How much folic acid does the audit look for when planning pregnancy?

For most people planning pregnancy or in early pregnancy, the audit checks for at least 400 micrograms of confirmed folic acid in the daily supplement plan. Individual risk factors can require a prescribed dose.

Is more folic acid always better?

No. The Australian upper level for synthetic folic acid is 800 micrograms a day for ages 14 to 18 and 1,000 micrograms for adults, unless a clinician has prescribed and is monitoring a different plan.

Does methylfolate count as folic acid in this audit?

It is recorded, but it is kept separate from confirmed folic acid. The tool does not automatically assume that another folate form is identical to the folic acid amount used in Australian prevention guidance.

Why does the audit combine vitamin B6 across products?

Vitamin B6 commonly appears in several complementary medicines. Combined exposure matters, and tingling, burning or numbness can be a sign of peripheral neuropathy requiring prompt advice.

Does an AUST number mean a supplement is suitable in pregnancy?

No. It identifies the medicine on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. Suitability still depends on the ingredients, doses, pregnancy stage, health conditions and other medicines.

Should every prenatal vitamin contain iron?

Not necessarily. Iron needs vary with diet, blood tests, tolerance, pregnancy stage and medical history. The audit records the total but does not award a pass or fail based on iron alone.

Do I need a prenatal if I eat well?

Folic acid and iodine are recommended for everyone trying to conceive, regardless of diet.

Is folate the same as folic acid?

Folic acid is the supplement form. Some labels list methylfolate; both are acceptable.

Only if your GP finds low iron. Excess iron causes constipation and nausea.

Can men take a prenatal?

Men benefit from folate, zinc and antioxidants, but a men's preconception formula is a better fit.

Prenatal Vitamin Checker Australia

Everything behind the result

How this tool worksWhy two lines on the label matter more than the other twenty

How this tool works

Why two lines on the label matter more than the other twenty

Australian guidance centres on two numbers: 400 micrograms of folic acid and 150 micrograms of iodine daily, starting a month before trying. Most labels bury them among twenty other lines.

Enter what your label says and the checker marks each key nutrient against the Australian recommendation and flags vitamin A and duplication risks.

Folic acid400 µg daily; some people are prescribed 5 mg.

Iodine150 µg daily.

Vitamin AKeep retinol under 3,000 µg.

Iron and vitamin DOnly if a blood test shows you need them.

When each nutrient matters mostCounting from before conception

1 month beforeStart folic acid and iodine.

Weeks 3 to 4Neural tube forms. Folate critical.

First trimesterIodine for thyroid and brain.

Second trimesterIron needs rise.

Third trimesterVitamin D and calcium.

Label meets bothFolate and iodine at or above target. Check nothing else is doubled.

Iodine missingCommon in general multivitamins. Choose a pregnancy formula.

Vitamin A highRetinol above 3,000 µg. Change product.

The full data tableEvery row this tool reads from.

Prenatal supplement thresholds this audit checks

The exact daily amounts this audit compares your combined labels against. Upper levels are age-based and include all sources, not one product.

Prenatal supplement thresholds this audit checks
Nutrient	Usual amount when planning or in early pregnancy	Upper level, 14 to 18 years	Upper level, 19 years and over	What the audit flags
Folic acid	400 micrograms	800 micrograms	1,000 micrograms	Below 400 mcg, or reaching the upper level without a prescribed plan
Iodine	150 micrograms	900 micrograms	1,100 micrograms	Below 150 mcg, or at or above the upper level from supplements alone
Vitamin B6	No routine target	Review above 10 mg	Review above 10 mg	Above 10 mg daily, or appearing in more than one product
Preformed vitamin A (retinol)	No routine target	2,800 micrograms	3,000 micrograms	At or above the upper level, or an unclear unit or form
Iron	Individual	Individual	Individual	Recorded as a total; need depends on diet, blood results and pregnancy stage

Upper levels follow the NHMRC Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand and include folic acid from fortified foods. NHMRC is currently revising the vitamin B6 upper level. Do not reduce, stop or replace a prescribed dose based on this screen: take the combined labels to a pharmacist or prescriber. For a possible overdose call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26, and triple zero (000) in an emergency.

Add every product before deciding whether the routine is appropriate

The audit keeps folic acid separate from other folate forms, distinguishes preformed vitamin A from beta-carotene, checks Australian label details and flags when a pharmacist or pregnancy-care clinician should review the combined routine.

Age and pregnancy-stage contextDuplicate nutrient totalsAUST, expiry and medicine prompts

The safest label check is based on totals, forms and personal context

Marketing terms such as “prenatal”, “fertility” or “natural” do not establish that a product is suitable for every person. The audit combines the amounts taken from each product’s actual daily serving and keeps nutrient forms separate when a direct comparison would be misleading.

Use the serving you actually take

Enter the amount supplied by the complete daily serving, not the amount in one tablet when the label directs two or more. Include multivitamins, fertility supplements, magnesium products, vitamin B complexes, iron products and other complementary medicines used on the same day.

Keep folic acid separate from other folate forms

Australian prevention guidance uses a specific folic acid amount for most people planning pregnancy and in early pregnancy. The tool therefore totals confirmed folic acid separately from methylfolate, folinic acid and unclear or mixed forms. A prescribed high-dose plan always overrides an online screen and should not be changed without the prescriber.

Check duplication, not only one high dose

Vitamin B6 may appear in prenatal, magnesium, zinc, iron and stress products. The TGA warns that peripheral neuropathy can occur with supplementary vitamin B6 and that risk cannot be excluded at lower doses. Tingling, burning or numbness needs prompt review rather than reassurance from a total below a single threshold.

Use age-specific upper levels carefully

The audit applies the Australian upper level for synthetic folic acid from supplements and fortified foods as 800 micrograms for ages 14 to 18 and 1,000 micrograms for adults. It separately applies age-based limits for iodine and preformed vitamin A. These are review prompts, not personal prescribing instructions.

Checks that should remain separate

Folic acid

The usual prevention amount for most people does not apply to every individual risk profile. A clinician may prescribe a different dose for specific medical or medicine-related reasons.

Iodine

Australian guidance generally recommends a 150 microgram supplement when planning pregnancy, during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Thyroid history and all iodine sources require individual review.

Vitamin A

Preformed vitamin A, including retinol and retinyl forms, is handled differently from beta-carotene. An unclear IU entry is not automatically converted because the form matters.

Iron and herbs

Iron need depends on diet, blood results, tolerance and health history. Herbs and proprietary blends need ingredient-by-ingredient review; an AUST number identifies a medicine but does not establish pregnancy suitability.

Is my prenatal vitamin right for Australia?

Prenatal Vitamin Label Checker

Check safety and personal context

Enter the daily label amounts

Product 1

Build the combined audit

Your prenatal label audit