Relevance of nutritional supplements during pregnancy: Role of iron, folic acid, vitamin d, calcium and multiple micronutrients

Abstract

Health promotion and disease prevention are essential components of prenatal care. Maternal nutrient insufficiencies could negatively impact the morbidity and mortality of the mother-fetus pair as well as the health of the next generations. Although a healthy diet is usually sufficient to meet the increased nutrient needs, supplementation is part of routine care to ensure a healthy pregnancy and optimal fetal development. Currently, iron and folic acid supplementation is the only globally accepted recommendation for all pregnant women. However, there are vulnerable groups of women who could benefit from complemen-tary individualized supplementation schemes. Recently, relevant information has been published related to the supplementation of single and multiple micronutrients with significant effects on maternal and fetal health, which could have implications in the clinical practice of health professionals. This review presents scientific evidence and the recommendations of different entities on the supplementation of iron, folic acid, calcium, vitamin D and multiple micronutrient supplementation during pregnancy.