Determination of Vitamin, Mineral and Herbal Supplements Usage Status in Pregnancy

Abstract

Aim: It is well known that vitamin-mineral and herbal supplements use are common during pregnancy. This study was conducted to determine the status and the purpose of vitamin-mineral and herbal supplements use of women during pregnancy. Subjects and Methods: In this study two hundred and three volunteer women, aged between 20-43 years who were admitted to Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of Gulhane Military Medical Academy for routine control were included. A questionnaire including main characteristics, status and habits of dietary supplement use was applied. Results: The mean maternal age of pregnant women was 30.6±4.42 years, the average age of women at their first birth was 24.9±4.02 years and the average of total parity was 2.2±0.91. Approximately half of the women (50.7%) used herbal supplements and 39.9% of women used vitamin mineral supplements during prepregnancy period. During pregnancy, 22.2% of women were using herbal supplements and all of them were using vitamin-mineral supplements. Among the participants who used herbal supplements, the most preferred herb by pregnants were ginger (64.4%), and respectively followed by mint (24.4%), echinacea and lime (22.2%), chamomile and fennel (15.6%), thyme and clove (4.4%). As compared with age group and herbal use; women aged between 30-43 years had a higher usage rate (24.6%) than women aged between 20-29 years (18.5%). Conclusion: It was reported that women were using dietary supplements such as vitamin-mineral and herbals to cure or prevent health problems during pregnancy. In addition, this study demonstrated that herbal supplement use increases with maternal age.It should be noted that a food supplement means any food the purpose of which is to supplement the normal diet. The consumers should be educated and their awareness should be increased on the purpose of food supplement usage.