There are many rumors about prenatal vitamins. In fact, it's quite understandable that based on what you might have heard, you might think prenatals are nearly cure-all supplements. In truth, however, they're really quite similar to regular multivitamins. For instance, they can't affect your hair strength or texture.
Prenatal Vitamins
If you're pregnant, your obstetrician has likely prescribed prenatal vitamins or recommended you pick up an over-the-counter brand. The supplements contain a variety of vitamins and minerals that help you meet your increased nutritional needs during pregnancy. They're similar to regular multivitamin supplements, but contain additional iron and folic acid. The iron helps increase your blood volume, explain Drs. Michael Roizen and Mehmet Oz in their book "You: Having A Baby." The folic acid helps your fetus synthesize the nervous system.
Hair Texture
Your hair texture depends largely on two things: your genetics and how well you care for your hair. Unless you're quite nutritionally deprived -- something not likely if you're eating enough calories -- your hair texture won't be affected by your diet. Overstyling your hair or exposing it to too much sun can certainly dry it and make it brittle, however. Perming or coloring your hair also impacts the texture.
Vitamins and Texture
Many people are under the impression that your hair needs vitamins; this is simply not true. Hair isn't living: It consists of strings of protein secreted by the hair follicle cells. The follicle cells do need vitamins, but extra vitamins won't help them work more efficiently or change the nature of the hair they produce. Unless you're seriously vitamin deprived -- in which case a regular multivitamin will help just as well as a prenatal -- prenatals won't affect your hair.
Uses Of Prenatals
You simply won't benefit from prenatals any more than you'd benefit from regular daily multivitamins formulated for women if you aren't pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive. This is because the extra iron and folic acid in prenatals doesn't do anything for you unless you're supporting an additional life. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, however, prenatals are quite important. Further, explains Dr. Miriam Stoppard in her book "Conception, Pregnancy and Birth," prenatals are a good idea if you're trying to conceive.
References
- "You: Having A Baby"; Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D.; 2009
- "Conception, Pregnancy and Birth"; Miriam Stoppard, M.D.; 2008
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