The scope of this paper is to examine the evidence for supplementation with vitamins in pregnancy within the UK; it will not elaborate on their use in low- and middle-income countries in which other health benefits might occur. Vitamins are organic compounds essential for normal cell function, growth and development. There are 13 essential vitamins: vitamins A, C, D, E, K and the B series including B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B7 (biotin), B9 (folic acid), B12 (cobalamin). The topic can be considered in two major parts: use of a multivitamin preparation (usually incorporating folic acid) and use of high-dose individual vitamins for prevention of specific diseases.
The full SAC Opinion Paper can be downloaded as a pdf below:
