A GUIDE TO HEALTHY PREGNANCY MANAGING AILMENTS AND FINDING SOLUTIONS

A_Guide_to_Healthy_Pregnancy

THE ROLE OF VITAMINS FORAHEALTHYPREGNANCY

Fulya Sultan Karaduman

İstanbul Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, İstanbul, Türkiye

Karaduman FS. The Role of Vitamins for a Healthy Pregnancy. Çetin A, ed. A Guide to Healthy Pregnancy: Managing Ailments and Finding Solutions. 1st ed. Ankara: Türkiye Klinikleri; 2025. p.169-178.

ABSTRACT

Pregnancy induces structural and physiological changes that elevate the macro and micronutrient requirements for fetal and placental tissues. The regulation of nutrition and external supplements is crucial for safeguarding mother and fetal health. Vitamins participate in metabolic pathways and enzymatic activities inside the human body, contributing to the ongoing functionality of several systems, including the central nervous system, hematological system, immunological system, and gastrointestinal system. Although vitamin supplements can be crucial in addressing severe or moderate deficiencies during pregnancy, they may induce different maternal and fetal adverse effects when maternal reserves are adequate or in instances of high-dose vitamin supplementation. Folic acid supplementation during pregnancy has been shown to mitigate the risk of various pathologies, including neural tube defects; however, some studies indicate that excessive folic acid intake may induce carcinogenicity, hinder zinc absorption, complicate the diagnosis of B12 deficiency and its treatment, and elevate the risk of childhood asthma and allergies.Numerous diseases are noted in patients with B12 deficient during gestation. Vitamin D insufficiency in pregnancy correlates with a heightened risk of hypertensive disorders, fetal growth restriction, congenital rickets, type 1 diabetes, and autoimmune conditions including allergic rhinitis.Nonetheless, the administration of elevated dosages of vitamin D may result in non-specific symptoms like anorexia, polyuria, arrhythmia, soft tissue calcification associated with hypercalcemia, and teratogenic effects.In conclusion, the utilization of nutritional supplements at prescribed dosages during pregnancy is suitable; nevertheless, precautions must be made to avoid both excessive consumption and deficiencies. There are several reasons why a mother’s nutritional requirements increase after giving birth. These include restoring blood levels lost during labor and pregnancy, wound healing, cellular regeneration, postpartum depression prevention, immunological function, and breast milk quality to boost fetal immunity. After childbirth, women require folate, D, C, and B12.Pregnancy typically necessitates vitamin supplements due to the increased demands on fetal and placental organs. To promote a healthy pregnancy and infant, pregnant women should manage their vitamin consumption via diet and supplements. Too much or too little vitamin consumption might create problems. Excess levels can cause hypertension in mothers, neural tube defects, and congenital abnormalities in babies. Low levels can cause chronic illnesses like pregnancy-related diabetes. We must assess dietary nutrient intake to calculate vitamin supplement needs. To enhance mother and child health, pregnant women should consume a balanced diet, take prenatal vitamins, and have frequent examinations.

Keywords: Pregnancy; Vitamins; Vitamin B12; Vitamin D deficiency; Folic acid

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