Frequently Asked Questions

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• Is PregVit folic 5 Kosher certified?
• Is PregVit® Kosher and Passover?
• Is PregVit folic 5 Halal certified?
• Does PregVit folic 5 contain any animal by-products?
• Is there any lactose in PregVit folic 5?
• Does PregVit folic 5 contain gluten?
• Why do I need a prenatal multivitamin with a high dose of folic acid?
• Does PregVit folic 5 contain other vitamins and minerals beside folic acid?
• Which women are at greater risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect (NTD)?
• What can be done to decrease the risk of having a child with neural tube defect (NTD)?
• Is it possible to take too much folic acid?
• I have celiac disease and I want to know if I can take prenatal multivitamin/mineral supplements.
• I am pregnant with a history of heavy smoking. Should I take more prenatal vitamins?
• Why do physicians recommend a multivitamin/mineral supplement with more folic acid for pregnant women with a history of alcohol use?
• If a women with Crohn's disease is planning a pregnancy or is pregnant, does she have special needs in terms of prenatal vitamins and minerals?

Is PregVit folic 5 Kosher certified?

PregVit folic 5 has been reformulated and is now certified Kosher. The ingredients included in PregVit folic 5 contain no animal by-products from pork, bovine and chicken and fully comply with the Kosher religious laws pertaining to food. The following Kosher certification logo appears on the PregVit folic 5 package.

Is PregVit folic 5 Kosher and Passover?

Yes. PregVit folic 5 has received Kosher and Passover Certification from the Kashruth Council of Canada (COR). Whether you have a Pregvit folic 5 box with the logo or the logo , in both cases, PregVit folic 5 is suitable for Passover. For any questions please contact our medical information.

Is PregVit folic 5 Halal certified?

PregVit folic 5 has been reformulated and is now Halal certified. The ingredients included in PregVit folic 5 contain no animal by-products from pork, bovine and chicken and fully comply with the Halal religious laws pertaining to food. The following Halal certification logo appears on the PregVit folic 5 package.

Does PregVit folic 5 contain any animal by-products?

The ingredients included in PregVit folic 5 contain no animal by-products from pork, bovine and chicken. One of the vitamins (vitamin E) included in the pink (a.m.) tablet comes from a fish source. PregVit folic 5 fully complies with the Kosher and Halal religious laws pertaining to food.

Is there any lactose in PregVit folic 5?

No. PregVit folic 5 has been reformulated and is now suitable for women that are intolerant to lactose.

Does PregVit folic 5 contain gluten?

PregVit folic 5 has been reformulated and is now free of gluten. Therefore it can be used by individuals with celiac disease.

Why do I need a prenatal multivitamin with a high dose of folic acid?

Some women are at greater risk of having a child born with neural tube defects (NTD). Taking a supplement with 5 mg of folic acid can decrease this risk. High dose folic acid prenatal vitamins are formulated for women who have had a previous pregnancy resulting in a child developing a NTD, who have a family history of NTDs, who have type 2 diabetes, who have gastrointestinal disorders resulting in malabsorption or who are taking drugs that interfere with folic acid metabolism such as epilepsy drugs, or who require a high dose of folic acid supplement in the opinion of their health professional.

Does PregVit folic 5 contain other vitamins and minerals beside folic acid?

Yes, PregVit folic 5 was designed not only to help reduce the risk of having a child born with neural tube defect, but also to assure that pregnant women get the vitamins and minerals needed before and during pregnancy. It is important to note that taking vitamin and mineral supplements during pregnancy does not eliminate the need for well-balanced nutrition each day.

Which women are at greater risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect (NTD)?

The following women are at higher risk of having a baby with a NTD: a previous pregnancy resulting in a NTD, a family history of NTDs, women who have type 2 diabetes, have a gastrointestinal malabsorption disorder or are taking drugs that interfere with folic acid metabolism such as antiepileptic drugs.

What can be done to decrease the risk of having a child with neural tube defect (NTD)?

The increased intake of folic acid (5.0 mg per day) has been shown to decrease the chances of having a child with a NTD. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) recommends that women who are at risk of having a child with NTD take a prenatal multivitamin supplement with a high dose of folic acid (5.0 mg) at least 3 months before and following conception.

Is it possible to take too much folic acid?

The therapeutic dose of folic acid in general is non-toxic, and the level where folic acid becomes problematic is quite high. The recommended dose of 5.0 mg of folic acid daily is considered safe and there is no demonstrated benefit in taking a higher dose.

Very high doses of folate (15.0 mg) are known to mask manifestations of vitamin B₁₂ deficiency. However, careful monitoring of vitamin B₁₂ status can eliminate this potential problem. It is important to note that taking vitamin and mineral supplements during pregnancy does not eliminate the need for a regular well-balanced nutrition.

I have celiac disease and I want to know if I can take prenatal multivitamin/mineral supplements.

Patients suffering from celiac disease commonly have poor absorption of iron, folic acid, and/or vitamin B₁₂ since the surface of their small intestine is damaged by gluten. For example, anemia is a common complication of celiac disease. A high dose of folic acid (5 mg) with multivitamin/mineral supplement may help to restore micronutrient blood levels. PregVit folic 5 does not contain gluten and lactose and therefore can be taken by women suffering from celiac disease or lactose intolerance.

I am pregnant with a history of heavy smoking. Should I take more prenatal vitamins?

Smoking women have lower and decreasing folate levels during pregnancy, possibly as a result of lower intake of this nutrient. A higher dose folic acid strategy (5 mg) with multivitamin (PregVit folic 5) should be considered to ensure a more adequate amount of folate in your blood. More information on cigarette smoking

Why do physicians recommend a multivitamin/mineral supplement with more folic acid for pregnant women with a history of alcohol use?

Long term alcohol ingestion may alter the folate absorption; therefore a multivitamin/mineral supplement with a high dose of folic acid, such as PregVit folic 5, may prevent the micronutrient deficiency.

If a women with Crohn's disease is planning a pregnancy or is pregnant, does she have special needs in terms of prenatal vitamins and minerals?

In women with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) such as Crohn's disease, it is particularly important to take a multivitamin containing a higher dose of folic acid, because they may be folate deficient due to their disease. In addition, the medication they take (sulphasalazine) to treat their disease is a folic acid antagonist (adversary). Therefore, prenatal supplementation with 5 mg of folic acid (such as PregVit folic 5) daily rather than 0.4 mg is therefore recommended.