Arabic version: خبراء يحذّرون من المكملات غير الضرورية قبل الولادة
According to ABC News, health experts are concerned that social media influencers are promoting prenatal multivitamins and other supplements that may be unnecessary for pregnant people. Shelley Wilkinson, a prenatal dietitian and obstetric medicine researcher at the University of Queensland, said combining different products as a “top-up” or “just in case” could waste money and potentially cause harm.
Australia’s pregnancy care guidelines recommend 400–600 micrograms of folic acid daily, ideally beginning four weeks before pregnancy, and a daily supplement containing 150 micrograms of iodine. People with pre-existing thyroid conditions should discuss iodine with their doctor. Draft recommendations, approved by steering committees but not officially adopted, suggest 60–200 micrograms of elemental iron daily, with lower doses potentially advised if side effects occur.
The guidelines advise against high-dose vitamin A, C or E supplements because there is little to no benefit and they may cause harm. Vitamin D is not routinely recommended during pregnancy. Omega-3, creatine and collagen are also not routinely recommended, despite being advertised online as beneficial.
A small 2023 study led by Dr Wilkinson and University of the Sunshine Coast researcher Linda Gallo found nine in 10 participants reported using supplements during pregnancy, most often multivitamins. Dr Wilkinson said vitamin B6 illustrates the risk of overlap: the upper limit is 50 milligrams per day, while high doses can cause irreversible nerve damage. She described one client taking three products containing B6, totalling 140 milligrams daily.
Athena Hooymans, a University of the Sunshine Coast PhD candidate, is surveying Australians about the prenatal supplements they use and who recommended them. Experts urged pregnant people to discuss all supplements with a doctor or qualified health professional, particularly where they have deficiencies or complex health issues. Dr Gallo recommended a food-first approach, including a varied, nutrient-rich diet, while noting iodine and folate cannot be obtained in sufficient amounts from diet alone.
