We’re an instant gratification society—we tend to want things now, whether that’s next-day shipping or food at our door in under thirty minutes or immediate results from that collagen protein. For most people, prenatal vitamins are no different. We expect to feel different within days of starting them. But when customers ask us how to know their prenatal vitamin is working—men and women alike—there’s no single answer we can offer. Everyone responds to supplementation (not to mention pregnancy!) differently, which is one reason that how you feel isn’t a clue into whether or not your prenatal vitamin is actually working. Instead, you need to be confident about the prenatal vitamin itself, and there are a few things you’ll want to look for.
First Things First
Let’s quickly clarify a few things. The best way to ensure you’re benefiting from your prenatal vitamin is by taking it every single day. Your body needs a continuous stream of key nutrients to support your fertility, nourish a pregnancy, and maintain a growing baby, so don’t make the mistake of assuming prenatal vitamins are a one-and-done of thing or that you can benefit if you’re taking them, you know, whenever you remember. We have all kinds of tips and tricks to make your prenatal vitamin a daily habit, so do what you need to do to make sure it’s something you’re prioritizing each and every day.
Men, we’ll go ahead and point out that you can’t eyeball your sperm count. In other words, don’t expect noticeable changes to your semen, even after you've been taking a men’s prenatal vitamin a few months. But when you trust your men’s prenatal vitamin for all the reasons we outline below, you can be confident that you’re getting all the nutrients you need to support sperm health. Now, let’s get into some specifics for finding a really great prenatal vitamin from which you’ll both benefit.
Bioavailability
Newsflash—the body does best with certain forms of nutrients. The greater the bioavailability of a particular nutrient, the better the body is able to properly use it. Take folic acid. In the world of prenatal vitamins, folic acid is a big deal. It’s often used interchangeably with folate, though they’re actually distinct. Both are forms of vitamin B9, but folic acid is the inexpensive, shelf-stable version that is easily absorbed but difficult for the body to process. Worse, it’s estimated that up to 60% of women have a genetic variation that makes it next to impossible to properly use folic acid. Instead, they benefit from the active, methylfolate form of folic acid known as 5-MTHF.
Iron is another nutrient that can be difficult to properly absorb. Chelated forms of iron are more efficiently used in the body and they’re easier on the tummy—something you’ll appreciate if you’re navigating morning sickness. Vitamin D is another one. While it’s available in a few forms, studies (1) suggest that vitamin D3 is the most effective way of raising vitamin D levels in the body.
For over a decade, nutritionists and dietitians have been recognizing prenatal vitamins made with bioavailable nutrients (2), including methylfolate, as a superior way of ensuring moms-to-be are getting all of the nutrients they need.
Branded Nutrient Forms
Bioavailability isn’t the only consideration when you’re talking about nutrient forms, which also affect the size of both the final serving and individual capsule. Branded forms of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants tend to be among the purest forms you can buy, which means the greatest bioavailability and the greatest efficacy. In Beli’s prenatal vitamin, for example, we opted for Ferrochel, a tummy-friendly, chelated form of iron, zinc from Albio TRAACS, and VitaCholine. Not only does it make for the highest-quality prenatal vitamin you can get, it means a smaller serving size thanks to the impeccable purity. Cool, right?
Appropriate Amounts
Prenatal vitamins are designed to supplement what you eat, because your diet should always serve as the primary source of your nutrition. That’s not how every prenatal company sees it, unfortunately. But the “everything but the kitchen sink” approach that some formulas have actually isn’t doing you any favors. There’s a delicate balance to the nutrients our bodies need, and too much of one can be detrimental to how well you process another.
In our formula, we were as purposeful about what we kept out as what we put in. Vitamin A, for example, simply doesn’t meet our personal standards for safety in a prenatal vitamin. It’s plentiful in the average diet and can be harmful in the earliest stages of pregnancy. Calcium, another popular ingredient in many prenatal vitamin formulas, competes with other nutrients for absorption. DHA isn’t shelf stable when it’s combined with other ingredients. These nutrients are simply better sourced in what you eat or via a separate supplement, not in your prenatal vitamin. It’s more evidence of our mindful, intentional approach to the formulation of our prenatal vitamins. We wanted to create a prenatal vitamin that serves you in every way it should.
All The Right Acronyms
FDA-registered, GMP-certified, non-GMO are all official-sounding acronyms that really mean something. It tells you that your prenatal vitamins have been produced in a safe, standardized process with oversight in quality control and product consistency. In other words, you can feel confident in the quality, safety and purity of the prenatal vitamins in your bottle. Beli prenatal vitamins go one step further with third-party testing. We’re the proud recipient of the Purity Award from the Clean Label Project, an organization that tests for ingredient quality and purity. It’s just one more certification that proves we refuse to compromise on the quality of our prenatal vitamins.
The Bottom Line
Here’s the thing–when it comes to prenatal vitamins, you aren’t necessarily going to feel anything. But when you’re taking Beli, you can be sure of one thing–you’re getting the right recommended nutrients. Industry research has shown that consistent consumption increases blood levels of the nutrients you need to support preconception health and a healthy pregnancy, so stay the course! A daily prenatal vitamin as part of a healthy lifestyle, for men and women alike, is the best way to nourish your fertility aand pregnancy health. Follow our tips above and take confidence that you’re doing everything right.
Sources
Shieh, A. et al. (2016). Effects of High-Dose Vitamin D2 Versus D3 on Total and Free 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Markers of Calcium Balance. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4971338/
Greenberg, J. et al. (2011). Multivitamin Supplementation During Pregnancy: Emphasis on Folic Acid and l-Methylfolate. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3250974/
