Prenatal Pack

Prenatal Pack, provided by Douglas Laboratories, supplies a prenatal multivitamin/mineral, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids high in DHA to help support maternal health and wellness during pregnancy and lactation.†

This formula now includes Metafolin L-methyfolate and vitamin B12 as methylcobalamin, the bioavailable forms of vitamins that the body utilizes directly without need for a conversion process. An important carotenoid called lutein has also been added for its benefit to the developing baby.†

FUNCTIONS The Prenatal Pack contains a variety of essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients to ensure adequate intake for both mother and child. Studies show that a high percentage of adults and children in North America and other developed countries eat less than the minimum daily allowance of 10 or more essential nutrients.

Calcium is essential for normal bone and skeletal development. The unique nutritional needs of pregnancy and lactation can require additional calcium supplementation to ensure proper bone health and growth.† The omega-3 fatty acid DHA is essential for brain and visual development and is vital throughout pregnancy to support fetal brain growth and formation of the retina and visual cortex.† Lutein is an important antioxidant that helps protect cells from oxidative damage, and is only available through dietary sources such as colored fruits and vegetables. This carotenoid has been found in the cord blood and the mother’s blood during pregnancy and post-partum in breast milk and colostrum. These levels directly reflect dietary intake of lutein by the mother. Lutein is found in the retina and the brain, and therefore a highly beneficial nutrient for the baby’s visual and neural development.†

Prenatal multivitamin/mineral contains Metafolin, a patented, natural form of (6S) 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5- MTHF). L-methylfolate is the naturally occurring, predominant form of folate commonly found in cells and is essential for a developing fetus, as it participates as a cofactor in a reaction that involves the remethylation of homocysteine to methionine. Unlike synthetic folic acid, L-methylfolate can be used directly by the body, without the need for an additional conversion via the enzyme (5, 10 methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR)). In certain populations, the body’s ability to convert folic acid to 5-MTHF by use of this enzyme may be compromised due to genetic differences. Metafolin contains only the S isomer of 5-MTHF and has been shown to be the only form of folate to be able to cross the blood-brain barrier.

INDICATIONS Prenatal Pack may be a useful dietary adjunct for women looking to supplement a healthy diet during pregnancy and lactation.