A happy, healthy pregnancy starts with optimal nutrition

Pregnancy is a wonderful time for every mother-to-be and her partner, and the best way to support and nurture a new life is through optimal nutrition and a focus on overall health.

Creating a healthy environment for your growing baby requires a healthy diet and regular activity.

He eats a balanced and nutritious diet is vital to meet the baby’s developmental needs while supporting the mother-to-be with the energy and vitality needed to support new life.

READ MORE | Added Nutritional Support for New Moms to Biogen Pregnancy Pack Omega+

Prenatal supplement support

A quality supplement like Biogen Omega+ Pregnancy Pack they can offer additional nutritional support at this critical time in both of their lives.

This comprehensive prenatal supplement helps support your whole-food diet by helping you meet a portion of your daily nutritional needs during pregnancy in one convenient, easy-to-take dose.

Biogen Omega+ Pregnancy Pack is a vitamin and mineral complex designed for use before, during and after conception for additional nutritional support. Available in a 30-day pack, each serving consists of three ingredients:

1. 1 multivitamin and mineral tablet
2. 1 calcium tablet
3. 1 capsule of soft gelatin omega 3

READ MORE | Active, healthy moms make happier, healthier kids

Complete composition

Each multivitamin and mineral tablet contains B vitamins, vitamins A, C and E, folic acid, biotin, inositol, iron, zinc, copper and choline.

Each calcium tablet includes calcium (from calcium carbonate), magnesium, vitamin D3 and vitamin K2while each soft gelatin omega 3 capsule contains essential fatty acids (EFAs) from fish oil, including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

Each of these micronutrients fulfills a specific role in supporting a healthy pregnancy:

Vitamin A: It is vital for the proper formation of various organs during early pregnancy, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, eyes and bones. It also plays a role in the growth and development of bones in the fetus¹.

B vitamins: It participates in energy metabolism, ensuring that the mother has sufficient energy throughout pregnancy. Vitamins B6 and B12 also play roles in the production of red blood cells, and B12 is vital for the development and function of the nervous system². While research is ongoing, it is believed that vitamin B7 (biotin) may play a role in healthy embryonic and fetal development³.

Folic acid: Developing babies need folate (vitamin B9) to reduce the risk of birth defects and birth defects related to the brain and spine (known as neural tube defects). Folic acid deficiency has been associated with abnormalities in mothers, causing conditions such as anemia and peripheral neuropathy⁴.

Vitamin C: As vitamin C enhances iron absorption, it is often beneficial to take iron and vitamin C together. It also supports the production of collagen, which is vital for the healthy development of bones, cartilage, skin and blood vessels.

Vitamin D3: Necessary for optimal absorption of calcium and also supports nerve, muscle and immune system function. This vitamin is also important in supporting the development of the fetus⁵.

Zinc: Research⁶ shows a link between preterm births and zinc deficiency, so a supplement may provide benefits.

Iron: Low iron levels during pregnancy can increase the risk for low birth weights. The body needs about 1,000 mg of iron for an average pregnancy⁷. Any mom-to-be with medically diagnosed anemia – which can result from poor nutrition, plant-based diets or poor absorption – can benefit from an iron supplement. It is important to work with your doctor to determine the ideal level of supplemental iron support needed.

Copper: A deficiency of this micronutrient during pregnancy can lead to oxidative stress, which can lead to impaired fetal growth. Copper plays an important role in the production of collagen and elastin, and an insufficient amount of this element can lead to a decrease in the tensile strength of the fetal membrane, possibly resulting in premature birth⁷.

Choline: Choline is essential for neural tube formation, brain development and the overall well-being of expectant mothers, making it a cornerstone of prenatal care. Inadequate choline intake is associated with neural tube defects, cognitive deficits in offspring, and maternal health complications⁸.

Iodine: Your body needs iodine to make thyroid hormones, which are vital for energy production and normal brain and nervous system development in the fetus. A severe iodine deficiency can also lead to a thyroid condition known as hypothyroidism, where the thyroid produces too little thyroid hormone, which can affect both mother and baby in a number of ways. Therefore, it is vital to identify and treat this condition early in a pregnancy in collaboration with your doctor to ensure a healthy outcome⁹.

Calcium: Calcium is essential for maintaining normal muscle function in mom. Therefore, low calcium levels can cause muscle cramps and has been linked to high blood pressure, which can cause pre-eclampsia¹⁰.

Magnesium: Limited studies suggest relationships between magnesium deficiency and certain conditions in pregnancy associated with high mortality and morbidity, such as gestational diabetes, preterm birth, preeclampsia, and intrauterine growth restriction for gestational age.¹¹.

Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids: EFAs they are important for the development of the nervous system and retina. DHA is a particularly important form during pregnancy for the development of healthy nervous systems and eyes. Maintaining optimal EFA intake after pregnancy will also ensure that the baby gets adequate amounts from breast milk to support continued brain and nervous system development¹².

The best approach is to consult with your doctor or OBGYN to design an individualized nutritional plan that includes appropriate supplements where needed.

Bibliographical references:.

1. Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Nutritional Status during Pregnancy and Lactation. Nutrition in Pregnancy: Part I Weight Gain: Part II Nutrient Supplements. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (USA); 1990. 17, Vitamins A, E, and K. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK235251.
2. Ali MA, Hafez HA, Kamel MA, Ghamry HI, Shukry M, Farag MA. Dietary B-complex vitamins: Orchestration in human nutrition across the lifespan with gender differences. Nutrients. 2022 Sep 22;14(19):3940. doi: 10.3390/nu14193940. PMID: 36235591; PMCID: PMC9573099
3. Ryusuke Takechi, Ayumi Taniguchi, Shuhei Ebara, Toru Fukui, Toshiaki Watanabe, Biotin deficiency affects the proliferation of human embryonic palatal mesenchymal cells in culture12, The Journal of Nutrition, Volume 138, Issue 4, 2008-2008, Pg. 3166, https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/138.4.680.
4. Greenberg JA, Bell SJ, Guan Y, Yu YH. Folic acid supplementation and pregnancy: more than preventing neural tube defects. Rev Obstet Gynecol. Summer 2011;4(2):52-9. PMID: 22102928; PMCID: PMC3218540.
5. Gallo S, McDermid JM, Al-Nimr RI, Hakeem R, Moreschi JM, Pari-Keener M, Stahnke B, Papoutsakis C, Handu D, Cheng FW. Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy: evidence analysis center systematic review and meta-analysis. Diet J Acad Nutr. 2020 May;120(5):898-924.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2019.07.002. Epub 2019 Oct 25. PMID: 31669079
6. Ota E, Mori R, Middleton P, Tobe-Gai R, Mahomed K, Miyazaki C, Bhutta ZA. Zinc supplementation to improve pregnancy and infant outcome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Feb 2, 2015(2):CD000230. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD000230.pub5. Update in: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 Mar 16;3:CD000230. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD000230.pub6. PMID: 25927101; PMCID: PMC7043363.
7. Grzeszczak K, Kwiatkowski S, Kosik-Bogacka D. The Role of Fe, Zn, and Cu in Pregnancy. Biomolecules. 12 August 2020, 10(8):1176. doi: 10.3390/biom10081176. PMID: 32806787; PMCID: PMC7463674.
8. Jaiswal A, Dewani D, Reddy LS, Patel A. Choline supplementation in pregnancy: current evidence and implications. Cureus. 2023 Nov 8; 15(11):e48538. doi: 10.7759/cureus.48538. PMID: 38074049; PMCID: PMC10709661.
9. Delshad H, Raeisi A, Abdollahi Z, Tohidi M, Hedayati M, Mirmiran P, Nobakht F, Azizi F. Iodine supplementation for pregnant women: a cross-sectional national interventional study. J Endocrinol Invest. 2021 Oct;44(10):2307-2314. doi: 10.1007/s40618-021-01538-z. Epub 2021 March 11. PMID: 33704696.
10. Hofmeyr GJ, Lawrie TA, Atallah ÁN, Torloni MR. Calcium supplements during pregnancy to prevent hypertensive disorders and related problems. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Oct 1;10(10):CD001059. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001059.pub5. PMID: 30277579; PMCID: PMC6517256.
11. Dalton LM, Ní Fhloinn DM, Gaydadzhieva GT, Mazurkiewicz OM, Leeson H, Wright CP. Magnesium in pregnancy. Nutr Rev. 2016 Sep;74(9):549-57. doi: 10.1093/nutrit/nuw018. Epub 2016 Jul 21. PMID: 27445320.
12. Coletta JM, Bell SJ, Roman AS. Omega-3 fatty acids and pregnancy. Rev Obstet Gynecol. Fall 2010;3(4):163-71. PMID: 21364848; PMCID: PMC3046737.