Vitamins no must for mums
PREGNANT women who eat a balanced diet are typically forking out for unnecessary multivitamins, with some even risking harm to their child from excessive intake, new research shows.
Reproductive health experts say supplement use during pregnancy should instead be determined individually, and based on consideration of her health and whether she can meet recommended nutrient intakes through diet alone.
In a review of large-scale studies into supplement use during pregnancy, Professor Claire Roberts, from the University of Adelaide’s Robinson Research Institute, found that while multivitamin use was common during pregnancy, there was a lack of data supporting widespread use.
“In some cases, supplementation with such vitamins may provide amounts of various vitamins above what is actually needed,” Prof Roberts wrote in the Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research review.
“Such supplementation may not be completely without harm.”
Dr Luke Grzeskowiak, Chair of the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia’s Women’s and Newborn Health stream, said while all multivitamins marketed for pregnancy contained recommended levels of folic acid and iodine, many included “unnecessary” vitamins and minerals, or “pointlessly” low levels of nutrients, such as iron or calcium.
“For women who have a particularly unhealthy diet or who struggle to eat well due to severe morning sickness, the additional nutrients may be useful,” Dr Grzeskowiak said
“However, for the majority of women, complex multivitamin preparations represent an unnecessary added expense.”