Supplement use among a culturally diverse group of low-income pregnant women

Among a culturally diverse group of 344 low-income pregnant women, self-reported rates of supplement use prior to confirmation of pregnancy were much lower than those reported for young women in national surveys (16% vs. up to 40%, respectively). Prenatal vitamins, prescribed routinely for all patients, were reportedly taken at least four times a week by 86% of the subjects and two to three times a day by 5%. About 5% of the sample reported consuming highly fortified cereal at least once daily. There is a possibility of higher than recommended use of supplemental vitamins among these women resulting from misunderstanding of the number of pills to be taken and/or high consumption of highly fortified cereals.