Table 7.1.
Nutritional supplements in pregnancy (World Health Organization, 2013; Youngblood et al., 2013; Hofmeyr et al., 2014; Khaskheli et al., 2016; Mills, 2017; Looman et al., 2018)
| Nutritional supplement | Preventative effect | Indication | Special dosages and indications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folic acid, 400–800 mcg daily | Neural tube defects | For all women, 4 weeks preconception until 10 weeks of pregnancy to reduce the risk of neural tube defects | 4–5 mg daily in women with a previous child with a neural tube defect |
| Vitamin D, 10 mcg daily | Poor bone growth, preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, low birth weight, recurrent wheeze, asthma | For all women preconception | 20 mcg daily for women with dark skin and low sunlight exposure |
| Calcium, 1.52 g daily | Preeclampsia | For women in areas with low dietary calcium intake | |
| Iron, 200 mg daily | Iron-deficiency anemia | For women with iron deficiency |