Food Allergies and Prenatal Vitamins: Is Your Prenatal Vitamin Harmful to Your Health?

There are many over the counter prenatal vitamins available to women for the fraction of the cost of prescription prenatal vitamins. Most supply a good source of folic acid, one of the most important vitamins during pregnancy, calcium, iron and other vitamins and nutrients. New research studies have also suggested prenatal vitamins add a healthy source of DHA for fetal brain development. With all this nutrition packed into one small pill, how can a prenatal vitamin cause more harm than good?

Dangers of Prenatal Vitamins for Women with Peanut Allergies

Nature Made Multi Prenatal - Nature Made is a trusted name in vitamins and supplements. Many popular retailers like Walmart sell Nature Made products including Nature Made Multi Prenatal. One the surface, this prenatal vitamin offers everything the pregnant woman needs including 800 mcg folic acid and 27 mg of iron. What is no mentioned on the front of the packaging is the potential food allergy reaction for women who are allergic to peanuts. Listed near the bottom of the ingredient list is Peanut Oil.

Fish Oil, Fish Oil, Everywhere

Puritan's Pride Prenatal Vitamins - This inexpensive prenatal multivitamin is available in a formula with DHA and one without. The formula with DHA offers a small warning statement below the ingredient list stating fish is used in the vitamin. The Puritan's Pride Prenatal Vitamin without DHA, however, is also a risky choice for women with fish allergies. Fish used in the supplement include cod, haddock, pollock, cusk, hake, flounder and sole.)

One a Day Women's Prenatal - The One a Day Prenatal vitamin is available in tablet and softgel form. The tablet form contains pollock, cod, hake, cusk, haddock, redfish and soy. The softgel contains anchovy, sardine and soy. For women with fish or soy allergies, these prenatal multivitamins are not safe.

What Can Women Do to Prevent Food Allergy Reactions During Pregnancy?

It is important to take a prenatal vitamin that is rich in the vitamins and minerals needed during pregnancy without the threat of food ingredients causing an allergic reaction. Women with severe fish and peanut allergies may wish to talk with the attending obstetrician about healthy prenatal supplementation. In some cases, women can take alternative supplements or a common multivitamin paired with a safe folic acid supplement during pregnancy.

Tips to Prevent Food Allergy Reactions to Prenatal Vitamins

Always look at the label, including the inactive ingredients.

Call the manufacturer for complete details on ingredients used.

Visit food allergy forums and ask other women about the prenatal vitamins they chose.

More on Pregnancy Health from Summer Cavalier-Banks

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