Frequently Asked Questions

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• Is PregVit Kosher certified?
• Is PregVit Halal certified?
• Does PregVit contain any animal by-products?
• Is PregVit lactose-free?
• Is PregVit gluten free?
• Should I avoid taking calcium-rich food (i.e. dairy product) with my pink tablet?
• What can I do if I'm too nauseated in the morning to take my pink tablet on an empty stomach? Or if I have an upset stomach?
• I usually take my calcium-rich food (i.e. dairy products) in the morning and my iron-rich food (i.e. meat) at dinner. Would it make sense to reverse the order and take the blue tablet in the morning and the pink one at night?
• It's 7 p.m. and I just realized that I forgot to take my pink tablet (morning one)? What should I do?
• As I was about to take my pink tablet in the morning I realized that I did not take the blue tablet the night before. What should I do?
• Should PregVit be taken with or without food?
• Why should I take a vitamin-mineral supplement during pregnancy?
• What are the differences between PregVit and other prenatal supplements?
• Could there be a link between the nausea I am experiencing and my multivitamin?
• I am on thyroid medication. Should I take the PregVit morning tablet at the same time?
• Should I take folic acid alone or included within a prenatal multivitamin supplement?
• Should I take a multivitamin supplement only during the first months of pregnancy and toward the end of my pregnancy or continuously throughout my pregnancy?
• What are the chances of having a baby with a major malformation at birth?
• What is the difference between folic acid and folate?
• What is spina bifida?

Is PregVit Kosher certified?

PregVit has been reformulated and is now certified Kosher. The ingredients included in PregVit contain no animal by-products from pork, bovine and chicken and fully comply with the Kosher religious laws pertaining to food. The following Kosher certification logo appears on the PregVit package.

Is PregVit Halal certified?

PregVit has been reformulated and is now Halal certified. The ingredients included in PregVit contain no animal by-products from pork, bovine and chicken and fully comply with the Halal religious laws pertaining to food. The following Halal certification logo appears on the PregVit package.

Does PregVit contain any animal by-products?

The ingredients included in PregVit contain no animal by-products from pork, bovine and chicken. One of the vitamins (vitamin E) included in the pink (a.m.) tablet comes from a fish source. PregVit fully complies with the Kosher and Halal religious laws pertaining to food.

Is PregVit lactose-free?

Yes. Lactose intolerance in pregnancy is an issue that was raised by many women. Therefore, PregVit has been reformulated and is now lactose-free.

Is PregVit gluten free?

PregVit has been reformulated and is free of gliadin (gluten). Therefore, planning or pregnant women affected with gluten intolerance (celiac disease) can take their daily multivitamins safely.

Should I avoid taking calcium-rich food (i.e. dairy product) with my pink tablet?

PregVit was designed to achieve maximal iron absorption and reduce side effects experienced with other prenatal vitamins. Therefore, the pink tablet should be taken on an empty stomach preferably, and breakfast should follow about an hour later. Ideally, you should avoid taking calcium-rich food with your pink tablet because it contains iron, and calcium affects the body's ability to absorb iron. However, if you do consume calcium at breakfast, you should take the pink tablet later in the morning at about 10-10:30 (a few hours after breakfast) to avoid this iron-calcium interaction.

What can I do if I'm too nauseated in the morning to take my pink tablet on an empty stomach? Or if I have an upset stomach?

You should take the pink tablet on an empty stomach since iron is better absorbed without food. However, if you are nauseated or if it causes you to have an upset stomach, take the pink tablet a few hours after breakfast and about one hour before lunch.

I usually take my calcium-rich food (i.e. dairy products) in the morning and my iron-rich food (i.e. meat) at dinner. Would it make sense to reverse the order and take the blue tablet in the morning and the pink one at night?

Although it seems to make more sense to reverse the order of the tablets, the PregVit dosage schedule is based on scientific knowledge. Your body best absorbs iron on an empty stomach and the calcium is optimally absorbed in the evening.

To answer the above question, you should delay your pink tablet intake until mid-morning, a few hours after your breakfast and one hour before lunch. As for the blue tablet, take it at night within one hour of an evening meal. It is preferable to have at least 4 hours between the 2 tablet intakes.

It's 7 p.m. and I just realized that I forgot to take my pink tablet (morning one)? What should I do?

It is preferable to have at least 4 hours between the 2 tablet intakes. Take the pink tablet immediately at 7 p.m. and take the blue tablet at 11 p.m. (4 hours later). The next day, take the 2 tablets as initially prescribed by your healthcare professional.

As I was about to take my pink tablet in the morning I realized that I did not take the blue tablet the night before. What should I do?

In this case, you simply skip it. Do not take the blue tablet from the prior evening. Take your pink tablet as you normally would, and that evening take the blue tablet as usual. An occasional omission will not cause any harm.

Should PregVit be taken with or without food?

To achieve optimal iron absorption, it is preferable to take the PregVit a.m. tablet with a glass of water on an empty stomach. Food, especially dairy products, coffee and tea, decreases iron absorption. To achieve optimal calcium absorption, it is preferable to take the PregVit p.m. tablet within one hour of an evening meal.

Why should I take a vitamin-mineral supplement during pregnancy?

It is quite difficult to attain the highest nutritional requirements by diet alone during pregnancy. With the substantial increased needs for iron, folic acid, and calcium during this time, it is recommended to take a vitamin-mineral supplement. Your healthcare professional will be pleased to suggest the appropriate choice of supplements for you.

What are the differences between PregVit and other prenatal supplements?

PregVit was specifically formulated to alleviate side effects associated with other supplements. PregVit is very well tolerated and causes less constipation and nausea. The tablets are smaller and easier to swallow.

Could there be a link between the nausea I am experiencing and my multivitamin?

Yes, many women do experience nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) due to the high iron content in many prenatal supplements. However, there is a supplement, called PregVit, now available in Canada that was specifically formulated to solve this problem. If you are having difficulties tolerating your current vitamin therapy, it is recommended that you discuss your situation with your healthcare professional.

I am on thyroid medication. Should I take the PregVit morning tablet at the same time?

If your doctor has prescribed levothyroxine (e.g. Synthroid or Eltroxin) to take first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach, take the PregVit pink tablet 4 hours later. The evening PregVit blue tablet is taken as usual. Read more >>

Should I take folic acid alone or included within a prenatal multivitamin supplement?

Recent research suggests that additional protective benefits against birth defects can be achieved by taking folic acid as part of a multivitamin supplement. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the United States, has evaluated the role that multivitamins containing folic acid play in the reduction of birth defects. The researchers found that periconceptional multivitamin use reduces the overall occurrence of birth defect by at least 15% (such as cardiovascular, urinary tract, orofacial, cleft and other anomalies) in addition to the previously demonstrated effects on neural tube defects.

Should I take a multivitamin supplement only during the first months of pregnancy and toward the end of my pregnancy or continuously throughout my pregnancy?

It is recommended to take a multivitamin supplement throughout your entire pregnancy. Vitamins and minerals are needed at different stages of your pregnancy and for different purposes. For example, multivitamins containing folic acid are crucial before and during pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects and other birth defects (cardiovascular, urinary tract, orofacial, cleft). They are also associated with a potential reduction of some pediatric cancers (neuroblastoma, leukemia, brain and spinal chord). Recent studies suggest that a multivitamin containing folic acid may also reduce the risk of preeclampsia, a form of gestational hypertension. It is recognized that women with low folic acid blood levels during the third trimester have a 1.6-fold increased risk of developing gestational hypertension.

What are the chances of having a baby with a major malformation at birth?

For each pregnancy, there is a 1 to 3% risk of having a baby with a major malformation. This is what is called the baseline risk. This risk can be increased due to several reasons such as maternal age, medical or family history, exposures to radiation, unsafe drugs or chemicals, known to cause birth defects. However, the risk of having a child with birth defects can be decreased by at least 15% by taking a multivitamin containing folic acid before and during pregnancy. If you are concerned with the chances of having a child with a malformation, you should discuss this matter with your health professional.

What is the difference between folic acid and folate?

Folate is a type of vitamin B, naturally found in foods (see table). Folic acid is a synthetic compound used to fortify food and added in prenatal supplements.

What is spina bifida?

Spina bifida is the most common form of neural tube defect. This is a birth defect that occurs when the neural tube fails to close properly during the early weeks of pregnancy, creating abnormalities of the spine, brain or skull that can result in stillbirth or lifelong disability.