A miscarriage occurs when you spontaneously lose a pregnancy before its 20th week. It typically happens when a fetus is developing abnormally, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Prenatal vitamins play an important role in a healthy, successful birth, and certain vitamins may minimize the risk of miscarriage. Ask your doctor about the supplements you may need if you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant.
Folic Acid
Folic acid is also known as vitamin B9. Pregnant women need higher levels of folic acid than those needed by women who are not pregnant. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, pregnant women should get 600 mcg daiy. A fetus needs folic acid for the development of the neural tube, which becomes the spine and brain. The center describes a link between miscarriage and low levels of folic acid based on a study published in the "American Journal of Medical Genetics" in March 2000. A 2001 study published in "The Lancet" found no evidence linking folic acid supplementation and a reduced risk of miscarriage, however. Ask your doctor if you are getting enough folic acid.
Riboflavin
If you are pregnant, you must consume sufficient amounts of riboflavin. A riboflavin deficiency may increase the risk of developing preeclampsia, according to a study published in "Obstetrics and Gynecology" in July 2000. Preeclampsia is a condition that may cause miscarriage and maternal death. Pregnant women with preeclampsia may experience seizures, high blood pressure and liver problems. The cause of preeclampsia is unknown.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are vitamins like C, A and E. An article published in "The Telegraph" in July 2000 states that high doses of vitamins may decrease the risk of miscarriage. The article references a study conducted at Cambridge University, which found that taking antioxidant supplements may destroy free radicals caused by an oxygen surge that affects fetuses 8 to 12 weeks old. Oxygen levels naturally rise gradually during pregnancy, but they surge around this time for unknown reasons. Supplements may protect fetuses from miscarriage related to the potentially dangerous oxygen surge and resulting free radical formation. The lead researcher of the Cambridge study, Dr. Graham Burton, states that the discovery of the rise in blood oxygen levels may explain why women have miscarriages for seemingly no reason.
Prenatal Vitamins and Multivitamins
Women take prenatal and multivitamins before and during pregnancy to decrease the risk of birth defects. This practice may also decrease the risk of miscarriage, according to a 2009 study in the "American Journal of Epidemiology." The study found that the risk of miscarriage was 57 percent lower among participants who took prenatal vitamins and multivitamins. A 2011 study published the "Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews," however, found that taking vitamins before and during pregnancy had no effect on miscarriage. Discuss your risks for miscarriage with your doctor to determine the best way to protect your fetus.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Miscarriage
- "The Telegraph": Vitamins Stop Miscarriages; David Derbyshire; July 2000
- "American Journal of Medical Genetics": Miscarriage and Use of Multi-Vitamins or Folic Acid; Gayle C. Windham, et al.; March 2000
- "Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews": Vitamin Supplementation for Preventing Miscarriage; A. Rumbold, et al.; January 2011
- "Obstetrics and Gynecology": Riboflavin Deficiency and Preeclampsia; J. Wacker et al.; July 2000
- "The Lancet": Folic Acid Supplements During Pregnancy and Risk of Miscarriage; Jacqueline Gindler, M.D., et al.; September 2001
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