Supplements during pregnancy- to take or not to take?

What supplements during pregnancy?

According to the recommendations of the Polish Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians, pregnant women should not routinely, and on their own, take the so-called “pregnancy drugs. multivitamin products. In their recommendations, gynecologists recommend that most of the micronutrients and macronutrients moms-to-be should try to provide in a daily, varied diet. Additional supplementation is indicated only in case of deficiencies or in other justified situations and should always be under the supervision of a doctor.

However, PTGiP lists 5 substances that moms-to-be should include in their supplementation. These include folic acid, DHA acids, iron, iodine and vitamin D.

Folic acid supplementation

Folic acid should be taken by women trying to have a baby for at least 6 weeks before becoming pregnant. Some say it should be taken by all cohabitating women. Folic acid supplementation is extremely important because of the role folate plays in the development of the central nervous system in children. In women who take the recommended dose of folic acid-most commonly 0.4 mg-the risk of neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, is lower by about 72% compared to a group of children whose mothers did not supplement folic acid.

Women should also take folic acid during pregnancy. This is especially important during the first 12 weeks, as this is when organogenesis (the formation and formation of organs) takes place in the baby. It is also important to continue supplementation until the end of pregnancy and during breastfeeding, because then the need for folic acid increases. If a woman has given birth to a child with a central nervous system defect in the past, the doses of folic acid used during a subsequent pregnancy should be higher. It is also worthwhile to provide folate with the diet. They are particularly abundant in, for example, leafy vegetables-spinach or cabbage, as well as in nuts, grains and beets.

Supplements during pregnancy- DHA

DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, is one of the polyunsaturated fatty acids (OMEGA-3). Adequate amounts of DHA during pregnancy and lactation are essential for proper development at the cellular, neural level, and consequently provide, among other things. normal visual acuity and normal psychomotor development of the child. DHA acids also reduce the risk of depression in the mother. In turn, DHA deficiency can contribute to preterm labor or the development of preeclampsia (pre-eclampsia). Naturally OMEGA-3 acids are found in fish and seafood. However, during pregnancy, consumption of marine fish should be limited due to its possible mercury content. Therefore, the PTGiP recommends supplementation with 200 mg of DHA in all pregnant women; if small amounts of fish are consumed, these doses can be increased.

Supplements during pregnancy-iron

During pregnancy, the need for iron increases. This is due to the needs of the growing baby, the afterbirth (placenta, fetal membranes) and the increase in the volume of the uterine muscle. Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia during pregnancy. However, it is not advisable for all pregnant women to supplement this element, as there are scientific reports of negative effects of excess iron on pregnancy. For this reason, according to PTGiP recommendations, iron during pregnancy should be supplemented by women with anemia or low ferritin levels.

However, every mother-to-be should try to provide iron with her daily diet. Its high content is found in meat, offal, but also in legumes or parsley. However, it is important to remember that the iron found in plant products is less well absorbed than that contained in animal products.

Iodine supplementation during pregnancy

As with iron, the need for iodine increases during pregnancy. This is mainly due to its loss by the kidneys and the child’s need. Iodine deficiency can result in hypothyroidism, damage to the central nervous system, mental retardation and hearing loss or even deafness in newborns. Iodine is mainly supplied to the body through iodized salt, but it is also found in dairy products, eggs or fish.

PTGiP recommends iodine supplementation in all pregnant women without thyroid disease at a dose of 150 – 200 mcg/day. In contrast, in women with thyroid disease, iodine supplementation should be done under the control of thyroid hormone levels and antithyroid antibodies.

Vitamin D in pregnancy

Vitamin D is necessary for regulating calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood, and has a major impact on immune system function. The most important source of vitamin D is its synthesis (production) by the skin when exposed to UV rays. It is believed that in Poland this is possible with daily half-hour sun exposure, without sunscreen, from March to September. In other months, vitamin D production is insufficient. Therefore, it is recommended that women during pregnancy and lactation supplement vitamin D in a dose that is adjusted according to its concentration in the blood. Most often it is between 1,500 and 4,000 IU (units)vit. D per day.