Table 5.
Recommendations for content of prenatal supplements and other relevant data for comparison.
| Nutrient | Our Recommendation | RDA Recommendation for Total Daily Intake for Pregnant Women | Daily Intake (Women Aged 20–39) per NHANES Unless Otherwise Noted | Tolerable Upper Limit for Pregnant Women | Change during Pregnancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calcium | 550 mg (1000 mg for those with greater risk of preeclampsia) | 1000 mg | 872 mg | 1000 mg | Decreases |
| Chromium | 100 mg (200 mg for women with diabetes) | 30 μg | 23 to 29 μg [19] | - | Possibly decreases |
| Copper | 1.3 mg | 1 mg | 1.1 mg | 10 mg | Levels increase, but low levels associated with health complications |
| Iodine | 150 μg/day | 220 μg | 160 μg * | 1100 μg | Possibly decreases |
| Iron | 30 mg 1st trimester, 60 mg 2nd trimester and 3rd trimester; up to 60 mg 3× day in extreme cases | 27 mg | 12.2 mg | 45 mg | Decreases |
| Magnesium | 350 mg | 400 mg | 269 mg | 400 mg | Decreases |
| Manganese | 1 mg | 2.0 mg | 2.3 mg [122] | 11 mg | Increases, but low levels are associated with health complications |
| Molybdenum | 25 μg | 50 μg | 76 μg [122] | 2000 μg | Unknown |
| Selenium | 60 μg | 70 μg | 97 μg | 400 mg | Decreases |
| Zinc | 30 mg | 11 mg | 9.4 mg | 40 mg | Decreases |
* Intake based on NHANES study which evaluated women aged 15–44 years. RDA: Recommended Dietary Allowance.