5 Best Vegan Prenatal Vitamins 2023: Top Supplements For Pregnancy
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- Written by Karla Tafra, Nutritionist
Medically reviewed by
Kathy Shattler, MS, RDN
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Ritual Prenatal Multivitamin
- 12 key nutrients during pregnancy and when trying to conceive
- Delayed-release capsule design
- Gluten-free, allergen-free, made traceable
Future Kind Vegan Prenatal Vitamin
- Contains L-Methylfolate, a superior form of folate
- Comes in a sustainable packaging
- 11 essential pre, during, and post-natal ingredients
Garden of Life Prenatal Multi Gummies
- Nine organic whole fruits in every bottle
- Free of artificial ingredients, colorings, or flavors
- Made with organic pectin and no sugar
High-quality prenatal vitamins are essential[1] for a healthy pregnancy as it’s almost impossible to get all necessary micronutrients from diet alone. Vegan prenatal vitamins are a great option for every woman who is following a vegan diet, doesn’t want to include any animal byproducts in her meals, or has digestive issues due to dairy or other animal ingredients you may find in your supplements.
Some women only look for a multivitamin because taking one large pill seems to be enough, while others search for additional vegan prenatal supplements such as protein powders, branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), and more. Read on to discover the best vegan prenatal vitamins in 2022.
5 Best Prenatal Vitamins For Vegans In (September. 2023)
- Ritual Prenatal Multivitamin – Editor’s Choice
- Future Kind Vegan Prenatal Vitamin – Best Absorption Rate
- Garden of Life Prenatal Multi Gummies – Best Vegan Prenatal Gummies
- Nordic Naturals Vegan Prenatal DHA – Best Vegan Prenatal Fish Oil
- Rainbow Light Prenatal One Vitamins – Best For Most Nutrients
What To Look For In A Vegan Prenatal Vitamin?
The best vegan prenatal vitamins include all the essential vitamins and minerals a woman needs when growing a baby. Pregnancy takes a toll on a woman’s body and asks for more micronutrients than she can offer to sustain a healthy pregnancy.
When looking for high-quality[2] prenatal vitamins, it’s important to ensure high content of the most important minerals and vitamins, such as the B vitamins, especially vitamin B12, folic acid, and other essentials such as iron, magnesium, zinc, vitamin C, calcium, and more.
A high-potent formula increases your overall absorption and makes it less likely you’ll be deficient in the most important nutrients. Keeping a healthy diet is still extremely important, even when taking prenatal vitamins, but most times, you need a lot more nutrients than you can intake through food.
The best vegan prenatal vitamins must be strictly vegan and contain zero animal byproducts. Look for brands with a vegan certification so you’re sure there are no animal ingredients hiding in the background, even in trace amounts.
Additionally, you’ll want to ensure the formulas you’re taking are as clean as possible. Since supplements aren’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there’s really no way to know what’s hiding in your supplement except by checking the label yourself. If the brand offers third-party testing or has a certificate, that’s a big plus for effort in showing you how pure, potent, and clean their formula is.
5 Best Prenatal Vitamins For Vegans In 2023
Ritual Prenatal Multivitamin
For those who obsess about how clean and potent their supplements are, this vegan prenatal multivitamin from Ritual is one of the best options.
- 12 key nutrients during pregnancy and when trying to conceive
- Delayed-release capsule design
- Gluten-free, allergen-free, made traceable
- Expensive
One of the best vegan prenatal vitamins, Ritual, comes with 12 key nutrients to support a healthy pregnancy as well as prepare you for one. The formula contains folate, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, vitamin D3, vitamin E, vitamin K2, choline, iodine, iron, biotin, boron, and magnesium.
All of these important micronutrients are easy on the stomach and highly bioavailable, making them easy for your body to absorb. Folate is especially important[3] for the development of your baby’s brain and nervous system, as well as for preventing the development of spina bifida, one of the most severe[4] health defects.
The formula does not contain[5] vitamin B6, that’s known to help prevent and reduce nausea, but 12 other powerful ingredients make up for it. The capsule is designed to dissolve in the small intestine and not in the stomach, where the high-acidic environment can destroy the micronutrients. It’s also essenced with lemon or mint, so your Ritual prenatal vitamin is more enjoyable to take daily.
Future Kind Vegan Prenatal Vitamin
Future Kind Vegan Prenatal Vitamin is an excellent choice for everyone who has a sensitive digestive tract and struggles with the absorption of nutrients.
- Contains L-Methylfolate, a superior form of folate
- Comes in a sustainable packaging
- 11 essential pre, during, and post-natal ingredients
- Mostly available online
- Have to take two vegetable caps for a serving
If you’re looking for a vegan prenatal vitamin that will be as highly absorbable as possible, Future Kind might be the best option for you. Their formula contains a superior form of folate, L-Methylfolate[6], that’s easier to absorb and even helps reduce the symptoms of depression.
Created after the founder’s wife couldn’t find a high-quality prenatal vitamin that would support her plant-based lifestyle, it contains all the best nutrients needed to support pregnancy, conception, and lactation.
The formula contains vitamin D3, vitamin E, folate, Vitamin B12, biotin, iron, iodine, zinc, magnesium, choline, and omega-3 fatty acid Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) coming from algae. Additionally, this supplement comes in a recyclable, eco-friendly glass bottle, and the company ensures all deliveries are carbon neutral.
Garden of Life Prenatal Multi Gummies
For every woman who can’t stomach the thought of swallowing pills and tablets during pregnancy, Garden of Life vegan prenatal gummies are a great choice.
- Nine organic whole fruits in every bottle
- Free of artificial ingredients, colorings, or flavors
- Made with organic pectin and no sugar
- Contains sunflower oil for coating, which can cause digestive problems[7] in some people
When you know that you need to take prenatal supplements and you simply cannot imagine yourself swallowing a pill without gagging, these delicious and sugar-free prenatal gummies from Garden of Life are a great option. While they are technically sugar-free, they do have four grams of added sugar from organic fruit.
Made with nine organic whole fruit ingredients and an easy-to-digest gummy blend, they feature all of the important nutrients to support your pregnancy. These include vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D3, vitamin E, vitamin K, Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, and B12, biotin, folic acid, selenium, manganese, zinc, and chromium.
The gummies are made without any artificial ingredients, syrups, or candy, so you’re safe knowing you’re not adding any harmful and unnecessary chemicals and fillers to your balanced diet.
Nordic Naturals Vegan Prenatal DHA
Nordic Naturals Vegan Prenatal DHA contains the optimal levels of plant-based omega-3 fatty acids to support healthy brain and neural development.
- Features 500 milligrams (mg) of omega-3 fatty acids
- Free of any artificial ingredients, sustainably sourced
- Third-party tested for potency, purity, and high-quality
- Can be pricey for only omega-3 fatty acid supplement
Known as one of the best omega-3 fatty acid supplement brands in the world, and Nordic Naturals has a special vegan prenatal formula containing a whooping 500 mg of plant-based omega-3 fatty acid DHA. This is one of the most important nutrients your growing many needs for the healthy development of their brain and nervous system while helping you stay replenished as well.
The formula comes only in an unflavored version, and they created the soft gel in a smaller size, so it’s easier to swallow. This product is a winner of multiple awards for best fish oil supplement and high-quality nutrients, and their third-party testing certificate proves it. Every bottle has its own QR code you can scan and see exactly what goes inside that specific batch.
The soft gels are also very clean and contain only non-artificial ingredients, fillers, and flavors and contain no gluten, sugars (except for 4 grams of organic fruit sugars), or ingredients made with genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Rainbow Light Prenatal One Vitamins
Rainbow Light is one of the best vegetarian prenatal supplements as it contains plenty of different nutrients to support a healthy pregnancy as well as your overall health and well-being.
- High number of total nutrients
- No artificial ingredients, fillers, colors, and flavors
- Convenient one tablet a day
- Can often be out of stock
- Contains potential allergens such as milk and soy
- Contains proprietary blends
Rainbow Light is a popular supplement brand that often contains high-potent formulas. It’s one of the best vegan and vegetarian brands, as it contains plenty of whole-food ingredients that are all plant-based.
Their prenatal multivitamin features many vitamins and minerals, including all essential nutrients to support a healthy pregnancy, such as folic acid, vitamin B12, calcium, iron, and even probiotics to support your digestive system and improve nutrient absorption.
You can get it in four different sizes (45, 75, 90, or 150 tablets) and even put it on auto-delivery, which can come every month, every two months, and all the way up to every six months. Additionally, their formula is clean and free of any artificial ingredients, gluten, or sugars.
Benefits Of Vegan Prenatal Vitamins
Every woman who is looking to become pregnant or is currently growing a baby should start taking prenatal vitamins. Almost every doctor will recommend a high-quality brand of prenatal supplements in order for you to prevent deficiencies and support the healthy growth of your baby.
Additionally, most pregnant women deal with first-trimester morning sickness that oftentimes goes well into the second and third, depleting them of essential nutrients and making it hard to replenish their levels through food alone.
Some of these nutrients, like vitamin D and folate, are almost impossible to get adequate amounts of without proper supplementation, and if you’re on a vegan diet, you’re probably struggling[8] to maintain proper vitamin B12 levels as well.
A vegan prenatal vitamin ensures you stay on top of your micronutrient game and support the healthy development of your baby and your own health. Most prenatal vitamins have all the essential nutrients to support your immune system, help you fight free radicals and infections, promote high energy levels, and help improve your sleep.
Additionally, some prenatal supplements help with nausea and vomiting, headaches, fatigue, and all other unpleasant pregnancy symptoms.
Some of the most important nutrients to supplement during pregnancy are folic acid[9], which is important for developing your child’s nervous system and brain, vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids.
How To Choose The Best Vegan Prenatal Vitamins?
The best vegan prenatal supplement has to tick some of these important boxes:
High Quality
The sources and ingredients of your vegan prenatal supplement have to be of the highest quality to enhance absorption and prevent any inflammation or digestive discomfort.
Clean
The best prenatal supplements have to be free of any artificial ingredients, fillers, additives, colors, or flavors. They also have to be free of gluten, GMOs, and any allergens.
Vegan
Obviously, the best vegan prenatal supplements must be completely plant-based and contain zero animal byproducts, even in trace amounts.
Essential Nutrients
The best vegan prenatal supplements need to contain all the essential nutrients that support healthy growing babies and pregnant women, such as vitamin D, vitamin B12, folate, calcium, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Third-Party Tested
The best brands will have a certificate that shows their high-quality, potency, and purity as determined by a third-party lab. In some cases, manufacturers do their own testing, but having a third-party do it guarantees transparency and honesty in labeling.
Price
Even though some of the best supplements on the market are pricey, you might find an affordable one with all the right nutrients and clean formula.
Final Thought
High-quality prenatal supplements are essential for the healthy development of your baby as well as keeping your own micronutrient levels at the optimal level pre, during, and post-pregnancy. While following a vegan lifestyle, some of these nutrients are even harder to obtain from your regular diet, no matter how healthy you are. And nausea and vomiting don’t really help in this regard.
Taking prenatal supplements is a great way of ensuring that both you and your baby are getting all the nutrients you need to promote your overall health and the optimal functioning of all of your body systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Prenatal supplements are great for vegans, but even more so, the ones that target plant-based lifestyles. Some nutrients like vitamin B12 can mostly be obtained from animal sources, so it’s even more important to get adequate levels through supplementation.
The highest-rated and best prenatal vitamin brand, according to reviews and testimonials, is Ritual.
Pregnant vegans need adequate amounts of B vitamins, especially folate and vitamin B12, as well as vitamins D, E, and K2.
Some prenatal vitamins might cause digestive problems, but during pregnancy, plenty of women have issues with their digestion[10], so the actual supplements might not even be the cause.
+ 10 sources
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- Oh, C., Keats, E. and Bhutta, Z. (2020). Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation During Pregnancy on Maternal, Birth, Child Health and Development Outcomes in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients, [online] 12(2), p.491. doi:10.3390/nu12020491.
- Newman (2022). Evaluation of prenatal vitamin-mineral supplements. Clinical pharmacy, [online] 6(10). Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3505840/.
- CDC (2022). Folic Acid. [online] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/about.html.
- CDC (2022). Learn about Spina Bifida. [online] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/spinabifida/.
- Sahakian (2013). Vitamin B6 is effective therapy for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study. Obstetrics and gynecology, [online] 78(1). Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2047064/.
- Greenberg, J.A. and Bell, S.J. (2011). Multivitamin Supplementation During Pregnancy: Emphasis on Folic Acid and l-Methylfolate. Reviews in obstetrics & gynecology, [online] 4(3-4), pp.126–7. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3250974/.
- Masi, L.N., Martins, A.R., Neto, J.C.R., Amaral, C.L. do, Crisma, A.R., Vinolo, M.A.R., de Lima Júnior, E.A., Hirabara, S.M. and Curi, R. (2012). Sunflower Oil Supplementation Has Proinflammatory Effects and Does Not Reverse Insulin Resistance in Obesity Induced by High-Fat Diet in C57BL/6 Mice. Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, [online] 2012, pp.1–9. doi:10.1155/2012/945131.
- Rizzo, G., Laganà, A., Rapisarda, A., La Ferrera, G., Buscema, M., Rossetti, P., Nigro, A., Muscia, V., Valenti, G., Sapia, F., Sarpietro, G., Zigarelli, M. and Vitale, S. (2016). Vitamin B12 among Vegetarians: Status, Assessment and Supplementation. Nutrients, [online] 8(12), p.767. doi:10.3390/nu8120767.
- CDC (2022). Folic Acid Recommendations. [online] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/recommendations.html.
- Everson GT (2021). Gastrointestinal motility in pregnancy. Gastroenterology clinics of North America, [online] 21(4). Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1478733/.
Written by:
Karla Tafra, Nutritionist
Medically reviewed by:
Medically reviewed by:
