Vitamins and breast feeding: Do's and don'ts

Q: My daughter is about to have her first child and plans on breast feeding. She's always been very interested in natural health and has taken supplements for years. I'm just wondering if she should take them while she's nursing. Any information you can offer is most appreciated!

Dr. Wright: Nursing or soon-to-be-nursing mothers should certainly be taking supplements, especially folic acid, calcium/magnesium, a high quality multiple vitamin- mineral, and iron. There is one nutrient, however, that your daughter does need to limit: Even "medium-high" quantities of vitamin B6 could suppress prolactin secretion. Prolactin is the principal pituitary hormone that stimulates milk formation in nursing mothers. Even though this fact was documented years ago still isn't as well known as it should be.

Your daughter should check to be sure that her total intake of vitamin B6 (including pyridoxine and pyridoxal phosphate) isn't higher than 25 milligrams a day. The lowest amount necessary to "shut off" prolactin is likely 50 milligrams daily or more -- but there's no point in risking a problem.

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