Vitamin E during pregnancy

Expectant mothers need to closely monitor their bodies while awaiting the birth of their child. After an initial consultation, a doctor will prescribe vitamin E in the appropriate dosage and form. This substance plays a very important role both at the conception stage and directly in carrying the child. 

Vitamin E during pregnancy or its planning positively affects women’s reproductive function. It helps maintain the health of the mother and baby. Additionally, it strengthens the immune system and supplies the body with beneficial microelements. How to take vitamin E during pregnancy is determined only by the treating physician after consultation and preliminary tests. 

Function of Vitamin E during pregnancy

Vitamin E acts as a very powerful antioxidant. Its main function is to protect intracellular structures. The intake of this substance is necessary for the reproductive system to perform all its functions. The significance of micronutrient E is as follows:

• regulation of sex hormone secretion;
• beneficial influence on placenta development in the first trimester, as well as its proper attachment to the walls of the uterus;
• reduction of miscarriage risk.

Even considering its numerous beneficial functions, taking vitamin E during pregnancy should be done with caution, as there are certain contraindications. 

Features of use during pregnancy

Due to vitamin E during early pregnancy, blood flow between the body of the future mother and her child is ensured. Tocopherol is involved in the synthesis of important hormones, including prolactin. When the substance is prescribed in the very first weeks, it helps to reduce the risk of miscarriage and maintain hormonal balance.

In the second trimester of pregnancy, the microelement E in capsule form is prescribed only if there are all necessary medical indications. During this period, it is important to remember the significance of this substance and to include foods containing tocopherol in the diet.  

The role of the microelement in preparation for conception

With proper pregnancy planning, an individual dosage of tocopherol is selected for each specific woman. Typically, when preparing for conception, vitamin E is prescribed after menstruation. When preparing for conception, the microelement should be taken until the end of the cycle. 

As soon as pregnancy occurs, the attending physician will adjust the dosage of tocopherol. It is worth noting that it is also recommended for the partner to take vitamin E. This substance positively affects the increase in sperm activity. Additionally, taking it accelerates sperm production, making this microelement an essential part of vitamin complexes during the preconception period. 

Consequences of Element Deficiency During Pregnancy

Vitamin E deficiency during pregnancy always leads to undesirable consequences. For instance, a lack of this substance can cause complications such as mood swings, apathy, and increased fatigue. A deficiency in microelements often results in leg cramps, especially at night, and can also lead to thrombosis and anemia. 

The deficiency also affects the fetus. Newborns may experience vision problems and respiratory system pathologies. In severe cases, a stillbirth is possible. The attending physician will determine the amount of vitamin E in the body based on the combination of existing symptoms and a series of laboratory tests. If a deficiency is detected, they will prescribe tocopherol in capsules. 

Natural sources

An excellent prevention of vitamin E deficiency during pregnancy is to adjust the diet and add more healthy foods. The micronutrient is found in both animal and plant-based foods. Natural sources of the vitamin include: cold-pressed vegetable oils, avocados, bran, nuts, seeds. 

Tocopherol can also be found in sprouted wheat grains, bran. It is contained in fruits and berries: peaches, mangoes, sea buckthorn. During pregnancy, expectant mothers should add more dairy products, eggs, liver, spinach, and broccoli to their diet. 

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Tocopherol is a fat-soluble substance that requires the intake of fats for proper absorption. If you are prescribed this micronutrient, you first need to adjust your diet, adding more natural sources of the vitamin. 

Pharmaceutical preparations

As a rule, in medical practice, synthetic pharmaceutical preparations of vitamin E are prescribed. This significantly increases the chances of sufficient intake into the body. Vitamin E during pregnancy is taken only as prescribed by a doctor. The amount of active substance in capsules can vary. It is allowed to take tocopherol as part of multivitamin complexes that also contain other active substances. 

Moreover, if vitamin E is taken during pregnancy with other minerals, it is better absorbed. Ready-made capsules contain an average dosage necessary for maintaining and developing the fetus. 

Among the pharmaceutical drugs available on the market, the following are in particular demand:

• Vitamin E 400-Zentiva. It plays a very important role if there are problems with conception and development. It is available in capsules containing the maximum dose. It is convenient to use, as it has a pre-calculated norm;
• Alphabet. A product from a domestic manufacturer. It includes various minerals with minimal concentration. It is recommended to take such Vitamin E during the second trimester of pregnancy;
• Elevit Pronatal. A special micronutrient complex for pregnant women. Includes: E, A, D elements and folic acid;
• Combivit 11. These multivitamins contain well-known compounds: A, B group, C, E. It is recommended to take them when planning pregnancy or after childbirth.

Each of these drugs has certain contraindications, so it is worth consulting your doctor before starting. There are also many other vitamins during pregnancy that can be taken.

Contraindications

If during pregnancy, vitamin E is deficient, it creates a constant feeling of weakness. The child may develop vision problems. This micronutrient also acts as an antioxidant. Its excess can lead to heart problems. 

Overdose can lead to consequences such as congenital mental and physical developmental defects in the child, and nervous system disorders. The feature of taking tocopherol is that its excess in the body is possible only in two cases: self-increase in dosage and a longer duration of intake compared to what was prescribed by the attending physician. 

How to Take

To maximize the benefits of the micronutrient, it is important to know in what form it enters the body: 

• In capsules, the quantity should be determined by a gynecologist. Typically, these vitamins are taken in the first trimester with meals;
• In vitamin complexes. Suitable for use in the second and third trimesters;
• In food products. This is the most optimal way for nutrients to enter the body of a pregnant woman. In this case, any contraindications are almost completely absent;

For the medication to be well absorbed, it should be taken with fatty food. Expectant mothers should pay attention to how they feel. Significant overdosing can affect both the baby’s development, certain functions of its body, and the health of the mother.

Until what time to take

The recommended dosage of vitamin E during pregnancy is 15 mg per day. If the mother lives in an environmentally polluted area, the dosage should be increased by 1-2 mg.

Micronutrient E helps normalize the endocrine balance. In early pregnancy, it protects against miscarriage. How much vitamin E to take during pregnancy depends on the body’s condition under which the supplement was prescribed.  In case of hypovitaminosis, treatment should continue until the body’s tocopherol levels are fully restored. 

When planning a pregnancy, vitamin E can be taken in minimal doses for a period of one to three months. Meanwhile, a woman should daily consume foods containing fat-soluble components.