Nourishment and Supplementation During Pregnancy – Impact on the Health of Offspring
Oliwia Kaczmarek
2026-03-21
8 min. read
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According to the opinion of the Polish Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (PTGiP), the use of multivitamin supplements during pregnancy is often unjustified. Like diet, the supplementation of pregnant women should be tailored to individual requirements. The importance of nutrition for the healthy development of offspring and their well-being in adult life is so significant that expectant mothers should pay close attention to their diets throughout the entire 9 months of pregnancy and beyond.
Iron supplementation during pregnancy
During pregnancy, the requirement for iron significantly increases. For women of childbearing age, the daily need for this nutrient is 18 mg, while during pregnancy it can reach up to 27 mg per day. The most common cause of anemia during pregnancy is a deficiency of this element. Anemia can be diagnosed if the hemoglobin level falls below 11 mg/dl. However, the Polish Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (PTGiP) warns against routine iron supplementation in pregnant women. Iron is involved in the formation of free radicals, which may increase the risk of developing diabetes mellitus. Therefore, this nutrient should be supplemented by women whose tests have revealed a reduced hemoglobin level (Hb). However, the results of morphology should be interpreted appropriately, as not every decrease in Hb in the blood is due to a deficiency of this element. If it is accompanied by an increased MCV (mean corpuscular volume), the problem is usually a deficiency of folic acid or vitamin B12.
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