Vitamin E in planning pregnancy for women and men: the norm, how to drink, the scheme of intake

Back in the 1920s, studies conducted on rats showed that excluding certain foods from the diet led to infertility. Adding lettuce leaves and wheat germ oil to food restored reproductive function. This is how vitamin E was discovered, and later the biologically active substance of the vitamin, α-tocopherol, was described, which in Greek means "offspring, procreation." This made it possible in 1938 to describe the chemical formula of tocopherol and synthesize it. Since then, it has been widely used as a powerful antioxidant and a means of enhancing the functions of male and female organs that produce sex cells. Therefore, the role of vitamin E in pregnancy planning is beyond doubt and is important for both women and men preparing to become parents.

Vitamin E for men when planning pregnancy

It is necessary to prepare the body for future conception not only for women, but also for men. 3-4 months before the planned event, in order to strengthen the reproductive function, reduce the negative influences of the external environment, and enhance the protective properties of the immune system, it is recommended to start taking a number of vitamins, including vitamin E. Vitamin E for men when planning a pregnancy will prevent damage to the cellular structures of the genitals and ensure high mobility and viability of spermatozoa.

Vitamin E for women when planning pregnancy

Vitamin E is very important for women when planning a pregnancy, because it will help prepare the ovaries to produce full-fledged eggs, and after successful conception, it will reduce the risk of miscarriage, fetal fading, strengthen the placenta, help you feel good throughout the 40 weeks of pregnancy and supply the fetus with the substances necessary for its development. Other positive aspects of the role of vitamin E include:

• balancing hormonal levels;
• improving blood microcirculation;
• pressure stabilization;
• increasing the elasticity and strength of the uterine muscle tissue;
• lowering sugar levels, which is very important for diabetics;
• increasing resistance to the penetration of infections into the reproductive system.

Vitamin E norm when planning pregnancy

To determine the norms of vitamin E when planning a pregnancy, it is necessary to understand the units of its measurement, since some packages indicate the abbreviation ME, while others indicate the understandable mg (milligram). ME denotes the measurement of a substance in international units. To convert, if necessary, from one unit to another, you need to use the following formula:

1 mg vitamin E = 1.21 IU

The daily intake of vitamin E for women and men is different, but on average it is 10-20 IU. When planning a pregnancy, experts recommend increasing it to 200-400 IU, but the decision should be made by a doctor, taking into account individual health indicators and a person's diet. It is also worth taking into account that the vitamin also enters the body with food. Thus, it is found most of all in nuts (in 100 g of various types of nuts from 5 g to 25 g of vitamin E), dried apricots (5 g), spinach, rose hips, wheat sprouts (2.5-3.8 g), squid, viburnum (2-2.2 g), salmon (1.8 g), etc.

Indications of vitamin E when planning a pregnancy

The most important indication for the use of vitamin E when planning pregnancy is its beneficial effect on the reproductive organs. In addition, tocopherol increases:

• immunity, protecting the body from various infections;
• elasticity and permeability of blood vessels;
• tissue regeneration.

In addition, vitamin E stabilizes hormonal levels, neutralizes the effects of harmful factors (smoking, alcohol), normalizes blood pressure, and promotes the absorption of vitamin A, which also plays an important role in the body. If there are symptoms such as apathy, chronic fatigue, absent-mindedness, increased nervousness, headache, liver problems, this may be a signal of vitamin E deficiency in the body and an indication for its use. Also, unsuccessful attempts to conceive or carry a child are warning signs indicating the need to saturate the body with vitamins, including tocopherol.

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Release form

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin. It is available in capsules and oil solution. The capsule shell is gelatinous, inside there is a light yellow oily liquid. They are packaged in blisters and vials of different dosages: 100, 200 and 400 mg. The oil solution for injections is packaged in darkened vials with different concentrations of tocopherol (5%, 10%, 25%, 30%).

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Pharmacodynamics

The pharmacodynamics of vitamin E lies in its antioxidant properties, the ability to influence cell metabolism, and improve blood microcirculation. It increases the elasticity of blood vessels, prevents various disorders in the reproductive organs of men and women, prevents infections and bacteria from entering the genitals, and participates in the production of gonadotropin, a hormone that is formed in the placenta during pregnancy and ensures its normal development. The drug also has a positive effect on cardiac activity, in particular on the myocardium, nourishing it and improving its contractile activity. Vitamin E prevents anemia by participating in the synthesis of blood enzymes: hemoglobin, myoglobin, cytochromes, peroxidase, etc. It stimulates protein synthesis, reduces cholesterol production by the liver, and promotes the absorption of vitamin A.

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Pharmacokinetics

The pharmacokinetics of vitamin E are as follows. Half of the entire dose of the drug, entering the gastrointestinal tract, is absorbed and reaches its maximum concentration in the blood after 4 hours. During absorption, it binds to lipoproteins, which transport the vitamin first into the lymph and then into the bloodstream. It is concentrated in the adrenal glands, adipose and muscle tissue, in the pituitary gland, liver, testicles. After all metabolic processes, it is excreted with bile into the intestine, where the absorption of tocopherol continues. Everything that is not absorbed is excreted with feces. Metabolic products (tocopheric acid and glucuronides) are excreted in the urine.

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Dosing and administration

The method of application and doses of vitamin E when planning pregnancy should be calculated by a doctor and aimed at saturating the body with vitamin, preparing the woman for a long period of bearing a fetus, and protecting her and the future child from the influence of various harmful factors.

Daily doses for expectant parents greatly exceed the daily requirement of the body and often cause concern. But poisoning is possible when taking the drug in a dosage a thousand times higher than recommended.

When preparing for pregnancy, women who have not given birth or who have no problems with their previous pregnancy should take 100-200 IU daily. If there have been miscarriages, placental abruption, fetal death, premature birth or there are gynecological diseases, the dose is increased to 200-400 IU.

For men, it is recommended to take 300 IU per day. Surveys of pregnant women indicate that the most convenient form of packaging of the drug is capsules, especially since they most likely exist in the dosage that is needed (100, 200, 300, 400 IU).

The scheme for taking vitamin E when planning a pregnancy is as follows: the required dose is evenly divided into two portions and taken in the morning and evening. How much vitamin E to drink when planning a pregnancy will be determined by the doctor, taking into account all the indicators. As a rule, the minimum period is 1-2 months, but the intake can continue for half a year, until the moment of conception of the child.

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Folic acid and vitamin E when planning pregnancy

Folic acid (vitamin B9) and vitamin E when planning pregnancy are two powerful tools that can prepare a woman's body for increased stress during pregnancy and form healthy fetal organs. Folic acid is necessary for the development of the circulatory and immune systems, normal formation of the neural tube of the fetus. Men need vitamin B9 to produce viable sperm. Under natural conditions, folic acid enters the body with food and is also produced by the intestinal microflora. Products containing the vitamin include legumes, liver, yeast, black bread made from wholemeal flour, green vegetables, especially spinach, sorrel, and it is also present in honey. The fact that part of the vitamin is destroyed during heat treatment prevents us from fully meeting the need for folic acid through food. The daily intake of folic acid is 400 mcg.

The properties of vitamin E have been discussed above, we will only emphasize its powerful antioxidant and immunological characteristics. With this remedy, not only the expectant mother will take care of her offspring, but also the father.

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Contraindications

The first contraindication to the use of vitamin E is hypersensitivity to the drug. At least, this is what you can read in the instructions. Allergists claim that tocopherol itself does not cause allergic reactions. Since it is often taken with vitamin A (retinol), the histamine reaction to retinol is unfairly attributed to vitamin E. Be that as it may, the body's reaction in the form of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, skin rashes, itching, stomach pain, and rarely dry mouth and bleeding gums is considered a sign of an allergy to the drug. There are also warnings for patients with hyperthyroidism, diabetes, cholecystitis, hemophilia, liver cirrhosis, and kidney disease.

Side effects of vitamin E when planning a pregnancy

Side effects of vitamin E when planning pregnancy may occur with uncontrolled intake of the drug. The most negative of them is a decrease in prothrombin in the blood (hypoprothrombinemia). This is expressed in poor blood clotting, which leads to bleeding gums, mucous membranes of the nose, genitals. It is also possible to increase blood pressure, exacerbation of chronic liver diseases, pancreatitis.

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Overdose

An overdose of vitamin E can occur with prolonged use of large doses, significantly exceeding those recommended for use. This can result in headaches, digestive disorders (nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain), increased fatigue, and increased blood pressure.

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Interactions with other drugs

Interactions with other vitamin E preparations are as follows: it is "friends" with vitamin A, since it protects it from oxidation, and with vitamin C, which protects it from oxidation, together with selenium they enhance each other's antioxidant effect. When interacting with drugs, it has been established that such drugs as Xenical, Cholestramin, Gastal, when taken simultaneously, reduce the rate of absorption of the vitamin.

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Storage conditions

Vitamin E is stored in a dry, dark place at a temperature not exceeding 25 degrees.

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Shelf life

The expiration date is different for different manufacturers (2 or 3 years). You need to look at the packaging so as not to harm yourself with a spoiled drug.

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Reviews

Most positive reviews about vitamin E come from women who had problems with conception. They associate their chance to become a mother with taking this particular drug. Those who took it together with folic acid and other vitamins at the planning stage and successfully went from pregnancy to the birth of a healthy child cannot unambiguously attribute their success to this drug.