Not long ago, a couple I train was planning to start a family. Their doctor prescribed a multivitamin, and they asked for my opinion. The product came in a 30-day blister pack with 30 pink (a.m.) tablets and 30 blue (p.m.) tablets.

Before we even discuss the medicinal ingredients, let’s take a closer look at the “non-medicinal” ingredients:

Pink (a.m.) Tablet: microcrystalline cellulose, pregelatinized starch, croscarmellose sodium, polyvinyl alcohol, fish gelatin, mono and diglycerides, titanium dioxide, macrogol/PEG 3350, alginate, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, calcium silicate, sodium lauryl sulfate, magnesium stearate, talc, acacia gum, pea starch, silicon dioxide, FD&C Red #40 Aluminum Lake, carnauba wax, FD&C Blue #1 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Yellow #6 Aluminum Lake, ammonium hydroxide, n-butyl alcohol, D&C Red #27 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Blue #2 Aluminum Lake, isopropyl alcohol, propylene glycol, shellac glaze, and simethicone.

Blue (p.m.) Tablet: pregelatinized corn starch, croscarmellose sodium, polyvinyl alcohol, titanium dioxide, macrogol/PEG 3350, talc, acacia gum, sucrose, magnesium stearate, sodium lauryl sulfate, modified starch, triglycerides, FD&C Blue #2 Aluminum Lake, carnauba wax, trisodium citrate, citric acid, dl-alpha-tocopherol, silicon dioxide, ammonium hydroxide, n-butyl alcohol, D&C Red #27 Aluminum Lake, isopropyl alcohol, propylene glycol, shellac glaze, and simethicone.

Now, compare that to a professional-grade prenatal multivitamin that can only be obtained through a licensed healthcare professional. This product comes in daily packets, each containing two green (multi) tablets and four white (mineral) tablets. Here’s the list of “non-medicinal” ingredients:

Green (Multi) Tablet: cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, stearic acid (vegetable), silicon dioxide, and coating (hypromellose, hydroxypropylcellulose, medium chain triglycerides, and sodium copper chlorophyllin).

White (Mineral) Tablet: cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, stearic acid (vegetable), silicon dioxide, and coating (hypromellose, hydroxypropylcellulose, and medium chain triglycerides).

Take a moment to examine both products. Even without being an expert, the difference is glaring. The first product is packed with unnecessary chemicals and artificial dyes. Is that what you want in your system—let alone your future child’s?

As for the medicinal ingredients, the first product falls flat. It’s made with cheap components, provides inadequate doses, and uses inferior forms of key vitamins and minerals.

For example, you can often judge the quality of a multivitamin by the type of magnesium it contains. Fifty milligrams of magnesium oxide doesn’t compare to 250 milligrams of magnesium citrate or magnesium aspartate. (I dive into this topic further in my book, Lean and Mean.)

There’s also a major difference between synthetic folic acid and the natural, highly bioavailable methylfolate form.

So, which product do you think relies on inferior magnesium oxide and folic acid?
And which one uses superior magnesium citrate/aspartate and methylfolate?

Which product would you prefer to use?

For the record, the professional-grade multivitamin I recommend is Metagenics Fem Prenatal. Over the years, I’ve suggested it to dozens of women, and the feedback has been consistently positive.

Bottom Line

Taking a high-quality multivitamin, along with a probiotic and fish oil, during the prenatal stage is crucial. But don’t just grab any supplement off the shelf. Always read the label carefully. If the ingredient list raises red flags, don’t use it. Your health—and your baby’s health—deserve nothing but the best.