Taking Prenatal Vitamins If You're Not Pregnant

What’s different about prenatal vitamins?

There are many prenatal vitamins available on the market but they all have one thing in common that you won’t find in a typical multivitamin: folic acid. Folic acid is very important for pregnant women to get because it reduces the chances of most birth defects, especially abnormal development of the neural tube and the nervous system. Prenatal vitamins usually have higher levels of calcium and iron as well, making them a good option for people that don’t get enough of these nutrients in their diet.

Are there any benefits to taking prenatal vitamins?

Folic acid is a great thing for adults to get as well as pregnant women. It helps promote the body’s processing of homocystine, of which high levels have been linked to a number of health concerns. High levels of homocystine have been shown to increase the chance of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Fortunately, adults can take folic acid to help the body turn homocystine into a compound that helps protect your blood vessels from free-oxygen radicals. It’s also been shown that men with cardiovascular disease have, on average, lower folic acid levels in their body. Prenatal vitamins are also thought by many to promote stronger nails and thick, silky hair. Research hasn’t proven this for sure but millions of pregnant women will swear by it.

Are there any health concerns?

Individuals with certain health conditions should ask their doctor before taking prenatal vitamins. In particular, people that take the medicine Synthroid for thyroid problems should talk to their doctor about dosing because prenatal vitamins can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb the drug. You may also want to take a prenatal vitamin that does not include iron or calcium because combining these two can diminish the ability to absorb both. Prenatal vitamins may also cause constipation due to the high level of iron. This can be combated of course by switching to a prenatal vitamin that doesn’t include iron.

Conclusion

In summary, prenatal vitamins are completely safe to take whether you’re pregnant or not. They can even have health benefits, especially for people at risk for cardiovascular disease or hypertension. Prenatal vitamins may also help promote healthy nails and hair. Normal multivitamins work well for most healthy adults, although those looking to decrease their chances of developing or reducing hypertension and cardiovascular disease may want to consider talking to their doctor about beginning a regiment of prenatal vitamins or folic acid.