Vitamin use during pregnancyunnecessary,saysexpert

Elina Hypponen, from the University College London Institute of Child Health, said providing women with daily supplements would "reduce related serious risks to their babies".

"The incidence of vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women in Britain is unacceptably high, especially during winter and spring," Telegraph.co.uk quoted Hypponen as saying.

"This is compounded by a lack of exposure to sunlight and the limitations of an average diet to meet the optimal need. In the most severe cases, maternal vitamin D deficiency can be life threatening to a newborn. We believe that the routine provision of a daily supplement throughout pregnancy would significantly decrease the number of mothers who are clearly vitamin D deficient, reducing related serious risks to their babies," she added.

Professor Maria Makrides said there was little scientific proof to support that taking iron or iodine supplements during or ahead of pregnancy.

"A lot of that messaging is increasingly coming from industry," Makrides, Professor of Human Nutrition, at the University of Adelaide said.

"When studies have been done where women take iron supplements it does not change the outcome of their pregnancy, or the development of the child, and it may even be related to an increase in behavioural problems.

"And with iodine we just don't have the information," Makrides added.

Makrides said that pregnant woman recording low levels of iron was very common but this could be a temporary adaptation rather than a true iron deficiency' as normal levels usually returned post-birth, reports The Daily Telegraph.

She also said that women would stay healthier having a diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables, along with protein.