title: Comparison of Prenate Advance with other prescription prenatal vitamins: a folic acid dissolution study.
abstract: Folic acid is important in the prevention of neural tube defects. This study assessed the folic acid dissolution performance of Prenate Advance and six other commonly prescribed prenatal vitamins and compared the results with the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) standards. Of the seven products tested, only three met the USP standard for folic acid dissolution. At 110% of the labeled amount, the Prenate Advance product had the highest folic acid dissolution level. Average dissolution for the four products failing to meet the USP standard ranged from 0% to 38% of labeled amount. These results corroborate findings from other studies suggesting marked differences in dissolution of prescription prenatal vitamins. These findings raise concerns of whether some women could fail to achieve the recommended folate levels needed in early pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects. Prenate Advance met the USP requirement for folic acid dissolution.
authors.affiliation: Sanofi-Synthelabo Inc., New York, NY 10016, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Giebe
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Counts
mesh_terms: D001682:Biological Availability; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012995:Solubility; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D005492:Folic Acid