July 18th, 2016
Prenatal vitamins are medicinal products that contain designated amounts of specific vitamins and nutrients required for healthy conception. These formulations are mainly designed for women who are pregnant or trying to conceive, in order to achieve a healthy and uneventful pregnancy. However, due to increasing prevalence of nutritional deficiencies and improvement in the health and fitness awareness through different media, men of today’s age are also considering prenatal vitamins to improve the chances of impregnating their partners. These prenatal vitamins are conveniently available in most pharmaceutical stores and are rich in nutrients and minerals like calcium, folic acid, iron, vitamin C, A, D and also some trace elements e.g. copper and zinc that are helpful at improving the male fertility.
Here we discuss some of the pros and cons of prenatal vitamins for the male readers so that they get a clear picture before they opt to use them.
The prenatal formulations are an asset to a proportion of male population who have low levels or deficiencies of these essential vitamins (if taken with the advice of a physician).
While some nutrients are beneficial for the male consumers in terms of fertility and vitality, some formulations may contain excessive quantities of some nutrients that may do more harm than any good.
1. Seek medical advice and consultation:
Always consult your family physician before starting any prenatal vitamins. The benefits and risks may be carefully balanced keeping in consideration the body needs and requirements.
2. Check the label:
Review the label of the vitamin formulation before making the purchase Look at the composition and the amount of each vitamin and mineral present in it, and check with your daily requirements.
3. Avoid excessive dosing:
Consider the hazards and health risks that may come along with the advantages. Do not use these prenatal vitamins in excessive quantities. Opt for once daily or once weekly dosing regimen depending upon the bodily needs.
4. Take your daily multivitamin instead:
Use of multivitamin tablets specifically formulated for men may be a better option to avoid serious risks associated with the prenatal vitamins in men. This is especially true for men who do not require added supplementation.
1. Pludowski, P., Holick, M. F., Pilz, S., Wagner, C. L., Hollis, B. W., Grant, W. B., … & Soni, M. (2013). Vitamin D effects on musculoskeletal health, immunity, autoimmunity, cardiovascular disease, cancer, fertility, pregnancy, dementia and mortality—a review of recent evidence. Autoimmunity reviews, 12(10), 976-989.
2. Schmid, T. E., Eskenazi, B., Marchetti, F., Young, S., Weldon, R. H., Baumgartner, A., … & Wyrobek, A. J. (2012). Micronutrients intake is associated with improved sperm DNA quality in older men. Fertility and sterility, 98(5), 1130-1137.
3. https://americanpregnancy.org/getting-pregnant/mens-preconception-health/
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