Can Vitamin Supplementation Help Prevent Miscarriage?

2. Vitamin C

As a powerful antioxidant, studies show that women with low blood levels of Vitamin C had a higher risk of miscarriage.⁷ Vitamin C helps the body to detoxify and maintain healthy immunity during pregnancy, while also supporting placental function. At the same time, some evidence exists that taking too much Vitamin C could cause pregnancy complications.⁷ The key here is getting the right amount to increase the benefit and decrease any possible adverse reactions.

3. Vitamin D

A host of studies have shown that insufficient Vitamin D levels can increase the chances of miscarriage.⁸ Vitamin D is actually a hormone that plays a vital role in regulating reproductive hormones in both men and women. It also helps metabolic processes that regulate blood sugar, so it is especially helpful for women with PCOS and diabetes.

A new study published in July in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has revealed a connection between vitamin D deficiency and risk of miscarriage in the first trimester. The study tested the blood levels of vitamin D of 1,683 pregnant women prior to week 22 of gestation. Of the 1,683 participants, 58 had a miscarriage (3.5%), 25 in the first trimester and 33 in the second trimester. Those who had a miscarriage had lower blood concentrations of vitamin D at the time of sampling compared to those who did not. These findings suggest the protective role vitamin D may play against miscarriage and the importance of adequate intake.

So are you getting enough vitamin D? Knowing approximately 80-90% derives from sunlight-induced production in the skin, it’s safe to say most of us living in the northern hemisphere are likely deficient. Only a small amount of the body’s total vitamin D is derived from diet, so supplementation is often necessary to achieve adequate blood levels. At Pulling Down the Moon we recommend supplementing with 1000 IU of vitamin D daily. Depending on your levels you may need to supplement with more, so we always recommend having your doctor do a blood test first.

4. Vitamin E

The correct amounts of Vitamin E can help control blood glucose levels during pregnancy, ⁹‌ however, too much of it may be linked to preterm labor risks.¹⁰

7. Calcium

While it’s clear that pregnant women need more calcium to protect their bones while also building new bones for a baby, studies have shown that healthy calcium amounts can also help prevent dangerous preeclampsia and other complications that can harm the mother and baby.¹³‌

8. Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) are incredibly important for fetal brain and eye development, and studies show that pregnant women themselves have an increased need for these nutrients to support a healthy pregnancy too.¹⁴‌

9. Magnesium

Magnesium is not only important for nerve development and health during pregnancy, some evidence indicates that correct levels of magnesium in a woman’s bloodstream during pregnancy can help reduce the risks of preeclampsia and eclampsia.¹⁵‌

10. Iodine

Some studies have indicated that insufficient iodine intake may be linked to pregnancy loss, and it is clear that iodine deficiency in utero and early childhood can hamper brain development in ways that can cause irreversible cognitive impairment.¹⁶‌

Multivitamins During Pregnancy

Again, it can be hard to make sure you get the right balance of all of these nutrients, both for promoting fertility and then carrying out a successful pregnancy. In addition to these vitamins and minerals, research has shown that nutrients such as choline and L-arginine can assist with both fertility and healthy pregnancy.

Watch Intakes Especially With Certain Vitamins

With most vitamins and minerals, especially A, C, E, and iron, it’s important to get the right amount. Getting either not enough or too much of nutrients like these can increase the risks of complications during pregnancy. For example, too little Vitamin A can increase miscarriage risks and pregnancy complications, but too much can increase the risk of birth defects.¹⁷ Your doctor can do blood tests to see how your blood serum levels of these nutrients stack up. Then, through nutritional counseling and tweaking your vitamins to prevent miscarriage, we can work out the ideal levels of these vitamins and minerals and increase your chances of having a healthy baby.

Seeking Guidance from a Trusted Nutrition Expert During Pregnancy Is Essential

• Fertility acupuncture (especially helpful for natural pain relief and even nausea)
• Prenatal massage
• Prenatal yoga

These are just a few of our holistic fertility-support services for both men and women. We’ve created an entire team and community that understands the unique challenges of the fertility journey, and we are here for you. To learn more about any of our services and how to become part of our community, please schedule an appointment with us today.

References

¹Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Www.mayoclinic.org. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pregnancy-loss-miscarriage/symptoms-causes/syc-20354298?p=1

‌²Cleveland Clinic. (2019, July 22). Miscarriage: Risks, Symptoms, Causes & Treatments. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9688-miscarriage

³Silvestris, E., Lovero, D., & Palmirotta, R. (2019). Nutrition and Female Fertility: An Interdependent Correlation. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 10(346). https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2019.00346

⁴Adams, J. B., Kirby, J. K., Sorensen, J. C., Pollard, E. L., & Audhya, T. (2022). Evidence based recommendations for an optimal prenatal supplement for women in the US: vitamins and related nutrients. Maternal Health, Neonatology and Perinatology, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40748-022-00139-9

⁵Shi, H., Enriquez, A., Rapadas, M., Martin, E. M. M. A., Wang, R., Moreau, J., Lim, C. K., Szot, J. O., Ip, E., Hughes, J. N., Sugimoto, K., Humphreys, D. T., McInerney-Leo, A. M., Leo, P. J., Maghzal, G. J., Halliday, J., Smith, J., Colley, A., Mark, P. R., & Collins, F. (2017). NAD Deficiency, Congenital Malformations, and Niacin Supplementation. New England Journal of Medicine, 377(6), 544–552. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa1616361

⁶Salam, R. A., Zuberi, N. F., & Bhutta, Z. A. (2015). Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) supplementation during pregnancy or labour for maternal and neonatal outcomes. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd000179.pub3

⁷Silvestris, E., Lovero, D., & Palmirotta, R. (2019). Nutrition and Female Fertility: An Interdependent Correlation. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 10(346). https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2019.00346

⁸Tamblyn, J. A., Pilarski, N. S. P., Markland, A. D., Marson, E. J., Devall, A., Hewison, M., Morris, R. K., & Coomarasamy, A. (2022). Vitamin D and miscarriage: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Fertility and Sterility. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2022.04.017

⁹‌Ley, S. H., Hanley, A. J., Sermer, M., Zinman, B., & O’Connor, D. L. (2013). Lower dietary vitamin E intake during the second trimester is associated with insulin resistance and hyperglycemia later in pregnancy. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 67(11), 1154–1156. https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2013.185

¹⁰Rumbold, A., Ota, E., Hori, H., Miyazaki, C., & Crowther, C. A. (2015). Vitamin E supplementation in pregnancy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd004069.pub3

¹¹‌Folate vs. Folic Acid: What’s the Difference? (2023, January 6). Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/folate-vs-folic-acid/

¹²‌Guo, Y., Zhang, N., Zhang, D., Ren, Q., Ganz, T., Liu, S., & Nemeth, E. (2019). Iron homeostasis in pregnancy and spontaneous abortion. American Journal of Hematology, 94(2), 184–188. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajh.25341

¹³‌Kumar, A., & Kaur, S. (2017). Calcium: A Nutrient in Pregnancy. The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of India, 67(5), 313–318. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13224-017-1007-2

¹⁴‌Greenberg, J. A., Bell, S. J., & Ausdal, W. V. (2008). Omega-3 Fatty Acid supplementation during pregnancy. Reviews in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 1(4), 162–169. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2621042/

¹⁵‌Rylander, R. (2015). Treatment with Magnesium in Pregnancy. AIMS Public Health, 2(4), 804–809. https://doi.org/10.3934/publichealth.2015.4.804

¹⁶‌Lisco, G., De Tullio, A., Triggiani, D., Zupo, R., Giagulli, V. A., De Pergola, G., Piazzolla, G., Guastamacchia, E., Sabbà, C., & Triggiani, V. (2023). Iodine Deficiency and Iodine Prophylaxis: An Overview and Update. Nutrients, 15(4), 1004. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15041004

¹⁷Chen, H., Qian, N., Yan, L., & Jiang, H. (2018). Role of serum vitamin A and E in pregnancy. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 16(6), 5185–5189. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2018.6830