Keywords: pregnancy, nutritional supplements, fetus, deficiency, miscarriage
Pregnant? Check your vitamin scores!
Women have the privilege and the ability to create life. They are anatomically capable of bearing children. However, this anatomical superiority over males places immense physiological demands on them. The aim of nutritional supplementation in pregnancy is not only to support the mother, but to provide adequate nourishment to the growing fetus as well.
Nutrients for the unborn
In pregnancy, the requirements of energy, carbohydrates fats and proteins are easily met with. But vitamins and minerals are equally important for proper growth of the baby. Their deficiency may have an adverse affect on the baby.
Nutrients Non-pregnant women Pregnant women Deficiency
Vitamin A 700 μg/d 750-770 μg/d Birth defects seen in animals
Vitamin B1 ( Thiamine) 1.1 mg/d 1.4 mg/d Neurological disorders in cases of excessive vomiting
Vitamin B2 ( Riboflavin) 1.1 mg/d 1.4 mg/d —
Vitamin B3 ( Niacin) 14 mg/d 18 mg/d —
Vitamin B5 ( pantothenic acid) 5 mg/d 6 mg/d —
Vitamin B6 ( pyridoxine) 1.2-1.3 mg/d 1.9 mg/d Mental depression in mother
Vitamin B7 ( Biotin) 25-30 μg/d 30 μg/d —
Vitamin B9 ( folic acid) 400 μg/d 600 μg/d Anemia in mother; neural tube defects, premature birth, miscarriage, low birth weight
Vitamin B12 ( cobalamin) 2.4 μg/d 2.6 μg/d —
Choline 400-425 mg/d 450 mg/d —
Vitamin C
( Ascorbic acid) 65-75 mg/d 80-85 mg/d May cause high blood pressure and premature rupture of the membranes
Vitamin D
( calciferol) 5 μg/d 5 μg/d Low calcium levels
Vitamin E (α-tocopherol) 15 mg/d 15 mg/d Low birth weight, intrauterine growth retardation
Vitamin K 75-90 μg/d 75-90 μg/d Bleeding tendencies in baby, miscarriage
Calcium 1300-1000 mg/d 1300-1000 mg/d Weak bones in baby
Chromium 24-25 μg/d 29-30 μg/d High blood sugar during pregnancy
Copper 890-900 μg/d 1000 μg/d Impaired blood supply to fetus and death
Iodine 150 μg/d 220 μg/d Miscarriages, stillbirths, malformations, mental retardation, low thyroid levels
Iron 15-18 mg/d 27 mg/d Maternal anemia; fetal anemia, low birth weight, and preterm babies
Magnesium 310-360 mg/d 350-400 mg/d —
Phosphorous 700-1250 mg/d 700-1250 mg/d Leg cramps
Selenium 55 μg/d 60 μg/d Neural tube defects, sudden infant death syndrome
Zinc 8-9 mg/d 11-12 mg/d Intrauterine growth retardation, malformations, premature and post mature births, low birth
weight
Safe motherhood with adequate nutrients
Take care of your daily dose of vitamins to experience a safe pregnancy that gifts you with a healthy baby.
