Observational studyThe American journal of clinical nutrition2025
Content of selected nutrients and heavy metals in prenatal multivitamins and minerals: an observational study.
Observational study in The American journal of clinical nutrition, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Evolving Concepts in Gestational Iodine Requirements.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Highly informed, yet undersupported: dietary supplement use, information sources, and perceived risks among pregnant vegans in German-speaking regions-findings from the VedieS study.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIncreasing consumer reliance on prenatal multivitamins and minerals (PMVMs) underscores the importance of ensuring their quality and safety. Adequate choline and iodine intakes during pregnancy are crucial for fetal development, yet discrepancies between labeled and actual content in PMVM products pose significant health risks. Additionally, the potential presence of toxic heavy metals, such as arsenic, lead, and cadmium, raises concerns about potential adverse health effects.
objectivesThis study aimed to evaluate nonprescription and prescription PMVMs regarding choline and iodine content as well as arsenic, lead, and cadmium.
methodsThis observational study evaluated a convenience sample of nonprescription and prescription PMVM products from online retailers and local retail pharmacies. Products were analyzed using liquid chromatograph mass spectrometry for choline and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for iodine, arsenic, lead, and cadmium. Choline and iodine actual amounts were compared with reported label amounts and heavy metal amounts were compared with United States Pharmacopeia standards.
resultsIn total, 32 nonprescription and 15 prescription PMVM products were analyzed. Choline amounts were reported on 12 of the 47 (25.6%) products including 5 (41.7%) within 20% of the claimed amount, 2 (16.7%) over the claimed amount by >20%, and 5 (41.7%) under the claimed amount by >20%. Iodine amounts were reported on 25 of the 47 (53.2%) products including 4 (16.0%) within 20% of the claimed amount, 20 (80.0%) under the claimed amount by >20%, and 1 (4.0%) over the claimed amount by >20%. Measurable amounts of arsenic, lead, and cadmium were found in 7 (14.9%), 32 (68.1%) and 29 (61.7%) PMVMs, respectively; however, no PMVMs exceeded United States Pharmacopeia standard limits.
conclusionsCurrent PMVM products are misleading through omission or inaccurate content of essential nutrients. Federal regulation of dietary supplements in the United States is needed to ensure accurate content of essential nutrients in PMVM formulations.
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