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Vitamin supplementation during Pregnancy
Supplying the body with the essentials for life.
These essential elements, present in most foods, are required by our
bodies for adequate growth and development, body maintenance and
overall health. Fortunately a well balanced diet will provide you
with all the vitamins that are needed.
There are 13 major vitamins, all being absolutely essential for your
well-being. Eleven of these vitamins must be obtained through
correct eating, while one or maybe two of them can be made by the
body itself.
| Vitamin and beneficial effects
|
Natural derivation |
Deficiency issues
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| Vitamin A
Healthy skin, resistance to infection, aids night vision,
needed for bone and tooth growth |
Obtained from
yellow/orange vegetables, liver, kidneys, eggs, apricots |
Ear, eye and respiratory infections, night
blindness, weight loss, stunted growth |
| Vitamin B1
Breaks down carbohydrates to provide energy, healthy nervous
system and muscles |
Obtained from
wholegrain cereals, brown rice, seafood, meat, potatoes |
Fatigue, nausea and loss of appetite, shortness of
breath |
| Vitamin B2
Breaks down carbohydrates, fats and proteins, healthy skin |
Obtained from
liver, kidney, meat poultry, eggs, yoghurt, green vegetables |
Lip inflammation and sores, hair-loss, insomnia |
| Vitamin B3
Aids in efficient blood circulation and the control of
cholesterol in the blood, healthy skin and appetite |
Obtained from
fish, nuts (especially peanuts), cheese, dried fruit |
Diarrhoea, dermatitis,
depression, loss of appetite and nausea |
| Vitamin B5
Healthy nervous system, produces antibodies to fight
infection |
Obtained from egg
yolk, liver, oranges, legumes |
Deficiency is rare,
but symptoms may include: Susceptibility to infections and
allergies, fatigue, insomnia |
| Vitamin B6
Breaks down proteins, forms red blood cells and produces
antibodies to fight infection |
Obtained from
most foods, especially yeast extracts, green vegetables, milk
and raisins |
No deficiency reported |
| Vitamin B9
Aids in the proper functioning of vitamin B12, forms red blood
cells |
Meat, liver,
kidney, fresh fruit, wheat germ |
Deficiency of vitamin
B12, anaemia, fatigue, insomnia |
| Vitamin B12
Proper functioning of folic acid, forms red blood cells,
prevents cell degeneration |
Liver,
dairy products, fish, egg yolk |
Anaemia,
folic acid deficiency, loss of appetite |
| Biotin
Break down of fats, synthesis of glucose when diet lacks
carbohydrates |
Egg yolk, liver,
oats, nuts |
Uncommon |
| Vitamin C
Promotes resistance to infection and heals wounds, aids in iron
absorption, healthy skin, bones, blood vessels, gums and teeth |
Fruits and fruit
juices, especially citrus fruits, potatoes, peppers |
Muscle degeneration, bleeding gums and loose teeth, anaemia |
| Vitamin D
Aids in the absorption of calcium, for strong bones and teeth |
Produced by
sunlight filtering onto skin, oily fish, egg yolk, full-fat
dairy produce |
Teeth and bone deformities, muscle weakness |
| Vitamin E
May retard the effects of aging, resistance to infection |
Nuts and seeds,
egg yolks, wheat germ, margarine |
Dull skin and hair, muscle
weakness |
| Vitamin K
Aids in effective blood clotting |
Created by
bacteria in the large intestine, green vegetables, eggs,
potatoes, wheat germ |
Uncommon,
can arise from long-term antibiotic consumption, diarrhoea,
nosebleeds |
- Excessive doses of Vitamin A throughout all three trimesters, can
cause a number of foetal abnormalities.
- Vitamin C, when taken near term in excessive doses, may cause foetal
kidney stones.
- Excessive doses of Vitamin D may be a cause of heart, kidney and
mental problems
- Even small amounts of Vitamin K and Vitamin B6 when taken near term
could create problems, so caution is needed when taking these.
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