not to take more than one daily dose. This will help women not go over the Tolerable Upper Intake Level for vitamin AFootnote 14, which is 3,000 mcg retinol activity equivalent or 10,000 IU.
- Remind women to keep all supplements stored out of reach of young children.
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What Are The Health Benefits Of Taking Folic Acid During Pregnancy
Approximately 3,000 babies are born with neural tube defects in the United States each year. Normally, the neural tube develops into the spinal cord and brain by 28 days after conception.
If the neural tube doesnt close properly, neural tube defects occur. Anencephaly is a condition in which the brain doesnt develop properly. Babies born with anencephaly cannot survive.
Babies born with spina bifida or encephalocele may face multiple surgeries, paralysis, and long-term disability.
According to a
Research also shows folic acid supplementation in early pregnancy may help prevent cleft lip and cleft palate.
These birth defects occur if parts of the mouth and lip do not merge together properly during the first 6 to 10 weeks of pregnancy. One or more surgeries are usually needed to correct the condition.
Nature Made Best Vitamins With Dha
Brand Overview
Nature Made is the brand that people trust for their daily vitamins, and it is available in nearly every grocery shop. This is why they have a large number of clients who purchase their health goods from them. Artificial colors and flavors, preservatives, yeast, and gluten are not included in the tablets.
Nature Mades top-quality standards apply to all parts of its company, from obtaining ingredients via product manufacture, packing, and shipping, to product sale and after-service support.
Nature Made Prenatal Multivitamin + DHA has beneficial ingredients for both mother and child. The most significant part about this prenatal vitamin is its high concentration of DHA, a fatty acid essential for embryonic brain development.
It contains 200mg of DHA and essential vitamins and minerals for daily nutritional support throughout pregnancy, and it also includes folic acid and iron. It has been clinically proven to improve nutrient absorption, and it delivers a complete vitamin profile that includes all eight B vitamins, vitamin C, and fat-soluble vitamins .
Features
- High-Quality Ingredients
It contains 800mcg of folic acid, which is the recommended daily allowance. That is an excellent sum for both you and your child. It is also high in vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, biotin, B12, C, D, E, K, iron, and zinc.
- Easy to Use
- Several types of vitamins present
Cons
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When To Consider Making The Switch
We recommend switching to our Essential Prenatal when pregnant, thinking about getting pregnant, or actively trying for a baby. A good rule to shoot for is three months ahead, so that people can be already taking a prenatal multivitamin during the early weeks of pregnancy . Outside of pregnancy needs, we recommend sticking with Essential for Women unless otherwise directed by a doctor, since it was specifically formulated to help fill gaps that many women experience in their diets. Lets talk about biotin as an example: Many women can meet their biotin needs through diet alone, since its found in a wide range of foods like eggs, avocado, beef, and yeast.*
Good Food Sources Of Folic Acid
Foods that can help you get more folic acid in your diet include:
- 400 mcg: Breakfast cereals fortified with 100% of the DV, 3/4 cup
- 215 mcg: Beef liver, cooked, braised, 3 oz
- 179 mcg: Lentils, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, 1/2 cup
- 115 mcg: Spinach, frozen, cooked, boiled, 1/2 cup
- 110 mcg: Egg noodles, enriched, cooked, 1/2 cup
- 100 mcg: Breakfast cereals, fortified with 25% of the DV, 3/4 cup
- 90 mcg: Great Northern beans, boiled, 1/2 cup
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When Should I Start Taking Prenatal Vitamins
Experts recommend taking a prenatal supplement containing folate for at least 3 months before becoming pregnant.
Supplementing with folate which is found in prenatal vitamins before conception significantly reduces the chances of neural tube irregularities such as spina bifida .
A babys neural tube, which will develop into both the brain and the spinal cord, develops during the first month of pregnancy. That could happen before you even realize youre pregnant.
If you arent already taking a daily prenatal vitamin, start taking one as soon as you find out youre expecting. Youll continue taking your prenatal vitamin every day during your pregnancy.
Experts also recommend continuing to take a prenatal supplement after you give birth.
This is because your body needs extra nutrients to support healing after delivery and requires more nutrients during breastfeeding. In fact, needs for many nutrients are even higher during breastfeeding than during pregnancy.
Should I Take Folate Instead Of Folic Acid
Folic acid is synthetically made and folate is naturally occurring. Its estimated that about 40-60% of the population has a mutation on the MTHFR gene, which is the gene that breaks down folic acid and turns it into a usable form of vitamin B9, methylfolate. To make things worse, its estimated that if you have this MTHFR gene mutation, your body can be up to 80% less efficient in converting the folic acid which is used for DNA methylation, the process of turning certain genes off and on. Without knowing whether you have this mutation or not, there is still a high probability that your body will not be able to use the folic acid to its fullest potential and possibly putting your fetus at risk because if your body can not convert the folic acid into a usable form, its as if you arent taking anything at all. The best prenatal vitamins mitigate the possibility that your body will not be able to utilize the synthetic folic acid and have opted to use natural folate instead.
Pregnancy is a beautiful, wonderful time in your life and the choices you make in regards to your health and nutrition are critical building blocks for your babys health. When you start looking at prenatal vitamins and other nutritional supplementation, be sure that you look for brands that use the most natural and bioavailable ingredients and this is especially important now given all that were still learning about the MTHFR mutation and how the body processes folic acid versus folate.
Resources:
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Look For Supplements That List At Least 400 Mcg Of Folic Acid
The safest way to ensure that youâre getting enough folic acid, West says, is to take a supplement containing at least 400 mcg of folic acid. That, combined with folate from food, will ensure you get the 600 mcg of folate each day recommended for people who may become pregnant.
Over the counter prenatal vitamins typically fit your needs. Remember that the prenatal may also be labelled as 667 mcg DFE.
