New Study Finds Too Much Sodium, Not Enough Vitamins And Minerals In Diets Of Pregnant Women

NEWS

A new study suggests that many pregnant women are not getting the proper amounts of some vitamins and minerals, even with supplements, while many are getting potentially excessive amounts of sodium.

COMMENT

Proper nourishment during pregnancy is critical for the health of both the mother and her developing child. Micronutrients such as vitamin C, lysine, proline, folic acid, and the B group of vitamins, among others, are essential for a healthy baby and delivery, and for preventing complications during pregnancy.

When it comes to using supplements however, mothers-to-be need to understand that not all products are the same. In order to offer supplements at low prices, manufacturers generally use cheaper – and therefore low-quality – forms of micronutrients. They also cut costs by failing to carry out their own scientific research on their products. Of course, the primary goal of such manufacturers is not to improve people’s health, but to maximize profits. This explains why many pregnant women fail to get the proper amounts of some vitamins and minerals even when using supplements.

To learn about the importance of micronutrients during pregnancy, read parts one and two of the special pregnancy feature on our website.

To understand why quality and research are critical factors when choosing micronutrient supplements, see the ‘Vitamins: Harm or Benefit’ feature on our website.