Prescription pre-natal vitamins are no better than over-the-counter pills – despite being more than DOUBLE the price, study finds
- Researchers at the University of Nevada compared eight of the top prescribed pills versus eight OTC pills
- They found neither met the guidelines for nutritional content, despite the price gap
Pricey pre-natal vitamins prescribed by doctors are no more effective than over-the-counter alternatives at less than half the price, a new study finds.
Research comparing eight of the top prescription supplements, and eight generics, showed none of them contained all the vitamins they should.
On balance, they were just as effective as each other.
And yet, prescription vitamins can cost up to $180 a for a month’s supply.
Researchers at the University of Nevada compared eight of the top prescribed pills versus eight OTC pills and found neither met the guidelines for nutritional content, despite the price gap
‘We found no meaningful difference in nutritional adequacy of prescription versus nonprescription pre-natal vitamins,’ researcher Rachel Kelly, at the University of Nevada, said, presenting the findings at the conference for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, ‘despite appearance of a large cost difference.’
Health authorities in the US recommend that all pregnant women take pre-natal vitamins as early as possible.
ACOG cites evidence that at least one month of folic acid reduces the risk of a baby being born with brain or spinal cord defects.
Over the course of the pregnancy, the list of recommended vitamins gets longer, so pre-natal vitamins are designed to make it a digestible experience.
Ideally, a pre-natal vitamin should include 400 mcg of folic acid, 400 IU of vitamin D, 300 mg of calcium, 70 mg of vitamin C, 3 mg of thiamine, 2 mg of riboflavin, 20 mg of niacine, 6 mcg of vitamin B12, 10 mg of vitamin E, 15 mg of zinc, 17 mg of iron, according to WebMD.
At least two-thirds of women leave their first pregnancy check-up with a prescription.
Generally, prescription pills are held up as having higher concentrations of nutrients.
But according to the new study, while all of them at least 800 mcg of folic acid, none met all of ACOG’s nutrient recommendations for calcium, folic acid, iron, and vitamin D.
What’s more, the price of the cheapest prescription vitamins was almost double that of the most expensive non-prescription vitamin pill.
The findings come on the heels of a survey that found 84 percent of new mothers doubt the choices they make during pregnancy.
While two-thirds of the 2,000 women surveyed had been recommended pre-natal vitamins, few were sure that it was the right thing, and what they should be taking.
‘With new advancements in medical research each year, that can lead to confusion for mom, especially when decades of great moms before her likely weren’t privy to the latest guidance,’ New York OBGYN Dr Alyssa Dweck said.
‘Of course, there are core guidelines that have stood the test of decades, but as the years progress, there are discernible generational shifts in pregnancy practices given the new information available.’
The research team at Nevada recommend women have a frank discussion with their provider about the cost-effectiveness of their vitamins compared to others on the market.