Pregnant women and those over the age of 50 have different nutritional needs. While pregnant women benefit from taking prenatal supplements, those over 50 need a supplement designed for their specific age group and gender. That said, taking a prenatal vitamin when you are over 50 isn't really harmful, as long as you don't take it for an extended time. Always talk to your doctor before taking a prenatal vitamin supplement on a regular basis if you are not pregnant.
Recommended Dietary Allowances
The recommended dietary allowances of thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folate, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, panthothenic acid, choline, chromimum, copper, iodine, manganese, molybdenum, sodium, chloride, selenium and iron are greater for pregnant women than they are for anyone over the age of 50. The recommended dietary allowances of vitamin A and vitamin C are also greater for pregnant women than for women over the age of 50. But they are less than the recommended dietary allowance for men over 50. Pregnant women also have a lower recommended dietary allowance for vitamin K, fluoride, zinc, phosphorus and magnesium than men over 50. In addition, they have a lower recommended dietary allowance for calcium than women over 50 and for men over 70.
Safety
While prenatal vitamins contain amounts of certain vitamins and minerals that exceed the recommended dietary allowances for those over 50, most do not contain amounts that exceed the tolerable upper-intake level for people in this age group. The tolerable upper-intake level is the amount that you can safely consume without increasing your risk of experiencing adverse reactions. This means most adults over 50 could consume a prenatal vitamin supplement without experiencing any side effects. However, consuming a prenatal vitamin for an extended period of time if you are over 50 may cause problems, especially if the supplement contains iron.
Iron
The amount of iron in prenatal vitamins is a concern. The recommended dietary allowance of iron during pregnancy is 27 mg a day, but it is only 8 mg a day for those over 50. Older adults who take a prenatal vitamin with large amounts of iron on a regular basis may experience an iron buildup, which can cause a number of serious health problems including diabetes, liver damage and skin discoloration. If you are over 50, you should not take a prenatal vitamin that contains iron on a regular basis without getting a doctor's approval.
Considerations
Vitamin manufacturers create supplements designed to meet the recommended dietary allowances of a particular group as closely as possible. Because of this, taking a multivitamin supplement that is designed to meet the needs of your gender and age group is more likely to provide you with an appropriate amount of each vitamin and mineral. While taking a prenatal vitamin when you are over 50 might not necessarily be harmful as long as it does not contain large amounts of iron, it also is not as beneficial as taking one suited to your age and gender.
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