Pregnancy supplements – a comparison
Which is best for you?
When we are planning a baby – or are already pregnant – one of the first things that health professionals recommend is taking pregnancy supplements. But which multivitamin is best for us as individuals?
No matter which one you choose (if any) multivitamins should complement your diet, rather than replace a broad selection of foods. A healthy, balanced and varied diet will usually give you everything your body and growing baby needs.
Here’s a comparison of three popular brands of pregnancy multivitamin and mineral supplements…..why not decide for yourself?
Please note that the RDA’s below include food sources. Most of these nutrients are available in sufficient quantities from your diet.
Pregnancy multivitamin comparison
Micronutrient | RDA (Total from food and supplements) | Elevit | Blackmores pregnancy and breastfeeding gold | Swisse ultinatal pre-conception & pregnancy multivitamin |
Betacarotene | 800 mcg | – | 2.4 mg |
|
Vitamin B1 | 1.4 mg | 1.4 mg
| 700 mcg | 700 mcg |
Vitamin B2 | 1.4 mg | 1.4 mg
| 700 mcg | 700 mcg |
Vitamin B3 | 18 mg | 18 mg
| 9 mg | 9 mg |
Vitamin B5 | 5 mg | 6 mg | 2.5 mg | 2.5 mg |
Vitamin B6 | 1.9 mg | 1.9 mg | 950 mcg | 950 mcg |
Vitamin B9 (folic acid) | 1000mcg | 800mcg | 250 mcg | 250 mcg methylfolate |
Vitamin B12 | 2.6 mcg | 2.6mcg | 1.3 mcg | 1.31 mcg methyl B12 |
Vitamin C | 55-60 mg | 85 mg
| 30 mg | 30 mg |
Vitamin D | 200 IU | 200 IU
| 500 IU | 500 IU |
Vitamin E | 7.7 IU | 7.7 IU
| 5.22 IU | 5.22 IU |
Iron | 27 mg | 60mg | 5 mg | 5mg |
Iodine | 220 mcg | 220mcg | 75 mcg | 110 mcg |
Zinc | 11 mg | 11mg | 5.5 mg | 5.5 mg |
Copper | 1.3 mg | 1mg |
|
|
Chromium | 30 mcg |
| 15 mcg |
|
Calcium | 1000-1300 mg | 125mg | 50 mg | 20 mg |
Magnesium | 350-400 mg | 100mg | 35 mg | 25 mg |
Manganese | 5 mg | 1.9 mg |
|
|
Omega 3 | 115 mg |
| 150 mg | 250 mg |
Selenium | 65 mcg | 50mcg | 32.5 mcg | 32.5 mcg |
Biotin | 30 mcg | 30 mcg | 15 mcg | 15 mcg |
Dose |
| 1/day | 2/day | 2/day |
Price |
| 100/$69.99* | 180/$71.49* | 180/ $64.99* |
Cost per day |
| $0.70 | $0.79 | $ 0.72 |
Dr Janelle McAlpine (PhD), Clinical Midwife
National Health and Medical Research Council(AU)/ Ministry of Health (NZ)
Photo by Antonio Gravante, used under licence from Shutterstock.com