
Are Multivitamins Advisable While Breastfeeding?

Question: Is it safe to take Multivitamin tablets with Vitamin A (50% as beta-Carotene 50% as Acetate) and other vitamins, for a Nursing mom with 4 months old baby?
Brief Answer:
Depends on dose of vitamin A
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for your query.
The recommendation is to avoid vitamin A during pregnancy and lactation.
But in USA and Canada, a multivitamin preparation named materna is routinely taken during pregnancy and lactation and it contains vitamin A as beta-carotene in the dose of 1200 mcg/2500 IU.
The supplement that should be avoided is omega 3, 6, 9 (also called as DHA/ARA). It has considerable side effects.
Please let me know the name of multivitamin that you are planning to take so that I am better able to help you.
Hope it helps.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Dr Vaishalee
Depends on dose of vitamin A
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for your query.
The recommendation is to avoid vitamin A during pregnancy and lactation.
But in USA and Canada, a multivitamin preparation named materna is routinely taken during pregnancy and lactation and it contains vitamin A as beta-carotene in the dose of 1200 mcg/2500 IU.
The supplement that should be avoided is omega 3, 6, 9 (also called as DHA/ARA). It has considerable side effects.
Please let me know the name of multivitamin that you are planning to take so that I am better able to help you.
Hope it helps.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Dr Vaishalee
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar


Thank you Dr. Vaishalee. We were planning to take the Multi Vitamin caplets from GNC. Here is the link: http://www.guardiannutrition.in/vitamins-gnc-ultra-mega-multivitamin-180-vegetarian-caplets-p-880.html
Below are the supplement facts in detail, Please review and let me know:
Amount Per Serving % DV
Vitamin A (50% as beta-Carotene 50% as Acetate) 5000.00 IU 100%
Vitamin C (as Ascorbic Acid) 200.00 mg 333%
Vitamin D (as Ergocalciferol) 600.00 IU 150%
Vitamin E (as natural d-alpha Tocopheryl Succinate) 30.00 IU 100%
Thiamin (as Thiamin Mononitrate) 75.00 mg 5000%
Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2) 75.00 mg 4412%
Niacin (as Niacinamide) 75.00 mg 375%
Vitamin B-6 (as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride) 75.00 mg 3750%
Folic Acid 600.00 mcg 150%
Vitamin B12 (as Cyanocobalamin) 75.00 mcg 1250%
Biotin 75.00 mcg 25%
Pantothenic Acid (as Calcium d-Pantothenate) 75.00 mg 750%
Calcium (as Calcium Carbonate) 100.00 mg 10%
Iron (as Ferrous Fumarate) 18.00 mg 100%
Iodine (as Kelp) 150.00 mcg 100%
Zinc (as Zinc Oxide) 15.00 mg 100%
Selenium (as L-Selenomethionine) 200.00 mcg 286%
Copper (as Copper Sulfate) 2.00 mcg 100%
Manganese (as Manganese Sulfate) 2.00 mcg 100%
Chromium (as Hydrolyzed Protein Chelate) 120.00 mcg 100%
Potassium (as Potassium Chloride) 5.00 mg 0%
Silica (as Silicon Dioxide) 10.00 mcg **
Choline (as Choline Bitartrate) 35.00 mg **
Inositol 75.00 mcg **
Rutin Powder 20.00 mg **
Citrus Bioflavonoids Complex 10.00 mg **
Hesperidin Complex 5.00 mg **
N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) 500.00 mcg **
Alpha lipoic acid (supplying R-ALA) 15.00 mg **
Green Tea Leaves Extract (Camellia sinensis) 15.00 mg **
Below are the supplement facts in detail, Please review and let me know:
Amount Per Serving % DV
Vitamin A (50% as beta-Carotene 50% as Acetate) 5000.00 IU 100%
Vitamin C (as Ascorbic Acid) 200.00 mg 333%
Vitamin D (as Ergocalciferol) 600.00 IU 150%
Vitamin E (as natural d-alpha Tocopheryl Succinate) 30.00 IU 100%
Thiamin (as Thiamin Mononitrate) 75.00 mg 5000%
Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2) 75.00 mg 4412%
Niacin (as Niacinamide) 75.00 mg 375%
Vitamin B-6 (as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride) 75.00 mg 3750%
Folic Acid 600.00 mcg 150%
Vitamin B12 (as Cyanocobalamin) 75.00 mcg 1250%
Biotin 75.00 mcg 25%
Pantothenic Acid (as Calcium d-Pantothenate) 75.00 mg 750%
Calcium (as Calcium Carbonate) 100.00 mg 10%
Iron (as Ferrous Fumarate) 18.00 mg 100%
Iodine (as Kelp) 150.00 mcg 100%
Zinc (as Zinc Oxide) 15.00 mg 100%
Selenium (as L-Selenomethionine) 200.00 mcg 286%
Copper (as Copper Sulfate) 2.00 mcg 100%
Manganese (as Manganese Sulfate) 2.00 mcg 100%
Chromium (as Hydrolyzed Protein Chelate) 120.00 mcg 100%
Potassium (as Potassium Chloride) 5.00 mg 0%
Silica (as Silicon Dioxide) 10.00 mcg **
Choline (as Choline Bitartrate) 35.00 mg **
Inositol 75.00 mcg **
Rutin Powder 20.00 mg **
Citrus Bioflavonoids Complex 10.00 mg **
Hesperidin Complex 5.00 mg **
N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) 500.00 mcg **
Alpha lipoic acid (supplying R-ALA) 15.00 mg **
Green Tea Leaves Extract (Camellia sinensis) 15.00 mg **
Brief Answer:
I would not suggest this
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
I will not suggest this multivitamin. The reason being high dose of vitamin A and some other ingredients with unknown side effects.
The mother can take cap prenatal by the company Wyeth available in XXXXXXX This is similar in composition to materna available abroad. Or she can take becosule capsule that are time tried and tested.
Dr Vaishalee
I would not suggest this
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
I will not suggest this multivitamin. The reason being high dose of vitamin A and some other ingredients with unknown side effects.
The mother can take cap prenatal by the company Wyeth available in XXXXXXX This is similar in composition to materna available abroad. Or she can take becosule capsule that are time tried and tested.
Dr Vaishalee
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

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