Indications

Pre Natal SAP provides nutritive support for women who are pregnant or who are planning to become pregnant.
Non-inclusion of the nutrients beta-carotene and vitamin A: High doses of vitamin A have been shown to cause birth defects when taken during pregnancy. Our formula provides health practitioners with the flexibility to supplement these micronutrients separately, as needed.

Ingredients

Each NON-GMO vegetable capsule contains:

Vitamin C (from calcium ascorbate) 58.33 mg
Vitamin D (cholecalciferol) [333.33 IU] 8.33 mcg
Vitamin E (d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate) [16.667 IU] 11.15 mg AT
Vitamin K (vitamin K1) 33.333 mcg
Vitamin B1 (thiamine hydrochloride) 33.333 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin-5'-phosphate sodium) 16.66 mg
Niacinamide (vitamin B3) 16.66 mg
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxal-5'-phosphate) 16.66 mg
Vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin) 333 mcg
l Methylfolate (from calcium l-5 methyltetrahydrofolate) 333 mcg
Biotin (biocytin) 100 mcg
Vitamin B5 (calcium d-pantothenate) 33.333 mg
Calcium (from calcium citrate) 58.33 mg
Iron (from iron glycinate) 10 mg
Iodine (from potassium iodide) 50 mcg
Magnesium (from magnesium citrate) 25 mg
Zinc (from zinc citrate) 8.33 mg
Selenium (from l-selenomethionine) 16.66 mcg
Copper (from copper citrate) 666 mcg
Manganese (from manganese citrate) 1.66 mg
Chromium (from chromium polynicotinate) 33.33 mcg
Molybdenum (from molybdenum citrate) 16.66 mcg
Potassium (from potassium citrate) 25 mg
Boron (from boron citrate) 233.33 mcg

Contains no: Preservatives, artificial flavor or color, sugar, dairy, starch, wheat, gluten, yeast, soy, citrus or egg.

Description

Vitamin and mineral supplementation while planning for parenthood and during pregnancy helps ensure optimal nutrition for the health of the mother and unborn baby. Pre Natal SAP
provides therapeutic doses of a variety of supplemental nutrients aimed at preventing and correcting vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and achieving benefits seen beyond typical dietary intake levels.

Micronutrient status in women of reproductive years is of extreme importance, especially around the time of conception. Micronutrient supplementation is recommended for all women around this time to cover the gap in maternal nutrition and to avoid nutrient deficiency leading to complications of pregnancy and adverse fetal outcomes. Micronutrient status can influence the health of the woman during her pregnancy, the health and development of the fetus, and even years of infancy. Due to the rapid changes in the female body and the demands of the developing fetus, nutritional status is paramount as there are critical windows of development. Nutritional deficiencies during this time can affect the development of the immune system, and have implications to cardiovascular, spinal, musculoskeletal, neurological, and metabolic function. It is always prudent to ensure adequate micronutrient status.

MINERALS
Iron is essential to blood oxygen-carrying capacity. Iron bisglycinate chelates have been shown to be superior in absorption and bioavailability to other forms of iron.(1, 2, 3) Specifically, iron bioavailability as a glycine chelate was reported to be 3.4 times greater than that of ferrous sulfate,(4) with reduced incidences of side effects including gastric irritation and constipation (33% less). Iron deficiency anemia imposes a risk of hemorrhage during delivery. It is also associated with the risk of preterm delivery. Iron bisglycinate may negate the necessity for its coadministration with vitamin C for absorption, due to substantially increased bioavailability.(5)
Zinc is essential to human metabolism and catalyzes more than 100 enzymes, facilitates protein folding and regulates gene expression. Zinc deficiency may cause complications during pregnancy and delivery, as well as growth retardation, congenital abnormality, and retarded neurobehavioral and immunological development. Iodine deficiency has an effect on thyroid function and can influence rate of conception, and can lead to cretinism and possible preterm delivery.
Calcium and magnesium are critical for musculoskeletal development and influence nerve signaling. Magnesium is a cofactor for many enzymatic reactions. Magnesium can also help to decrease complications during pregnancy, such as inflammation and pain, by having analgesic action. Magnesium can also help to relax muscles and cramps.(6) Magnesium, vanadium and chromium play a role in blood glucose metabolism, transport and insulin sensitivity. These minerals can greatly decrease the risk of gestational diabetes.

ANTIOXIDANTS, BIOFLAVONOIDS, VITAMIN C AND VITAMIN E
Antioxidants, working in a complex synergistic system, play a major role in humans to quench free radicals and reactive oxygen species, the metabolic paradox of using oxygen as an energy source. The function of the antioxidant system is to prevent damage by free radicals to DNA, protein and lipid structure—the integral base of cell physiology. Antioxidants, a family to which vitamins C and E as well as the bioflavonoids belong, act as inhibitors at stages of initiation and promotion of tumor growth and proliferation and mitigate neoplastic processes.(7)
During pregnancy, it is crucial to have a handle on oxidative stress as it can lead to complications in pregnancy. Oxidative stress can lead to impaired placental perfusion, immune maladaptation and inflammation.(8) Increased levels of oxidative stress markers and decreased levels of antioxidants are found in women who experience preeclampsia.(9) Vitamin C is also a cofactor in multiple enzymatic reactions, particularly to do with the immune system and blood vessel health. Vitamin C prevents and reduces the duration and severity of the common cold, plays a role in the stress response, and increases the absorption of iron.

B VITAMINS AND FOLATE
B vitamins are required by the human body for metabolic processes, most notably involved in enzymatic processes required for energy production, maintain healthy skin and muscle tone, play a role in the development and maintenance of healthy immune and nervous system, promote cell growth and cell division and are required for healthy blood cell development.
Along with vitamin B12, folic acid plays a role in nucleic acid synthesis and carbon metabolism. Low maternal folate levels are correlated with smaller newborn weight, and contribute to congenital malformations such as neural tube defects (NTD). Since the fortification of folate in foods, NTD has decreased by 50–70%.(10) More recent studies suggest B12 supplementation can further decrease the risk of NTD.(10) Recently, it has been suggested that folic acid-containing multivitamins may also be beneficial in preventing congenital anomalies other than NTD such as a decreased risk for orofacial clefts, limb deficiencies, and cardiovascular abnormalities.(11)
Increased levels of both folate and B12 help to lower levels of homocysteine, which may contribute to NTD and early pregnancy loss.(12) Low levels of B12 and folate are also risk factors for the development of type 2 diabetes(13) and cardiovascular disease. Supplementing B12 will also help avoid other complications during pregnancy, such as macrocytic anemia and neurological complications affecting sensory and motor function.(14)
Folic acid and B12 deficiency can also lead to other pregnancy complications. Higher pregnancy rates are found with micronutrient supplementation in those with and without fertility issues. Previous studies suggest that folic acid status may be important in the ovarian response to FSH and helps to regulate the cycle and that low levels of folate were found to be strongly associated to ovulatory infertility.(15) In age- and energy-adjusted analyses, intakes of vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, folic acid and niacin were inversely related to the risk of ovulatory infertility.(15) Women with sufficient vitamin B6 showed a higher conception rate and lower risk of early pregnancy loss compared to those with vitamin B6 deficiency.(12)
Suboptimal vitamin B6 status and elevated plasma concentrations of homocysteine, a marker of poor folic acid and/or vitamin B12 status, also have been associated with increased risk of clinical spontaneous abortion.(12) In addition, numerous studies have documented associations between low vitamin B6 status and inflammatory responses, and inflammation has been linked to early pregnancy loss.(12) B vitamin deficiency coupled with hyperhomocysteinemia are associated with recurrent abortion. B6 has also been shown to decrease nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.

VITAMIN D
Vitamin D is important for the development of bones, and an inadequacy of it can contribute to the development of rickets, a disease once thought to be eradicated. Rickets is once again on the rise as people lather on sunscreen and limit sun exposure due to the damage UV rays can cause. The downside of this is that without direct sunlight exposure, the body cannot synthesize its own vitamin D.
Expecting moms need to ensure adequate intake for both themselves and the fetuses to optimize proper development and strength of fetal bones, and maintenance of their own. The role of vitamin D is to maintain serum levels of minerals such as calcium and phosphorus to support metabolic function, neuromuscular transmission, regulate bone metabolism and enhance immunity.
Studies show that at week 28, 100 mg/d of calcium is being deposited in the skeleton. At week 35, calcium deposition increases to 350 mg/d.(16) Building adequate stores of vitamin D for the newborn is important to the maintenance of the structure. Maintenance of vitamin D levels postnatally is also important, especially to those born premature, to avoid skeletal abnormalities. Vitamin D levels impacts fetal shape and limb length.(17) Fetal vitamin D insufficiency is linked to the increased risk of hypocalcemia, type 1 diabetes, asthma and schizophrenia.(18)
New studies show that vitamin D status also helps to regulate placental development. This indicates that vitamin D deficiency may contribute to complications in pregnancy such as miscarriage, preeclampsia, and preterm birth.(18, 19)

Quantity

180 capsules/bottle

Dose

3 capsules daily or as directed by physician.

Potential side effects/Safety

Third-party testing is performed on finished product to ensure Pre Natal SAP is free of heavy metals, pesticides and other impurities.

References

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1. Pizarro, F., et al. “Iron bis-glycine chelate competes for the nonheme-iron absorption pathway”. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 76, No. 3 (2002): 577–581.
2. Jeppsen, R.B. and J.F. Borzelleca. “Safety evaluation of ferrous bisglycinate chelate”. Food and Chemical Toxicology 37, No. 7 (1999): 723–731.
3. Hertrampf, E. and M. Olivares. “Iron amino acid chelates”. International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research 74, No. 6 (2004): 435–443.
4. Pineda, O. and H.D. Ashmead. “Effectiveness of treatment of iron-deficiency anemia in infants and young children with ferrous bis-glycinate chelate”. Nutrition 17, No. 5 (2001): 381–384.
5. Pineda, O., et al. “Effectiveness of iron amino acid chelate on the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in adolescents”. Journal Of Applied Nutrition 46, Issue 5 (2001): 2–13.
6. Goyal, P., et al. “Role of magnesium sulphate for brachial plexus analgesia”. The Internet Journal of Anesthesiology 21, No. 1 (2009): 0–6.
7. Park, O.J. and Y.J. Surh. “Chemopreventive potential of epigallocatechin gallate and genistein: evidence from epidemiological and laboratory studies”. Toxicology Letters 150, No. 1 (2004): 43–56.
8. Kontic-Vucinic, O., M. Terzic, and N. Radunovic. “The role of antioxidant vitamins in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.” Journal of Perinatal Medicine 36, No. 4 (2008): 282–290.
9. Sharma, J.B., et al. “Oxidative stress markers and antioxidant levels in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia”. International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics 94, Issue 1 (2006): 23–27.
10. Molloy, A.M., et al. “Maternal vitamin B12 status and risk of neural tube defects in a population with high neural tube defect prevalence and no folic acid fortification”. Pediatrics 123, No. 3 (2009): 917–923.
11. Goh, Y.I., et al. “Prenatal multivitamin supplementation and rates of pediatric cancers: A meta-analysis”. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 81, No. 5 (2007): 685–691.
12. Ronnenberg, A.G., et al. “Preconception B vitamin and homocysteine status, conception, and early pregnancy loss”. American Journal of Epidemiology 166, No. 3 (2007): 304–312.
13. Yajnik, C.S., et al. “Vitamin B12 and folate concentrations during pregnancy and insulin resistance in the offspring: the Pune Maternal Nutrition Study”. Diabetologia 5, No. 1 (2008): 29–38.
14. Green, R. “Is it time for vitamin B12 fortification? What are the questions?” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 89, No. 2 (2009): 712S–716S.
15. Chavarro, J.E., et al. “Use of multivitamins, intake of B vitamins and risk of ovulatory infertility”. Fertility and Sterility 89, No. 3 (2008): 668–676.
16. Holick, M.F. “Resurrection of vitamin D deficiency and rickets”. The Journal of Clinical Investigation 116, No. 8 (2006): 2062–2072.
17. McGrath, J.J., et al. ‘Seasonal fluctuations in birth weight and neonatal limb length; does prenatal vitamin D influence neonatal size and shape?”. Early Human Development 81, Issue 7 (2005): 609–618.
18. Bodnar, L.M., et al. “High prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in black and white pregnant women residing in the northern United States and their neonates”. The Journal of Nutrition 137, No. 2 (2007): 447–452.
19. Bodnar, L.M., et al. “Maternal vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of preeclampsia”. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 92, No. 9 (2007): 3517–3522.