Vitamins taken by pregnant women contain toxic ingredients linked to autism to cancer, a new study has found.
Researchers tested 47 different prenatal vitamins – 32 nonprescription and 15 prescription products – bought from popular online and brick and mortar stores.
They measured the amounts of choline and iodine in each product in the lab and compared it to what was on the label.
Shockingly, they found some products contained levels of heavy metals that were higher than expected.
Thirteen had too much cadmium, seven products had too much arsenic and two had too much lead. Many others stated the wrong dosages or didn’t contain ingredients they claimed.
A study this year found that higher levels of cadmium in urine during early pregnancy were consistently associated with an increased risk of autism in their children by age three.
High levels of cadmium have also been associated with kidney damage, bone fragility, lung disease and various cancers.
Commenting on the findings, which were published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, lead researcher Laura Borgelt said: ‘During pregnancy, many women rely on prenatal vitamins and minerals to support their health and their baby’s development.’
Vitamins targeted at pregnant women might cause more harm than good, with toxic ingredients leading to a range of health complications from autism to cancer
But she added that the ‘presence of contaminants’, especially the heavy metals was ‘concerning.’
‘Our findings highlight a significant gap between what’s listed on the labels and what’s actually in the products, underscoring the urgent need for stronger regulatory oversight in this area,’ said Dr Borgelt.
Many of the heavy metals detected in the prenatal vitamins were above limits set by the US Pharmacopeia, a non-profit which provides recommended levels for a variety of topics.
The organization recommends arsenic (2.5 mcg per oral daily dose), lead (0.5 mcg per oral daily dose) and cadmium (0.5 mcg per oral daily dose).
Seven products contained levels of arsenic above that limit, two contained lead levels that were unsafe and 13 had too much cadmium.
The FDA lists the cadmium tolerability level at 0.21 to 0.36 micrograms of cadmium a day per about 2lbs of body weight – or about 25 micrograms for a 154lb person.
When it comes to lead, high exposure to the metal can cause significant damage to the brain, kidneys, reproductive system.
Exposure to high levels lead during pregnancy can cause babies to be born prematurely, have low birth weight, and potentially suffer from developmental delays due to damage to the developing brain and nervous system.
There is no safe level of exposure to lead, but the FDA’s acceptable daily intake of lead in food is about 8.8 micrograms for adults.
Excess levels of arsenic were also found in seven of the prenatal vitamins.
Exposure to even low levels of arsenic in the long term may cause issues such as high blood pressure, skin thickening and discoloration, problems with blood vessels, nerve numbness or pain and heart disease, as well as cancer.
There are no federal limits for arsenic in most foods, although the FDA has issued guidance for industry on limits in certain foods that are more likely to contain arsenic.
The authors say that although there’s a need for more oversight in ensuring supplements have the correct ingredients, prenatal supplements are still important to take during pregnancy
When the researchers checked if the prenatal vitamin labels were correct, they found that there were some errors in the quantities of nutrients listed.
Choline amounts were reported on 12 of 32 (37.5 percent) nonprescription product labels and zero of 15 prescription product labels.
Only five of the products that stated they contained choline had the correct dosage on the label. Two of them had way more than stated.
That’s a worry, because excessive amounts of choline can cause low blood pressure, and liver damage, which could be even more severe during pregnancy.
Dr Borgelt said: ‘Among the most crucial nutrients for fetal development are choline and iodine.
‘However, some prenatal vitamins may not contain the exact amounts listed on the label and some may not contain any choline or iodine.’
She added ‘Our study aims to help women better understand the nutrient content in prenatal supplements, empowering them to make more informed choices and select the best options for their health and their baby’s well-being.’
‘We’re one of the first studies to measure the actual amounts of choline and iodine in a large sample of prenatal supplements.
When checking for iodine – which can cause thyroid gland inflammation and thyroid cancer in high quantities – they found most prenatal vitamins contained less than advertised.
And very few provided the correct amount, with 53 percent of products listing iodine content, but only four (16 percent) products contained the claimed amount of iodine on the label.
The authors say that although there’s a need for more oversight in ensuring supplements have the correct ingredients, prenatal supplements are still important to take during pregnancy.
They recommend double-checking ingredients or working with a doctor or healthcare professional to choose the prenatal supplement.
The study did not name the brands of supplements.
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