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ACOG Prenatal Nutrition Center 2026

Prenatals

Participate in our Industry Workshop on May 2: Optimizing Prenatal Nutrition and Supplementation: Evidence-Informed Strategies in Clinical Practice

Key Nutrients:
 

Calcium: Calcium is vital for building the baby's bones, teeth, heart, and muscles. If dietary calcium is insufficient, the fetus draws it from the mother's bones, potentially compromising her long-term bone health. 
 

Choline: Choline supports fetal brain and spinal cord development and plays a role in gene expression and cell membrane integrity. Emerging evidence suggests it may enhance cognitive outcomes in children when consumed adequately during pregnancy.
 

Vitamin D: Vitamin D aids in calcium absorption and supports fetal bone development and immune function. It may also reduce the risk of pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and low birth weight. 
 

DHA Omega-3 Fatty Acids: DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid critical for fetal brain and retinal development. It may also support longer gestation and reduce the risk of preterm birth. 
 

Folic Acid: Folic acid, the synthetic form of folate (vitamin B9), is crucial in early pregnancy to help prevent serious neural tube defects like spina bifida and anencephaly. It supports DNA synthesis and cell growth, making it essential for the rapid development of the fetal brain and spinal cord. 
 

Iodine: Iodine is essential for the production of thyroid hormones, which regulate fetal brain and nervous system development. Deficiency during pregnancy can impair cognitive development and lead to preventable intellectual disabilities. 
 

Iron: Iron supports the increased blood volume during pregnancy and helps transport oxygen to the growing fetus. Adequate iron intake helps prevent maternal anemia.
 

Lutein: Lutein, a carotenoid, accumulates in the brain and eyes of the developing fetus. It may support visual development and cognitive function, with emerging evidence suggesting a role in early neural health. 
 

Zeaxanthin: Like lutein, zeaxanthin is a carotenoid that supports eye development and may help protect fetal brain tissue from oxidative stress. Together, they are thought to contribute to visual and cognitive maturation.
 

Additional Resources:

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References

ODS, 2025. Fact Sheet for Health Professionals - Dietary Supplements and Life Stages: Pregnancy. Available at: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Pregnancy-HealthProfessional/

USDA, Agricultural Research Service, 2021. Usual Nutrient Intake from Food and Beverages, by Pregnancy/Lactation Status, What We Eat in America, NHANES 2015-2018. Available at: http://www.ars.usda.gov/nea/bhnrc/fsrg

Bailey RL, Pac SG, Fulgoni VL, Reidy KC, Catalano PM. Estimation of Total Usual Dietary Intakes of Pregnant Women in the United States. JAMA Netw Open. 2019;2(6):e195967. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.5967

Mahmassani HA, Switkowski KM, Scott TM, et al. Maternal Intake of Lutein and Zeaxanthin during Pregnancy Is Positively Associated with Offspring Verbal Intelligence and Behavior Regulation in Mid-Childhood in the Project Viva Cohort. J Nutr. 2021;151(3):615-627. doi:10.1093/jn/nxaa348 

Sun H, Weaver CM. Iodine Intake Trends in United States Girls and Women between 2011 and 2020. J Nutr. 2024;154(3):928-939. doi:10.1016/j.tjnut.2024.01.005

Obeid R, et al., Adv Nutr 2022; 13(6): 2445-2457.

Caudill MA, et al., FASEB J 2018; 32(4): 2172-2180.

Bahnfleth CL, et al., FASEB J 2022; 36(1): e22054.

Beluska-Turkan K, Korczak R, Hartell, B. et al. Nutritional Gaps and Supplementation in the First 1000 Days. Nutrients. 2019. (11):pp 1-50.

Zhang Z, Fulgoni VL, Kris-Etherton PM, Mitmesser SH. Dietary Intakes of EPA and DHA Omega-3 Fatty Acids among US Childbearing-Age and Pregnant Women: An Analysis of NHANES 2001-2014. Nutrients. 2018;10(4):416. Published 2018 Mar 28. doi:10.3390/nu10040416.

Rupanagunta GP, Nandave M, Rawat D, Upadhyay J, Rashid S, Ansari MN. Postpartum depression: aetiology, pathogenesis and the role of nutrients and dietary supplements in prevention and management. Saudi Pharm J. 2023;31(7):1274-1293. doi:10.1016/j.jsps.2023.05.008.

Khandelwal S, Kondal D, Gupta R, et al. Docosahexaenoic Acid Supplementation in Lactating Women Increases Breast Milk and Erythrocyte Membrane Docosahexaenoic Acid Concentrations and Alters Infant n-6:n-3 Fatty Acid Ratio. Curr Dev Nutr. 2023;7(10):102010. Published 2023 Sep 29. doi:10.1016/j.cdnut.2023.102010.

Addo EK, Gorka JE, Allman SJ, Harrison DY, Sharifzadeh M, Hoffman RO, Hartnett ME, Varner MW, Bernstein PS. Ocular Effects of Prenatal Carotenoid Supplementation in the Mother and Her Child: The Lutein and Zeaxanthin in Pregnancy (L-ZIP) Randomized Trial - Report Number 2. Ophthalmol Sci. 2024 Apr 24;4(5):100537

Addo, E.K., Allman, S.J., Arunkumar, R., Gorka, J.E., Harrison, D.Y., Varner, M.W. and Bernstein, P.S., 2023. Systemic Effects of Prenatal Carotenoid Supplementation in the Mother and her Child: The Lutein and Zeaxanthin in Pregnancy (L-ZIP) Randomized Trial–Report Number 1. The Journal of Nutrition.

About the CRN Foundation 

The CRN Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) foundation that provides consumers with information about responsible use of dietary supplements and provides researchers and healthcare practitioners with education on the proper role of supplements in a healthy lifestyle. Managed by the Council for Responsible Nutrition, the CRN Foundation was created in 2009 to enhance and sustain consumer confidence in dietary supplements.