Men and women have different vitamin needs as well as different daily recommended doses. During pregnancy, women need even more of some nutrients, such as calcium, iron and folic acid, that men require in different quantities. Men should not take prenatal vitamins, which contain higher levels of iron needed during pregnancy but that are potentially harmful to men with certain medical conditions. Take prenatal vitamins only if recommended by your doctor.
Additional Ingredients
Compared to standard multivitamins, prenatal vitamins contain larger amounts of iron and folic acid, a B-complex vitamin. Prenatal vitamins also contain calcium, although not enough to meet a pregnant woman's need, because calcium is large and would make the pill too bulky.
Iron Risks
Men generally get enough iron from their diets, while pregnant women need additional iron to build healthy blood stores for both themselves and the growing fetus. The average prenatal vitamin contains as much as 27mg of iron; men need just 8mg per day, MayoClinic.com reports. Men with a condition known as hemochromatosis, which often goes undiagnosed in the early stages, may accumulate large amounts of iron in the liver and other organs and soft tissue. Around 0.5 percent of all Caucasian Americans may develop hemochromatosis, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Hemochromatosis can cause liver failure, diabetes, liver cancer or heart disease.
Folic Acid Concerns
Pregnant women need additional folic acid because folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects, which develop early in pregnancy. Neural tube defects include spina bifida, an abnormal opening in the spine, as well as anencephaly, a condition where part of the brain doesn't develop. Men do not need more than 400mcg of folic acid and generally do not require folic acid supplements, Deborah L. O'Connor of the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto states. Taking extra folic acid could mask or worsen vitamin B-12 deficiency. High folic acid intake could also increase the risk of prostate or colon cancer.
Calcium
Most pregnant women do not get enough calcium from their prenatal vitamin alone. The amount of calcium in prenatal vitamins, usually between 200 to 300mg, probably won't cause harm to men, who need 1,000mg per day up to age 50 and 1,200mg over age 50. Research, however, suggests that excess calcium intake in men can increase the risk of heart disease. If you already consume large amounts of calcium through dairy products or antacids, taking a prenatal vitamin could put you over the top for recommended calcium intake. A meta-analysis of 15 clinical trials conducted by New Zealand researchers and reported in the July 2010 issue of "BMJ" found an increased risk of heart attack in men who took calcium supplements. Talk to your doctor before taking calcium supplements.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Prenatal vitamins: OK for women who aren't pregnant?; Kathleen Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.; August 2009
- BabyCenter: Do kids, men need folic acid supplements?
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; Hemochromatosis; April 2007
- "BMJ"; Effect of Calcium Supplements on Risk of Myocardial Infarction and Cardiovascular Events: Meta-Analysis; M. Bolland, et al.; July 2010
Member Comments