Fertility vitamins and supplements can be a great way to support your health or fill in any ‘gaps’ in your diet. Unfortunately, not all supplements are what they claim!
While some supplements are perfectly safe and beneficial, some manufacturers are more invested in making sales, so they sell them cheap, spend a load to advertise them and use less effective ingredients. This is often the main difference between a quality product and one that is potentially useless and in some cases harmful.
It’s also important to know that the regulation of supplements varies from country to country. Unlike prescription drugs, the ingredients on the label of a supplement may not provide accurate information about what’s really in it. This also can mean that some supplements don’t have to prove their efficacy in treating a condition or providing benefits.
That’s why it’s so important to know what’s right for you – and safe – and what isn’t. Here’s a quick lesson on how to make a good choice.
The importance of quality manufacturing
While some studies suggest that both capsules and tablets have good rates of digestion and absorption, others suggest tablets are slower to act and are more likely to cause adverse reactions. Much of this comes down to manufacturing.
Tablets are made of powdered active ingredients compressed into a solid form, while capsules are made of either gelatin (from animal sources) or cellulose (from vegetable sources) and are filled with dry, powdered ingredients.
Unfortunately, many tablet brands use “extra” ingredients to help bind them together, improve the taste, shelf-life, and rate of absorption.
A 2019 study found that more than 90% of frequently prescribed medications contain at least one ingredient capable of causing allergic or gastrointestinal symptoms in some people. These ingredients include lactose, peanut oil, gluten, and chemical dyes.
Supplements made through quality manufacturing should use no fillers whether they are capsules or tablets. Check the ingredients label for the list of excipients (inactive ingredients) to see what binders and fillers have been used.
The importance of effective dosing
Split dosing is often much more effective than taking one large dose for delivering nutrients. There are a few reasons for this.
Some water-soluble vitamins such as vitamin C are broken down very quickly in the body. Any excess (that your body can’t use right away) is flushed out in your urine.
Taking split doses means you’ll be replenishing your stores throughout the day, so nutrients are available to your body when you need them. It also reduces the amount your body has to process all at once.
The importance of quality over quantity
The label on a product should tell you exactly what ingredients it contains. That means both active and inactive ingredients (excipients). A lack of information on a product label can be a sign that it contains less-than-desirable ingredients.
High doses aren’t necessarily better! The bioavailability of a mineral – how readily it can be absorbed and used by the body – has more to do with the chemical form of the mineral than its quantity. Also, an excess of one mineral may hinder the absorption of another by competing for the same transport systems in the gut. For example, taking too much iron can reduce the absorption of zinc.
Now, let’s compare a practitioner-grade prenatal product with a standard, off-the-shelf product.
Birds & Bees preferred prenatal vs a mainstream pregnancy multivitamin
Birds & Bees preferred prenatal is manufactured and tested by a team of scientists. Ingredients are chosen not for their cost, but for their proven ability to be absorbed and utilized in the body.
A major advantage to Birds & Bees preferred prenatal is that it contains the methylated forms of folate and B12. The folate content is also 600mcg more than most multis. It contains a great amount of vitamins and minerals, including highly beneficial calcium citrate and malate.
The magnesium in Birds & Bees preferred prenatal is Magnesium Citrate, Malate, and Bisglycinate: the three most bioavailable forms of magnesium. The split dosing for Birds & Bees preferred prenatal (three capsules daily) ensures that these nutrients are readily available to your body throughout the day.
The mainstream pregnancy multi, on the other hand, includes Magnesium Oxide, which has a much lower bioavailability. The dosage is only once per day, which can mean you’ll miss out on any nutrients that your body can’t absorb at the time.
The only excipients in Birds & Bees preferred prenatal are calcium laurate, which is made from natural calcium and lauric acid (which is found naturally in various plants and is a major component of coconut oil).
Excipients in the mainstream prenatal include maltodextrin (sugar), microcrystalline cellulose, silicon dioxide, stearic acid, acacia, magnesium stearate, and carmellose sodium. Phew!
How to choose the right supplement for you
When it comes to optimising your fertility, Google or advice from others on a fertility forum is the last place you should rely on for information.
Without a comprehensive examination, the wrong information can lead to incorrect self-diagnosis. This in turn can delay your decision to seek medical advice when you need it or result in choosing a supplement that isn’t suited to your needs. In fact, research has shown that incorrect self-diagnosis or self-medicating is one of the main causes of adverse reactions, harmful drug interactions, or incorrect dosing.
The best way to address any health issue – especially in regard to fertility – is to book an appointment with me. I’ll take you through a comprehensive consultation covering your health history, symptoms, diet, lifestyle, and any other relevant factors. In the long run, this can actually save you time, money, and a lot of stress. I understand time and money are both precious commodities when it comes to fertility.
I use advanced lab tests to determine the most likely cause of your symptoms. I then create a treatment plan that prioritises real foods that increase fertility in females (and males) over supplements: a much more sustainable option!
Where supplements are deemed necessary, I only used those that have an evidence base behind their use and I recommend only the most efficient supplements with minimal fillers. Want to know more about supplements and my natural fertility support programs? Let’s chat.