A woman who chooses vitamin D supplements and other products recommended by the Polish Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (PTGiP) can be sure that she reaches for preparations containing balanced doses of ingredients that are safe for her and the developing fetus – writes Prof. dr hab. Mariusz Zimmer, President of the Polish Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians.
- Thinking about pregnant women who are looking for appropriate supplementation, the so-called the Big Five rule, i.e. the five most important ingredients for a future mother and fetus
- One of the most important elements for mothers-to-be is vitamin D – explains Prof. Zimmer
- Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy results, among other things, in a low birth weight of the child, while the woman has an increased risk of pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes.
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In supplementation, especially if it concerns pregnant women, great care must be taken. For this reason, the recommendation system of the Polish Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (PTGiP) has been developed. We have created recommendations to make women aware that taking all vitamins and minerals is not only unnecessary, but even in some cases may not be beneficial for the body. For this reason, supplementation during pregnancy should be limited only to ingredients included in the so-called Big Five – the Big Five, i.e. the five most important ingredients for the future mother and fetus. One of them is vitamin D.
- Seven signs your body needs vitamin D.
Important for mother and baby
Ensuring an adequate supply of vitamin D during pregnancy is very important as this ingredient supports the proper development of the fetus and the proper functioning of the mother’s immune system. Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy results, among other things, in a low birth weight of the child, while the woman has an increased risk of pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes.
There are two natural sources of vitamin D – it is a balanced diet and the production of vitamin in the skin under the influence of UV rays contained in sunlight. A pregnant woman should be in the sun, but in moderation. It is not recommended to sunbathe or use cosmetics containing filters that completely block the access of UV rays to the skin.
The diet provides two forms of vitamin D: ergocalciferol, i.e. vitamin D2 obtained from plant food, and cholecalciferol, i.e. vitamin D3 brought in with animal food. In women who give up eating animal products, you need to pay attention to vitamin D3 levels, as it drops after switching to an animal-free diet.
Safe thanks to recommendations
According to the recommendations of PTGiP, vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy remains at the level of 1500-2000 units a day in the group of healthy women and should also take place in months when there is a lot of sun. In the case of obese women, we recommend the use of 4000 units a day. Higher doses can be used in pregnant women struggling with certain diseases, but these are therapeutic doses and not supplementation, because it consists in supplementing the dietary elements of a healthy person.
- Proper preparation for pregnancy – this must be remembered
It is worth knowing that the recommendations provided by PTGiP to supplements containing vitamin D and other products. are based on the analysis cycle. It is assessed whether the preparation contains a balanced dose of ingredients, as well as eliminating those with an excessive amount of ingredients or containing elements that mutually exclude the absorption or suppress the effects of others. This is the main criterion for establishing product recommendations. The recommendation is therefore a confirmation of safety, so it is worth reaching for supplements recommended by PTGiP, if necessary.
The article comes from the campaign “Pregnancy – conscious motherhood” prepared by Warsaw Press, and the media partner of which is medTvoiLokony. All materials can be found on http://www.warsawpress.com/
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