Prenatal Vitamin Advice

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Study Shows All Prenatal Vitamins Not Alike

A head -to-head analysis of some of the nations top vitamins shows at least two prenatal formulas don't deliver what the

label promises - putting mothers and their unborn babies at potential risk.

The report, issued this week by Consumer Labs, found that New Chapter Perfect Prenatal vitamins do not meet dissolution standards - suggesting its nutrients may not be fully absorbed by the body. In addition, the popular Stuart Prenatal Multivitamin/Mineral was low on vitamin A, according to the amount listed on the label, says the report by Consumer Labs, an independent testing facility in White Plains, New York.

"This does not surprise me since my research has shown that a number of both over-the-counter and prescription prenatal vitamins may not be providing pregnant women with the necessary nutrients, mostly because of the dissolution problem," says researcher Colette Bouchez, author of the new book "Your Perfectly Pampered Pregnancy" (Broadway Books, NY, 2004).

While the vitamins may start out containing all you need, says Bouchez, if they don't dissolve in your stomach quickly enough, then you lose the opportunity to absorb essential nutrients, particularly folic acid.

" The window of opportunity for absorbing folic acid is actually quite small - it is absorbed in your upper intestines just after it passes from your stomach - so if your vitamin does not dissolve in your stomach within one hour, the vitamin just passes right out of your body - and you may not be getting the protection you are counting on," says Bouchez.

Folic acid is considered one of the most essential nutrients for mothers-to-be, since it not only helps protect the baby against serious birth defects of the skull and spine, studies show it can also help women avoid a miscarriage. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, pregnant women should have at least 400mcg of folic acid daily.

Medical studies conducted as early as 1997 found that only three out of nine popular prenatal vitamins dissolved quickly enough for adequate absorption. Two of the nine tested released less than 25% of their folic acid content within the first hour.

But if you're thinking that a pricy prescription prenatal might be the answer, Bouchez says think again.

"In a study in Advances in Therapy in July 2002, another group of researchers compared 7 popular prescription prenatal vitamins and found only three met standards for dissolution, " says Bouchez.

In addition to the analysis of prenatal vitamins, Consumer Labs also found that Theragran-M Advanced Formula High Potency vitamins contained over 3 mcg of lead per daily serving, exceeding the California lead limit. L'il Critters Gummy Vites also contained a high amount of lead and was missing half of the folic acid claimed on the label, says Consumer Labs.

For more of tips on prenatal vitamins - including a home test that can help you determine the effectiveness of any prenatal vitamin click here.

Is your prenatal vitamin giving you all the protection you think? It may not! Read on for an eye-popping report on pre natal vitamins - and what every mother-to-be needs to know now!

Your guide To Prenatal Vitamins