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    Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008 Dec;199(6 Suppl 2):S345-56.

    The clinical content of preconception care: nutrition and dietary supplements.

    Gardiner PM, Nelson L, Shellhaas CS, Dunlop AL, Long R, Andrist S, Jack BW.

    Department of Family Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA. paula.gardiner@bmc.org

    Women of child-bearing age should achieve and maintain good nutritional status prior to conception to help minimize health risks to both mothers and infants. Many women may not be aware of the importance of preconception nutrition and supplementation or have access to nutrition information. Health care providers should be knowledgeable about preconception/pregnancy-related nutrition and take the initiative to discuss this information during preconception counseling. Women of reproductive age should be counseled to consume a well-balanced diet including fruits and vegetables, iron and calcium-rich foods, and protein-containing foods as well as 400 microg of folic acid daily. More research is critically needed on the efficacy and safety of dietary supplements and the role of obesity in birth outcomes. Preconception counseling is the perfect opportunity for the health care provider to discuss a healthy eating guideline, dietary supplement intake, and maintaining a healthy weight status.

    PMID: 19081429 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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    Patient drug information

    • Folic Acid (Folvite®)

      Folic acid is used to treat or prevent folic acid deficiency. It is a B-complex vitamin needed by the body to manufacture red blood cells. A deficiency of this vitamin causes certain types of anemia (low red blood cell c...