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PreNatal Vitamins?!!
Hey Girls! I didn't know where else to post this topic and I figured since your all are dealing with pregnancy in some form it would be okay to ask here. Me and my roommate were wondering if it is safe to take PreNatal Vitamins when not pregnant...I mean obviously we know if pregnant women take them then they probably dont harm your body but will they make us gain weight or anything? The reason we want to take them is because we heard they make your hair grow faster and shinier..Is this even true?!! I would love any answers or suggestions?!! Thank You!!
Thank you soo much for your advice and stories. I guess I will ask a Dr. for a final point of few because I am now a little skeptical. I take a one a day womens vitamin currently and those tend to make me sick at times so Im not sure PreNatals which contain more vitamins would be any better. Thank you again!!!
My dr prescribed me prenatals and im not pregnant... it doesnt help with hair tho atleast ive never heard of anything
Not to argue ... *whispers* I'm in the medical field...
But there has been no peer reviewed scientific studies that definitively link increased folic acid intake to colon cancer. There have been some studies that suggest very, very high doses of folic acid "may" increase the chance of colon cancer in people already predisposed. The studies were not entirely conclusive. That being said, another study showed people with diets LOW in folic acid led to colon cancer. Damned if you, damned if you don't, eh? And, they were talking about mega doses of folic acid, not neccessarily one prenatal vitamin a day. Some people really abuse vitamins, thinking they can take a handful, and anything they don't "use" gets peed out. Not the case.. there are several vitamins, if overtaken, that are stored in your liver or have other effects on your body that are not desirable.
I just read another article that said high doses of folic acid decrease your risk of vacular disease and cancer. Hmm. That one was peer reviewed. I'm thinking the jury is out on this one.
As I mentioned, there also is no scientific evidence that the prenatals make your hair thicker and shinier. It's all antectodal, and yes, some (not all) pregnant women seem to get a lusterous head of hair more likely due to the pregnancy hormones than prenatal vitamins. I never got any thicker, shinier hair when I was pregnant. Then again, I never got big boobs either. :(
That being said, many non-pregnant people swear the prenatals do help, and theoretically, it SHOULD assist in new cell growth turnover and hence, thicker hair. I believe Gwenneth Paltrow swears her long locks of gorgeous straight blonde hair are due to her taking prenatal vitamins for years. Who knows? I guess we'll know to back off the prenatals if she turns up with colon cancer!
Here is a blurb on taking prenatal vitamins from Mayo Clinic that might help explain it more clearly:
Prenatal vitamins are multivitamins intended for women who are pregnant or hope to become pregnant. Sometimes prenatal vitamins are recommended for women who are breast-feeding, too. Most prenatal vitamins contain more folic acid, iron and calcium than do standard adult multivitamins. Prenatal vitamins have been claimed to promote thicker hair and stronger nails, but researchers haven't yet proved whether prenatal vitamins truly have these effects.
Although prenatal vitamins are safe for otherwise healthy adults, they may cause constipation, nausea or vomiting. Keep in mind that if you're generally healthy and eat a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and lean meats, you don't likely need dietary supplements of any type.
But there has been no peer reviewed scientific studies that definitively link increased folic acid intake to colon cancer. There have been some studies that suggest very, very high doses of folic acid "may" increase the chance of colon cancer in people already predisposed. The studies were not entirely conclusive. That being said, another study showed people with diets LOW in folic acid led to colon cancer. Damned if you, damned if you don't, eh? And, they were talking about mega doses of folic acid, not neccessarily one prenatal vitamin a day. Some people really abuse vitamins, thinking they can take a handful, and anything they don't "use" gets peed out. Not the case.. there are several vitamins, if overtaken, that are stored in your liver or have other effects on your body that are not desirable.
I just read another article that said high doses of folic acid decrease your risk of vacular disease and cancer. Hmm. That one was peer reviewed. I'm thinking the jury is out on this one.
As I mentioned, there also is no scientific evidence that the prenatals make your hair thicker and shinier. It's all antectodal, and yes, some (not all) pregnant women seem to get a lusterous head of hair more likely due to the pregnancy hormones than prenatal vitamins. I never got any thicker, shinier hair when I was pregnant. Then again, I never got big boobs either. :(
That being said, many non-pregnant people swear the prenatals do help, and theoretically, it SHOULD assist in new cell growth turnover and hence, thicker hair. I believe Gwenneth Paltrow swears her long locks of gorgeous straight blonde hair are due to her taking prenatal vitamins for years. Who knows? I guess we'll know to back off the prenatals if she turns up with colon cancer!
Here is a blurb on taking prenatal vitamins from Mayo Clinic that might help explain it more clearly:
Prenatal vitamins are multivitamins intended for women who are pregnant or hope to become pregnant. Sometimes prenatal vitamins are recommended for women who are breast-feeding, too. Most prenatal vitamins contain more folic acid, iron and calcium than do standard adult multivitamins. Prenatal vitamins have been claimed to promote thicker hair and stronger nails, but researchers haven't yet proved whether prenatal vitamins truly have these effects.
Although prenatal vitamins are safe for otherwise healthy adults, they may cause constipation, nausea or vomiting. Keep in mind that if you're generally healthy and eat a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and lean meats, you don't likely need dietary supplements of any type.
This is not necessarily true....not ALL pregnant woman get shiney, thicker hair. Not to mention, just because they're vitamins, doesn't mean they can't be harmful to you. Prenatal vitamins have things that pregnant women need....otherwise, we'd just be told to take regular vitamins.
I also recently saw a study linking too much folic acid when you're not pregnant to an increased risk of colon cancer. Prenatal vitamins have higher doses of folic acid...we need that, a non-pregnant person would not.
So, in my opinion, I would tell you to wash your hair in egg whites, or something for shiny hair, and DO NOT take prenatal vitamins if you are not pregnant. Don't take anything other than what it is intended for, for that matter.
Of course you should check with your doctor...but Im think they'd tell you the same.
I also recently saw a study linking too much folic acid when you're not pregnant to an increased risk of colon cancer. Prenatal vitamins have higher doses of folic acid...we need that, a non-pregnant person would not.
So, in my opinion, I would tell you to wash your hair in egg whites, or something for shiny hair, and DO NOT take prenatal vitamins if you are not pregnant. Don't take anything other than what it is intended for, for that matter.
Of course you should check with your doctor...but Im think they'd tell you the same.
It won't hurt you at all to take Prenatals prior to being pregnant. I took them for quite a long time while I was TTC and they didn't hurt me a bit.
That being said, I don't think there is any real scientific evidence that they make your hair grow faster and shinier. Some women swear by them, others have had no effect (I was one with no effect). That being said, folic acid in prenatals is a major component in many hair growth formulas. So, there might be some truth to it.
If you take prenatals, do NOT take additional vitamins. You don't always "pee out" the extra when you overdo the vitamin doses and it can cause harm. Also, prenatals are high in iron which can make your tummy hurt.
Sheri
That being said, I don't think there is any real scientific evidence that they make your hair grow faster and shinier. Some women swear by them, others have had no effect (I was one with no effect). That being said, folic acid in prenatals is a major component in many hair growth formulas. So, there might be some truth to it.
If you take prenatals, do NOT take additional vitamins. You don't always "pee out" the extra when you overdo the vitamin doses and it can cause harm. Also, prenatals are high in iron which can make your tummy hurt.
Sheri
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