| Table 2: Commonly used pregnancy multivitamins - comparison of ingredients (per recommended daily dose) |
| |
Elevit |
Blackmores Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Gold |
Clinicians PregaVit |
Solgar Prenatal Vitamins |
Thompsons Pregnacare |
Radiance Pregnancy Multivitamin |
Bronson Prenatal |
Recommended daily intake (RDI) in pregnancy19 (obtained through diet and supplementation if required) |
| Dose |
One tablet daily |
One tablet daily |
Three capsules twice daily (6 caps/day) |
Two tablets daily |
One tablet twice daily |
One capsule daily |
One chewable tablet daily |
|
| Calcium |
125 mg |
59 mg |
265 mg |
650 mg |
400 mg |
300 mg |
125 mg |
RDI = 1000 mg/day. Do not exceed 2500 mg/day. |
| Folic Acid |
800 mcg |
250 mcg |
300 mcg |
400 mcg |
300 mcg |
200 mcg |
400 mcg |
RDI = 400 mcg for prevention against neural tube defects. Do not exceed 1000 mcg/day. |
| Iodine |
nil |
125 mcg |
50 mcg |
75 mcg |
nil |
37.5 mcg |
75 mcg |
RDI = 220 mcg/day. Do not exceed 1100 mcg/day. A supplementary intake of 150 mcg/day is recommended. |
| Iron |
60 mg |
5 mg |
nil |
14 mg |
10 mg |
9 mg |
25 mg |
RDI = 27 mg/day. Do not exceed 45 mg/day. A supplementary intake of 30 mg/day is suitable for all women in the second and third trimesters. |
|
nil |
2880 mcg (carotenoids) = 2400 IU |
225 mcg (retinol) = 750 IU |
1800 mcg (beta carotene) + 4.8 mcg (carotenoids) = 3004 IU |
3000 mcg (beta carotene) = 5000 IU |
1500 mcg (beta carotene) = 2500 IU |
600 mcg (retinol) = 2000 IU |
RDI (retinol) = 800 mcg/day (2667 IU). Do not exceed 10,000 IU/day. |
| Vitamin B12 |
4.0 mcg |
1.5 mcg |
25 mcg |
2 mcg |
12 mcg |
5 mcg |
7.5 mcg |
RDI = 2.6 mcg/day. There is no upper level of intake. |
| Vitamin C |
100 mg |
30 mg |
42 mg |
25 mg |
160 mg |
30 mg |
60 mg |
RDI = 60 mg/day Do not exceed 1000 mg/day. |
| Vitamin D (cholecalciferol) |
12.5 mcg = 500 IU |
6.25 mcg = 250 IU |
2.5 mcg = 100 IU |
2.5 mcg = 100 IU |
5 mcg = 200 IU |
2.5 mcg = 100 IU |
5.0 mcg = 200 IU |
RDI = 200 IU/day. Do not exceed 3200 IU/day. |
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