Effect of food on the availability of iron from three multivitamin/mineral supplements during pregnancy.

Iron absorption profiles of two reformulated prenatal multivitamin/mineral supplements (Stuartnatal 1 + 1 and Stuart Prenatal) were compared with those of Materna 1.60 in 24 healthy women in their second or third trimester of pregnancy. In an assessment of the effect of food on the availability of the iron, each woman received single doses of two of the three prenatal supplements while fasting and after a standardized meal. Reformulated Stuartnatal and reformulated Stuart Prenatal provided amounts of iron well above the 3.5-mg recommended daily allowance (RDA) during pregnancy; Materna provided amounts of iron only slightly above the RDA. Iron absorption values obtained when the supplements were administered to fasting women were not significantly different from those obtained after postprandial administration. No adverse effects were reported with any of the study formulations.