Pregnancy vitamins: nutrients for reproductive health

There’s plenty you can do from a nutritional point of view to help your chances of conceiving. Here are Vitl’s most recommended nutrients for reproductive health.

B Vitamins (specifically folic acid, B6 and B12) 

• Folic Acid: folic acid is key to take before conception and during pregnancy. It helps to prevent neural tube defects (i.e. spina bifida), cleft lip, limb defects and other developmental abnormalities. More than that, it may help with preventing preterm deliveries and pregnancy complications (such as pre-eclampsia).
  
• B6: it’s thought that B6 may help to regulate hormones and to alleviate PMS.
  
• B12: B12 is considered to improve fertility by improving sperm quality and production. It also helps to keep the womb lining health in egg fertilisation, helping to reduce the chance of miscarriage. 
  

Bottom line: It’s important to take B vitamins together in a complex as they work together synergistically. Official guidelines recommend that women take 400mcg of folate daily before and during pregnancy.

Antioxidants 

• Vitamins C and E: helps to protect sperm, eggs and their DNA content (and ultimately your baby’s DNA) from damage from free radicals (which may lead to miscarriage and health issues later on). Research has found that antioxidant supplementation can increase the chances of conceiving and increases live birth rates.
• Selenium: another antioxidant that helps protect against free radical damage. Selenium is also important for the production sperm.  

Bottom line: antioxidants recycle each other to keep them working, so it’s helpful to consume in a range of antioxidants on a daily basis.

CoQ10  

CoQ10 is another antioxidant that serves another important enough function we’re mentioning it on its own. It’s key in all cells in order to create energy so your cells and tissues work. Your ability to produce your own CoQ10 reduces as you get older. Although there have yet to be individual studies that examine the effect of CoQ10 on its own, initial research at a cellular level suggests that CoQ10 can improve and preserve the quality and quantity of oocytes (immature egg cell).

Bottom line: CoQ10 is key for keeping your energy levels up which can be useful during the preconception and pregnancy time period, and potentially for protecting and preserving egg quality. 

Vitamin D 

Vitamin D is required to produce sex hormones that are key for reproductive health.

Bottom line: Although you can make vitamin D from exposing sufficient skin (unprotected) to the sun for a short while, it is tricky to get sufficient sunshine if you have darker skin or spend the majority of your time indoors. This makes vitamin D a valuable addition to your supplement regime.

Zinc 

Zinc is key for over 300 enzyme biochemical reactions in the body. The role of zinc in terms of fertility has been well documented and there is little doubt that a zinc deficiency can reduce fertility and increase the risk of miscarriage.  

Bottom line: zinc is really important for many biochemical processes, especially those related to fertility, making it a worthwhile addition to your supplement regime.

Omega 3 

Omega 3 fats have been found to be beneficial for heart, brain, eye and skin health as well as healthy hormone function. It also makes up a component of semen, as well as the electrical insulation in the nervous system. 

Bottom line: Unless you're eating oily fish (i.e. salmon, mackerel, sardines) at least 2-3 times per week, supplementing with omega 3 is highly recommended for everybody, especially when trying to conceive.

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All the essentials you need to support your body throughout your pregnancy journey, from pre-conception all the way through to breastfeeding.  

All Vitl supplements are non-GMO and 100% free from potentially harmful bulking agents, artificial colours and preservatives to maximise absorption and ensure you're getting the highest quality nutrients for you and your baby.