How to Choose the Best Prenatal Vitamin for You and Your Baby
- Josh Boughton
- 5 days ago
- 23 min read
Trying to choose a good prenatal vitamin from the hundreds of products on the market can be challenging, frustrating, and confusing. This guide will help you get the best prenatal vitamin in 2026.
Why Your Prenatal Vitamin Needs are Different in 2026
Way back in the times of the ancestors, the late 1900’s, everyone was pretty happy with a standard one-a-day prenatal vitamin. Thankfully, a lot more research has been done, and we know that a basic one-a-day prenatal vitamin is definitely not something we should be happy with.
Women need much higher levels of many nutrients during pregnancy, and based on current nutrition intakes, a one-a-day prenatal is not going to supply anywhere close to enough nutrients. Your prenatal vitamin needs to have enough of most nutrients to get you over the finish line of nutritional needs. However, it’s not enough for a prenatal to contain the full spectrum of vitamins and minerals; they need to be in optimal forms and free of high levels of contaminants.
There’s a lot to cover to fully understand prenatal vitamins, so this is going to be a very big guide as I will touch on all aspects from formulation to quality control, nutrient levels, and more to help you get the best prenatal vitamins in 2026. I think, and I hope you agree, that your health and your precious angel's health are worth taking the time to fully understand one of the very important facets of a healthy pregnancy and baby: prenatal vitamins. This is a topic I am extremely passionate about, so you’re going to get the full, 100% Josh experience on this one. This one’s for the supplement nerds. However, if reading a long guide is not for you (I completely understand), you can skip the article and check out our recommended prenatal vitamin here. No judgment, I know most people don’t want to read twenty-five pages (yes, it really is that long) about prenatal vitamins, but it’s a big, important topic, and to do it right, it had to be long. My wife, who is, of course, a perfect angel, is sitting here next to me as I write this, telling me it's too long. She says she loves me, but I'm questioning it.
Common Problems with Prenatal Vitamins
Let’s get into some of the most common ones, but this is by no means a complete list of all of them.
Incomplete
Most of them are low in or completely lacking many important nutrients, especially choline and iodine.
Potency issues
Many prenatal vitamins contain less than the amounts listed on the label. For example, one popular prenatal gummy was found to contain much less vitamin D than claimed on the label.
Poor forms of nutrients
Many prenatal vitamins use cheap forms of nutrients that the body poorly utilizes. You want the best, most effective forms of nutrients.
Poor testing
Most prenatal vitamins are not adequately tested for contaminants and adulterants. The right testing, not just testing, is needed.
Fake whole food prenatal vitamins
There are a lot of prenatal vitamins claiming to be made from food or plant-based ingredients. Nearly all of these are being completely dishonest.
Inaccurate nutrient type and form claims
Many prenatal supplements claimed to use specific forms of nutrients, but when we dove a little deeper, we often found they weren't what they claimed to be. For example, a few products claimed to contain magnesium glycinate, but it wasn't really magnesium glycinate; it was just magnesium carbonate blended with the amino acid glycine, not a true mineral chelate. You can learn more about this issue (which is not unique to prenatal vitamins) in our blog.
Unstable folate forms and types
Many prenatal vitamins use unstable forms of folate, leading to products that contain far less than their claimed folate levels before the expiration date.
What should you look for in a prenatal vitamin?
There’s a lot to look for when choosing a prenatal vitamin, but one of the most important is having the full range of vitamins and minerals. It’s become trendy for companies with big marketing budgets to say you only need a few select nutrients during pregnancy. I don’t know where this remarkably stupid theory came from, but I’m guessing it’s because making prenatals with only a quarter of the nutrients and charging the full price is great for profit margins. If you see a prenatal vitamin supplement facts panel that looks like this, you need to run far away from it, because the company making it has to be joking to think this is ok to call a prenatal vitamin.
Next, it should contain adequate amounts of each nutrient in the best forms. I’m sorry, but that means no one-a -day or gummy prenatal vitamins. Here’s the breakdown of each nutrient and what to look for in terms of amounts and forms of them.
Vitamin A
Look for products that contain a combination of preformed vitamin A (retinol) and mixed carotenoids, including beta carotene. Some people have a genetic condition where they do not convert carotenoids like beta carotene into vitamin A very well, so a combination of both will ensure that you are getting enough.
B1 (Thiamine)
Most prenatal vitamins contain Thiamine HCL. There is a more advanced fat-soluble version of thiamine called benfotiamine. Befotiamine is better absorbed and stays in the body longer. We recommend choosing prenatal vitamins with benfotiamine rather than thiamine HCL. Two to five milligrams is all that is needed.
B2 (Riboflavin)
Choose those that use the methylated form, riboflavin-5-phosphate, as many people have a genetic issue that prevents them from converting riboflavin into riboflavin-5-phosphate. Look for at least two milligrams per day.
B3 (Niacin or Niacinamide)
The niacinamide form of vitamin B3 does not cause the unpleasant flushing that niacin can cause. Look for at least eighteen milligrams per day.
B5 (Pantothenic Acid)
Look for at least six milligrams of pantothenic acid per day.
B6 (Pyridoxine)
Choose those that use the methylated form, pyridoxal-5-phosphate, as many people have a genetic issue that prevents them from converting pyridoxine HCl (hydrochloride) into pyridoxal-5-phosphate (p5p). In addition, excessive levels of pyridoxine HCL have begun to be linked to certain health issues. Adequate levels of pyridoxal-5-phosphate can help to reduce nausea. Look for around 25 mg P5P per day. If the pyridoxine HCL form is used, look for lower amounts.
B7 (Biotin)
Look for at least thirty micrograms per day. If there is a larger amount of biotin in the prenatal, you may need to stop taking it for a few days before blood work, as biotin can interfere with specific blood test results.
B9 (Folate)
Avoid products that contain folic acid. Instead, look for L-methylfolate, L-MTHF, or 5-MTHF forms of folate. Many people have a genetic methylation issue that affects their ability to convert folic acid into l-methylfolate. Additionally, many people already consume excessive amounts of folic acid from fortified foods. Avoid products that list folate, but not the form, as many of these products may actually contain folic acid but are misleading people by listing folate. A quick Amazon search found a number of products doing this. Look for about one milligram (1,000 micrograms) per daily serving.
B12 (Cobalamin)
Avoid products that use cyanocobalamin. Many people have a genetic issue that affects their ability to convert cyanocobalamin to methylcobalamin. Instead, look for products that use methylcobalamin, adenosylcobalamin, and hydroxocobalamin. Also, avoid products that say B-12 or cobalamin but don't list the form, as it is important to know which form is being used. Look for at least mcg. If you are prone to anemia or fatigue, look for a higher amount.
Vitamin C
Look for those that use buffered vitamin C (calcium ascorbate) to make it gentler on the stomach and contain at least seventy-five milligrams of vitamin C. Avoid those with 1000 milligrams or higher, as that may not be safe to use during pregnancy.
Vitamin D
Look for those that contain at least 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 per day. Avoid those with vitamin D2, as this form is less well utilized by the body than vitamin D3.
It is important to have your vitamin D levels checked during pregnancy to ensure they are in a healthy range, as many people need higher levels than those commonly found in even the best prenatal vitamins.
Vitamin E
Look for prenatal vitamins that use mixed forms of natural tocopherols, not just alpha-tocopherol or synthetic dl-alpha-tocopherol. Look for at least 15 mg per day.
Choline
Choline is so important to the health of the developing fetus. It performs a number of critical roles. Pregnant women need about 450 mg per day. The average daily consumption in the United States is about 278 milligrams for women. Look for prenatal vitamins that contain at least 400-500 mg per serving to ensure you get the amount you need. I cannot emphasize the importance of taking a prenatal vitamin with a high choline content enough. It is so ridiculous that so many do not contain, or contain only a very small amount of, this vital nutrient. Frankly, products lacking sufficient choline should not be labeled as prenatal vitamins. It's strange how the best-selling prenatal vitamin talks about the importance of choline on its website but then only puts a paltry fifty-five milligrams in its product; shame on them. Check out our blog to learn more about the importance of choline.
Choline is a key partner to folate, as it is an important methyl donor and a key component of methylation. Choline and folate are closely interconnected in the body’s one-carbon metabolism pathway – both contributing to the body’s methyl pool to maximize methylation potential. Adequate levels of both are needed for healthy fetal development.
Vitamin K
There are multiple forms of vitamin K found in supplements. The most common are K1 and K2 ( MK-7 and MK-4). Look for products that combine vitamin K1 and K2. Avoid products that only use the K2 MK-7 form, as this form may not pass well from the placenta to the fetus.
Calcium
Avoid prenatal vitamins containing 100% calcium carbonate or tricalcium phosphate; instead, look for those that use glycinate, malate, or MCHA, as these are better absorbed and easier on the digestive system. Some companies add a small amount of calcium carbonate to make the formula gentler on the stomach and help reduce nausea.
Keep in mind that calcium is very bulky and takes up a lot of space, so you will not be able to get 100% of the daily value in prenatal vitamin supplements.
Iodine
Iodine is an essential nutrient that supports proper fetal brain development. Pregnant women need about 220 mcg per day. According to the NIH, a substantial portion of the US pregnant population are deficient in iodine. Intakes vary, averaging 144-181 mcg per day. Women who did not consume dairy had even lower levels. Look for prenatal vitamins containing at least 150 mcg of iodine to ensure you are getting enough iodine from both food and supplements. Selling a prenatal vitamin without iodine is doing a real disservice and should not be legal. Look for potassium iodide as a form of potassium, as it is well absorbed and utilized.
If you have hyperthyroidism, please talk to your doctor before consuming any supplements with iodine.
Iron
A good prenatal should have at least fifteen milligrams of iron per serving. Look for fully reacted glycinate or bisglycinate forms, as these are easier on the stomach and much less likely to cause constipation. In addition, a fully reacted bisglycinate form of iron will not interfere with the absorption of other minerals in the prenatal vitamin, unlike other forms of iron, such as ferrous sulfate. Unfortunately, many products claim to contain fully reacted forms of iron, but often contain only partially reacted forms. A prenatal with multiple pill servings will be better, as you can split the dosage throughout the day, increasing absorption and reducing stomach upset.
Magnesium
Avoid prenatal vitamins that use 100% oxide (occasionally, a company may use a small amount of oxide, less than five percent, to make them easier on the stomach, but the rest is in a good form) or carbonate forms. Instead, look for forms such as glycinate or bisglycinate, as these are better absorbed and easier on the stomach and digestive system.
Keep in mind that magnesium is very bulky and takes up a lot of space, so you will not be able to get 100% of the daily value in a prenatal capsule.
Selenium
Avoid prenatal vitamins that use sodium selenite. Instead, look for selenium glycinate or bisglycinate, safer forms that are better absorbed and easier on the stomach and digestive system. Look for at least sixty micrograms per day.
Zinc
Zinc is so important for fetal development. According to the NIH, pregnant women are one of the groups most at risk of zinc deficiency:
Pregnant women, particularly those starting their pregnancy with marginal zinc status, are at increased risk of becoming zinc insufficient due, in part, to high fetal requirements for zinc. Lactation can also deplete maternal zinc stores; for this reason, the RDA for zinc is higher for pregnant and lactating women than for other women.
Based on that information from the NIH, make sure your prenatal vitamin contains at least twelve milligrams per day,
Avoid prenatal vitamins that use the oxide form. Instead, look for glycinate or bisglycinate, which are better absorbed and easier on the stomach and digestive system.
Copper
Avoid prenatal vitamins that use the oxide form. Instead, look for forms such as glycinate or bisglycinate, which are better absorbed and easier on the stomach and digestive system. Look for around one milligram per day.
Manganese
Avoid prenatal vitamins that use the oxide form. Instead, look for forms such as glycinate or bisglycinate, which are better absorbed and easier on the stomach and digestive system. Look for around two milligrams per day.
Chromium
Look for nictoinate and glycinate forms, as these will be better absorbed and easier on the stomach and digestive system than forms like picolinate. Look for at least fifty micrograms per day.
Manganese
Avoid prenatal vitamins that use the oxide form. Instead, look for forms such as glycinate and bisglycinate, as they are better absorbed and easier on the stomach and digestive system. Look for around two milligrams per day.
Molybdenum
Avoid prenatal vitamins that use the oxide form. Instead, look for forms such as glycinate or bisglycinate, as these will be better absorbed and easier on the stomach and digestive system. Look for around micrograms per day.
Potassium
Avoid prenatal vitamins that use the oxide or carbonate form. Instead, look for forms such as glycinate or bisglycinate, which are better absorbed and easier on the stomach and digestive system. Potassium is one nutrient you will not be able to meet 100% of your daily needs from a prenatal, as it would require serving sizes of around 15 pills per day to do so. Aim for around one hundred milligrams from your prenatal.
Boron
Avoid prenatal vitamins that use the oxide form. Instead, look for forms such as glycinate or bisglycinate, as these will be better absorbed and easier on the stomach and digestive system. Look for around two milligrams per day.
Each batch should be tested for contaminants, such as heavy metals, but you should not believe that because a product claims to be third-party tested, that it is a good product. You can read more about why that is here.
Methylated Folate vs. Folic Acid: Which is Better?
There are two main types of folate used in prenatal vitamins: folic acid and l-methylfolate. Folic acid is the most common form found in prenatal vitamins.
Some people have genetic issues where they do not convert folic acid into 5-methyltetrahydrofolate very well. Many women are unaware that they have this mutation. This is why it is best for prenatal vitamins to contain the methylated form of folate.
Red Flags: Ingredients to Avoid in Your Prenatal Supplement
Just as there are a lot of things you want in your prenatal vitamin, there are a number of things you don’t want. Here are some of them, but it’s definitely not a complete list.
Artificial colors
Titanium Dioxide
Hydrogenated oils
Added sugars
“Natural” and artificial flavors
Fairy dusted ingredient blends
For example, a 100 milligram blend of spirulina, beet, broccoli, kale, spinach, blackberry, blueberry, carrot, and cranberry
This means you are getting about eleven milligrams of each, not enough to do anything but make the label look good.
Herbs without a proven safety record in pregnancy.
DHA and omega-three fatty acids
While DHA is very important during pregnancy, it should not be included in your prenatal vitamin, as we will discuss later in this article.
It is a nutrient you want to take separately.
Fake whole food vitamins and minerals
There are so many products claiming to contain whole-food vitamins and minerals, but that are not really whole food.
Enteric coating
Most enteric coating plasticizers and phalate ingredients that are not listed on the label.
Talc
Ferrous sulfate, ferrous fumarate, and other forms of poorly absorbed iron that can reduce the absorption of other minerals.
Polyethylene glycol
Synthetic vitamin E (dl-α-tocopherol)
Sodium benzoate
How to Choose a Prenatal Vitamin That Won’t Make You Nauseous
Nausea is one of the most common complaints with prenatal vitamins. There are several steps you can take to help prevent and reduce nausea from prenatal vitamins.
Take your prenatal vitamins with food and a full glass of water.
Split the dosage up between breakfast and lunch.
Choose a prenatal that contains gentle forms of iron, such as ferrochel.
Choose a prenatal that has a good dose of clean, well-tested ginger root extract. Ginger helps reduce nausea and makes the pills smell better.
Choose a prenatal containing at least 25 mg of B6 as pyridoxal-5-phosphate. This form of B6 helps to reduce pregnancy nausea.
Choose a prenatal with a small amount of magnesium oxide and calcium carbonate added to the formula. This helps to buffer it and make it easy on the stomach. These should not be the main forms of calcium and magnesium in the formula as they are poorly absorbed. The main forms should be well-absorbed. Only a small amount of them is needed to get this effect. Some companies use these forms entirely because they are cheap, but that’s not what you want. You want the vast majority to be better forms, and just a small amount of magnesium oxide and calcium carbonate for buffering.
Choose a prenatal that contains buffered vitamin C, not ascorbic acid. Buffered vitamin C is gentle on the stomach, while ascorbic acid is irritating.
How should prenatal vitamins be packaged?
This is one that really gets my knickers in a knot. A common trend in prenatal vitamin packaging (and other vitamins) is clear bottles. I get it, it’s fun to be able to see the pills in the bottle, and it makes for great marketing, but for the love of all things Heated Rivalry, it is an absolutely terrible idea. It shows that either the companies have no idea what they are doing and don’t understand the negative effects of light on the potency of various vitamins, or they care more about marketing than your health. Those are the only two choices, and both are really horrible. In not-so-shocking news, one of the most advertised and top-selling prenatal vitamins on the market is packaged in a clear bottle. Have I mentioned how much I loathe marketing departments?
Prenatal vitamins should be packaged in containers that protect the nutrients from light, such as dark glass bottles, opaque plastic bottles, packets, etc, but never clear bottles.
When Should You Start Taking Prenatal Vitamins?
We recommend starting your prenatal vitamins at least three months before you plan to get pregnant. This gives your body time to build up nutrient stores. Using it while you are nursing is a good idea as well, because nutritional needs are higher during nursing.
How should you take prenatal vitamins?
Prenatal vitamins should be taken with food, preferably with a meal containing some fat, and with a full glass of water. It is best to divide up the pills throughout the day to maximize absorption.
Best gummy prenatals 2026
A lot of you are thinking “Doesn’t he hate gummy vitamins, why would he recommend them?”
I do hate them, that’s correct, and the truth is that there are no good prenatal gummy vitamins. I’m pretty sure I could write an entire thesis paper on all of the problems with gummy vitamins and the psychology of how candy companies convinced people that they were a good idea, but I’m not going to subject all of you to that.
Due to the limitations of what can go into a gummy vitamin, it’s simply not possible to make one that has both sufficient levels of nutrients and the right forms of them. The candy making, sorry, gummy vitamin making process is extremely harsh, and most good forms of nutrients cannot survive the process. To get around this, some companies have begun spraying the vitamins onto the outside of the gummies. Well, this creates its own mess of problems because the vitamins degrade fairly quickly in this situation, leading to potency and stability issues.
Then there’s the issue of all of the unwanted additives, questionable sweeteners, flavorings, etc. You don’t need any of those things in your vitamins. Your baby deserves better than candy playing dress up as a vitamin. Just say no to gummy vitamins.
Best One A Day Prenatals 2026
While a one-a-day prenatal sounds great, it’s never going to be close to enough. It’s impossible to fit close to enough of most nutrients, in good forms, into one pill. You end up with something that uses the worst forms of vitamins and minerals to make the label look as packed as possible.
I wish it were possible to make a good one-a-day prenatal, I really do. However, the average nutrient intake and the poor-quality soil in which many crops are grown mean that a one-a-day prenatal supplement will not be enough to fill dietary gaps.
Best Organic and plant-based prenatal vitamins of 2026
You know, I am a huge fan of whole-food supplements and always recommend them whenever possible, but if you're looking for the best organic plant-based prenatal vitamins, boy, do I have some bad news for you. There isn’t one.
I looked into producing a whole-food prenatal supplement, and to make one that was truly whole food and supplied all the nutrients needed in effective amounts, it would have required about forty pills per day. I am not going to ask pregnant women to take forty prenatal pills per day. I also tried formulating a whole-food prenatal powder, but the prototypes tasted so bad you wouldn't want to drink them. Absolutely disgusting was the common description.
Many companies claim to sell organic, plant-based prenatal vitamins in various forms (bars, pills, etc.), but none of them are what they claim to be, or they are severely lacking in crucial nutrients.
In my opinion, this is one of the worst examples of a product being advertised as a whole food prenatal supplement:
According to their website, a whole serving contains only about 30 mcg of folate. No company should be able to advertise a product as a prenatal when it contains such a tiny amount of folate. Pregnant women must get enough folate to avoid neural tube defects in the developing baby. The daily value for folate during pregnancy is 600 mcg. Selling a vitamin with only around 30 mcg of folate and advertising it as a prenatal should be a crime. In addition, they claim it is a whole-food supplement when it contains magnesium glycinate, which is most certainly not a whole-food form of magnesium. Whole-food supplements should only contain whole foods!
Another issue with it is that black haw herb can cause serious complications for a lot of pregnant women. Black haw does have some benefits for certain women during pregnancy, but it should only be used under the supervision of a doctor or midwife who knows what they are doing. I had to do a double-take when a pregnant woman asked me to look at this “prenatal” for her. Black haw should not be present in a prenatal. It should be a separate product used by those for whom it is appropriate. If I could rate this product less than zero stars, I would. I have never met a good herbalist or midwife who thought it would be appropriate to put black haw in a prenatal vitamin. This is wild stuff. However, after finding out who owns the company, it’s not surprising that they are doing crazy things.
I’ve written a lot about fake whole food vitamins and supplements, and all the tricks companies use, and if you want to learn more about it, click here.
OB-GYN Recommended Prenatals
I cannot count the number of ads I have seen from companies claiming their prenatal vitamins are recommended by OB-GYNs, implying that this makes them a good product.
All it takes is one OB-GYN to recommend a prenatal vitamin to make this claim. It is not a measure of quality, purity, potency, or effectiveness. It is nothing more than a marketing claim. Some prenatal vitamins have paid OB-GYN spokespeople. That also does not mean it is a good product. This is not meant to bash OB-GYNs. It is meant to bash a stupid marketing gimmick.
Prenatal vitamins with DHA
DHA is very important for a healthy baby and pregnancy; no one would dispute that. The issue is that DHA should not be present in a prenatal vitamin; it should be taken separately, and there are a couple of important reasons for this.
Number one is that omega-three fatty acids, such as DHA and EPA, oxidize and go rancid quickly when exposed to certain minerals, including iron, which are found in many prenatal vitamins.
Second, to get DHA into regular prenatal vitamins, it must be converted into a powder. The process of turning an oil rich in DHA into a powder is very harsh, and these powders almost always have very high levels of oxidation.
Third, it is tough to add enough DHA to a prenatal vitamin to achieve an effective dose. Most brands have only a few milligrams of DHA to make the label look good, a perfect example of the all too common, terrible supplement industry practice of fairy-dusting.
Because of these things, we recommend a separate DHA supplement. Rather than using a prenatal with DHA, take a good prenatal and a separate whole-food DHA supplement.
Prenatal vitamins with iron
Iron is a crucial nutrient for a healthy pregnancy for a variety of reasons, and your prenatal must have enough. That said, there is a significant problem with the iron added to many prenatal vitamins.
Many forms of iron, such as ferrous sulfate, can bind to other minerals, reducing the absorption of both iron and the other minerals. In addition, iron can often be harsh on the digestive system, leading to constipation and an upset stomach.
It’s important to choose a prenatal vitamin that contains iron that is well absorbed, gentle on the digestive tract, and does not interfere with the absorption of other minerals.
Prenatal Vitamins With Choline - Unlocking The Choline Gap In 2026
It’s a real shame that most prenatal vitamins either lack choline altogether or contain only tiny amounts. If your prenatal isn’t supplying 400-500 mg of choline per day, it’s time for you to get a better one. Companies claiming to care about women’s health and pregnancy, but sell prenatal vitamins without adequate choline, are clearly full of it.
It is so ridiculous that so many do not contain, or contain only a very small amount of, this vital nutrient. Frankly, products lacking sufficient choline should not be labeled as prenatal vitamins. It's strange how the best-selling prenatal vitamin talks about the importance of choline on its website but then only puts a paltry fifty-five milligrams in its product; shame on them. Check out our blog to learn more about the importance of choline.
While choline may not be talked about as much as folate, we believe it is just as important. If your prenatal isn't providing enough choline, it’s time to choose a new one.
Third-Party Tested Prenatal Vitamins
Many companies are advertising that their prenatal vitamins are third-party tested. Unfortunately, this has become a marketing gimmick rather than a marker of quality. There are several reasons for this, including:
Wrong testing methods are being used.
Fake or counterfeit lab tests
Dry labbing
Only a small number of things are tested, rather than all that should be.
And a whole lot more!
Visit our blog for an in-depth examination of the issues with third-party testing and what you really should be looking for.
The best prenatal vitamin of 2026 - Moss Nutrition Multiselect Prenatal
Without further ado, let’s get to the main course. I am very excited to announce the release of something I have been working on for a while. A few of you knew I was working on a prenatal supplement. In conjunction with Moss Nutrition, I have helped to formulate and develop a very special prenatal vitamin. Every prenatal vitamin I could find had compromises, but I wanted something that didn’t. Thankfully, Moss Nutrition was willing to make my prenatal formula a reality. It is not a private-label product; it's a unique formula. This prenatal can be used before, during, and after pregnancy.
So what makes it so much better than other prenatal vitamins on the market? I’m so glad you asked. I was hoping you would.
It uses the optimal forms of nutrients. We didn’t skimp at all.
Fully methylated and coenzymated forms of B6, folate, B12, B2, and B1, including methylcobalamin for B12, and fat-soluble benfotiamine for B1.
Most companies use a mix of regular and coenzymated forms to reduce costs.
Stable Folate as L-methyfolate
L-methyfolate (sometimes labeled as 5-MTHF), or methylated folate) is the best form of folate to include in supplements, as many women cannot convert folic acid into folate. One big problem with it, though, is that it has significant stability issues and can lose potency very quickly due to degradation. This can mean that, a year after being bottled and sitting on the shelf, it can have far less folate than shown on the label.
I wanted to make sure that this prenatal contained the full amount of folate through the expiration date.
We originally intended to include a special version from a major supplier in Italy, which has a great reputation and supplies many well-known practitioner brands of prenatal vitamins with their l-methylfolate.
What we found, though, when we sent samples for manufacturing and stability testing, was a ton of quality control problems, which caused manufacturing problems and supply chain shortages. There was no way it would have passed the final quality control checks.
This was a shock to us, given their great reputation. That’s why testing is so important, not just believing raw material suppliers.
Thankfully, after a lot of work, we were able to locate a great supplier who produces a stable, reliable form of l-methylfolate that will allow us to maintain the full amount through the expiration date.
Each batch of this folate is third-party tested for potency, purity, pathogens, solvents, and adulterants.
Mixed tocopherol vitamin E, including gamma tocopherol
Buffered vitamin C so it’s gentle on the stomach.
Vitamin D3 not vitamin D2
In addition, the vitamin D3 in the formula is not diluted with BHT or lactose, a common practice in the supplement industry. The really bad thing about it is that these dilutents are almost never listed on the label.
A blend of 50% mixed carotenoids (including beta carotene and 50% preformed vitamin A.
Due to genetic and health issues, some women have poor conversion of beta carotene into vitamin A. That’s why it was important that some preformed vitamin A was included.
While some beta carotene is converted to vitamin A, mixed carotenoids have health benefits of their own, so it was important to include some.
Fully chelated minerals from Albion Labs.
Nearly all the minerals come from Albion Labs (except iodine, which they do not make), considered the premier manufacturer of chelated minerals.
This ensures that the minerals are truly chelated, not a mixture of compounds. This means you get optimal absorption and benefits.
Proper amounts of nutrients
When determining how much of each nutrient to use, I considered current consumption trends from USDA and FDA data, the increased nutrient requirements that come with pregnancy and nursing, and newer research showing that higher levels of certain nutrients, above RDA (for example, vitamin D), are showing promising results for a variety of positive pregnancy outcomes. Using this trio of datasets (and a lot of spreadsheet and calculator work), each nutrient was added in the amounts needed to ensure the micronutrient requirements of both the mother and the baby were fully met.
The only nutrients we could not do this completely for were calcium, magnesium, and potassium.
These nutrients are very bulky, and if we met 100% of the daily needs for each one using the best forms of nutrients, the daily dose would go from 6 pills per day to about 15 or 16 very large pills.
Depending on the diet, some people may need to supplement with these separately.
Iodine
Iodine deficiency continues to grow across the US for a number of reasons. Insufficient iodine intake can lead to significant developmental problems in a baby. That’s why it was so important that sufficient iodine was included.
Choline
This is the big star of this prenatal. Maternal choline intake matters far more than most people know. It has not gotten the attention it deserves for just how important it is. It is on the same level as folate. Choline intake in the general population, but especially in pregnant women, is far lower than it should be. This has serious consequences for both mama and baby. I get so, so angry seeing all these prenatal vitamins with little to no choline. These companies should be ashamed of themselves. I put a full 500 mg into this formula because it is that important. No one is going to be choline-deficient on my watch.
Fetal needs are taken into consideration with the vitamin K forms.
Some interesting studies are showing that the commonly used form of vitamin K2 in a lot of prenatals, mk-7, may not cross the placenta and get to the fetus. While more research is needed to confirm these results, until it is proven that the mk-7 form does cross the placenta, it should not be the sole source of vitamin K in a prenatal vitamin. That’s why I formulated this prenatal to contain 50% of the vitamin K as K2 (mk-7) for maternal health and 50% as vitamin K1 for fetal health.
Ferrochel Iron
Ensures that the iron is not only well absorbed and easy on the digestive tract, but also that it does not bind to and reduce the absorption of other minerals.
Nausea Prevention
100 mg of 4:1 ginger extract (it takes four pounds of ginger to make one pound of extract), 25 mg of B6 (as p5p), and a small amount of calcium carbonate and magnesium oxide to help reduce nausea and morning sickness.
No fluff
Far too many prenatal vitamins add tiny amounts of various fancy foods, compounds, and herbs, in amounts that don’t do anything, but make the label look good and allow them to charge more. Ten milligrams of blueberry or spirulina powder won't do anything! If you want to take those things, take them separately. Also, despite the claims, tiny amounts like that do not improve nutrient absorption or utilization.
This prenatal features no fairy-dusting and no bullshit. Just the stuff you need, without the nonsense.
Free of corn, wheat, dairy, gluten, tree nuts, eggs, and shellfish to make it available to as many people as possible.
It’s also vegetarian.
Encapsulated in vegetable cellulose capsules, rather than large tablets, to help make it easier to swallow.
Tested for contaminants
Each batch is tested for contaminants, such as heavy metals, to ensure it’s safe for mother and baby.
I am extremely proud of this prenatal and am incredibly thankful to Moss Nutrition for being willing to make it happen without the compromises so many companies make to pad their margins. I can confidently say there is no other prenatal like it on the market, and I am so excited to hear the stories and see the pictures of all the wonderful babies that result from it.
Prenatal Vitamin Questions And Support
I know this is a lot of information, so if you have questions about our prenatal vitamins, drop us an email anytime at info@rooted-nutrition.com.
I hope this article provided you with valuable information and helped you make a more informed choice when choosing a prenatal vitamin. Don’t forget to check out the rest of our pregnancy center for more great information on everything from healthy eating during pregnancy to breastfeeding.