Supplements and Pregnant or breastfeeding

High-dose vitamin A can cause birth defects. Preformed vitamin A above 3,000 mcg (10,000 IU) daily is teratogenic. Use a prenatal vitamin with beta-carotene instead unless prescribed.

Avoid ashwagandha during pregnancy. Ashwagandha may have abortifacient effects and is not recommended in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Berberine can harm newborns. Berberine can worsen jaundice in newborns. Do not use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Red yeast rice isn't recommended in pregnancy. It contains a statin, and statins are avoided in pregnancy. NIH advises against red yeast rice while pregnant or breastfeeding.

Avoid licorice in pregnancy. Large amounts raise the risk of preterm delivery, and in a Finnish cohort, children of mothers with high glycyrrhizin intake scored lower on IQ and memory tests.

Avoid DHEA in pregnancy. DHEA is a hormone that raises testosterone and estrogen and hasn't been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding.

NMN: no safety data in pregnancy. NMN has not been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid unless your clinician recommends it.

Fisetin: no safety data in pregnancy. Fisetin has not been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid unless your clinician recommends it.

Resveratrol: no safety data in pregnancy. Resveratrol has not been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid unless your clinician recommends it.

Concentrated piperine: no safety data in pregnancy. Concentrated piperine has not been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid unless your clinician recommends it.

Curcumin supplements may not be safe in pregnancy. Culinary turmeric is fine; supplement doses have not been shown to be safe.

St. John's wort in pregnancy. Safety is not established. Talk to your clinician about treating depression during pregnancy.

Concentrated green tea in pregnancy. Extracts add caffeine and concentrated catechins that haven't been shown safe in pregnancy. Stick to ordinary tea in moderation.

Limit caffeine in pregnancy. Common obstetric guidance (e.g. ACOG) is ≤200 mg/day from all sources during pregnancy.

Melatonin in pregnancy: not studied. There's a lack of research on safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Ginkgo near delivery. It might cause early labor or extra bleeding during delivery.

Nicotinamide riboside: no safety data in pregnancy. Nicotinamide riboside has not been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid unless your clinician recommends it.

Spermidine: no safety data in pregnancy. Spermidine has not been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid unless your clinician recommends it.

PQQ: no safety data in pregnancy. PQQ has not been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid unless your clinician recommends it.

5-HTP: no safety data in pregnancy. 5-HTP has not been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid unless your clinician recommends it.

Rhodiola: no safety data in pregnancy. Rhodiola has not been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid unless your clinician recommends it.

Ginseng: no safety data in pregnancy. Ginseng has not been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid unless your clinician recommends it.

Bacopa: no safety data in pregnancy. Bacopa has not been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid unless your clinician recommends it.

Lion's mane: no safety data in pregnancy. Lion's mane has not been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid unless your clinician recommends it.

TMG: no safety data in pregnancy. TMG has not been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid unless your clinician recommends it.

Ca-AKG: no safety data in pregnancy. Ca-AKG has not been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid unless your clinician recommends it.

Urolithin A: no safety data in pregnancy. Urolithin A has not been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid unless your clinician recommends it.

Pterostilbene: no safety data in pregnancy. Pterostilbene has not been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid unless your clinician recommends it.

Apigenin: no safety data in pregnancy. Apigenin has not been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid unless your clinician recommends it.

Sulforaphane supplements: no safety data in pregnancy. Sulforaphane supplements has not been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid unless your clinician recommends it.

Glucosamine: no safety data in pregnancy. Glucosamine has not been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid unless your clinician recommends it.

Ergothioneine supplements: no safety data in pregnancy. Ergothioneine supplements has not been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid unless your clinician recommends it.

Hydroxytyrosol supplements: no safety data in pregnancy. Hydroxytyrosol supplements has not been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid unless your clinician recommends it.

Nattokinase: no safety data in pregnancy. Nattokinase has not been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid unless your clinician recommends it.

Garlic supplements: food amounts only in pregnancy. NIH says garlic may not be safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding in amounts greater than those in food.

Valerian: no safety data in pregnancy. Valerian has not been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid unless your clinician recommends it.

Saw palmetto may be unsafe in pregnancy. NIH says it may be unsafe during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Concentrated black seed: no safety data in pregnancy. Concentrated black seed has not been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid unless your clinician recommends it.

Alpha-GPC: no safety data in pregnancy. Alpha-GPC has not been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid unless your clinician recommends it.

Citicoline: no safety data in pregnancy. Citicoline has not been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid unless your clinician recommends it.

Beta-alanine: no safety data in pregnancy. Beta-alanine has not been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid unless your clinician recommends it.

Tongkat ali: no safety data in pregnancy. Tongkat ali has not been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid unless your clinician recommends it.

Maca supplements: no safety data in pregnancy. Maca supplements has not been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid unless your clinician recommends it.

Saffron supplements: no safety data in pregnancy. Saffron supplements has not been studied for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid unless your clinician recommends it.