FOR WEEKS 0-12 OF PREGNANCY
 
Suitable for vegetarians

Three tablets a day will provide you with important nutrients to safeguard the levels available to you and your baby. Our unique formula contains Folic Acid, for optimal development of the spine and brain, and Zinc, which is involved in the multiplication of cells.

(90 tablets - 1 month's supply).
 
NEW FORMULA
DOES NOT CONTAIN VITAMIN A

The First Trimester (0 -12 weeks)

The first three months of pregnancy are in many ways the most crucial stage of a baby’s development - the time when all of his or her organs and systems are forming, as well as hands, feet, and limbs. It is now recognised that a mother’s diet immediately before conception and in the first weeks of pregnancy can influence the way that the embryo develops. Investing at this stage in the best nutrition may not only help to give your baby an exceptional start in life, it may also give you a better chance of a comfortable and healthy pregnancy.

This new formulation of Vital Essence 1 supplies all the necessary micro-nutrients to meet the demands of this rapid early development, including Folic Acid, which is useful for a whole range of cellular activities, not just for helping to minimise the risk of spina bifida.  Also includes increased levels of Vitamins D, plus lots of valuable new protective ingredients such as Beta Carotene (a safe way to protect against Vitamin A deficiency) and Lutein and Lycopene (to help protect against free-radical damage to developing cells). One tablet taken three times a day (with food) contains everything you need, alongside a good quality diet, to meet the changing demands of you and your baby.

We recommend that it should be taken in conjunction with Vital DHA for maximum benefit to your overall nutrition.

All Zita West products are developed in response to the very latest research and are regularly reviewed and reformulated to remain at the cutting-edge of clinical and nutritional thinking for optimum reproductive health.

Vital Essence 1 is suitable for vegetarians. It is free from artificial colours, preservatives and gluten and is certified non-GM. Contains yeast.

Ingredients

Three tablets a day typically provide:
 
                                                   
 Vitamin D  25ug          500 RDA%
 Vitamin E  45iu   30mg  300 RDA%
 Vitamin C  180mg   300 RDA%
 Thiamin (Vitamin B1)  10mg  714 RDA%
 Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)  10mg  625 RDA%
 Niacin (Vitamin B3)  36mg  200 RDA%
 Vitamin B6  10mg  500 RDA%
 Folic Acid  400ug  200 RDA%
 Vitamin B12  20ug  2000 RDA%
 Biotin  200ug  133 RDA%
 Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5)  25mg  417 RDA%
 Vitamin K  40ug  
 Calcium  400mg  50 RDA%
 Phosphorus  200mg  25 RDA%
 Iron  14mg  100 RDA%
 Magnesium  200mg  67 RDA%
 Zinc  15mg  100 RDA%
 Iodine  150ug  100 RDA%
 Manganese  1mg  
 Copper  1000ug  
 Selenium  100ug  
 Chromium  10ug  
 Beta Carotene  4mg  
 Lutein  1mg  
 Lycopene  1mg  
 Inositol  10mg  
 Coenzyme Q10  4mg  
 Choline Bitartrate  40mg  
 Alpha Lipoic Acid  33mg  
 N-Acetyl Cysteine  50mg  
 Pomegranate extract  60mg  
 Grapeskin extract  25mg  

 
Vital Essence 1 - Ingredients and their Benefits

Biotin – essential for the healthy division of foetal cells, including those in the central nervous system. The concentration of biotin in breast milk is 15 times higher than in the mother’s blood, which suggests that biotin is very important for your baby’s growth and development. Now increased to 200ug.
Calcium – needed initially for the development of the nervous system and strong healthy bones and teeth. The foetus accumulates calcium rapidly in the first trimester and you need to build up good stores so that plenty is available for your baby without depletion of your own bone material. Vegetarian and vegan mothers and those under 18 need to be especially careful to avoid deficiency. Now increased to 400mg per day.
Choline - an essential nutrient required by the body to make important compounds necessary for healthy cell membranes. Demand for choline during pregnancy is very high due to its transfer from the mother to the foetus. Now increased to 40mg.
Co enzyme (CO Q 10) - helps deliver extra energy. Now increased to 4mg.
Folic Acid - essential for the rapid growth and cell division of the first trimester (the neural tube closes on days 26-27 in the life of the embryo). Neural tube defects such as spina bifida are related to folic acid deficiency. Supplementation is important as good supplies are hard to supply from food alone. Increased evidence of benefit of higher dosages for a whole range of other cellular activities too, throughout pregnancy.
Fruit extracts - (pomegranate and grapeskin). Newly added, along with Alpha-Lipoic Acid and N-Acetyl Cysteine, to provide a broader and more effective spectrum of anti-oxidants.
Iodine - an essential micro-nutrient in the human diet, most particularly as a component of thyroid hormones, which play a vital role in the regulation of metabolic processes such as growth and energy expenditure. Essential throughout childhood for healthy brain and physical development. Now increased to 150ug.
Inositol - needed for cell growth in the brain and spinal cord and to make the myelin sheath which protects the nerves.
Iron - makes haemoglobin, the substance which carries oxygen in the blood. Women often have low iron status entering pregnancy because of menstrual blood loss. A common symptom of deficiency is pica, a craving for strange foods. Iron is not absorbed well without vitamin C and taking it on its own can lead to the loss of other essential minerals. Vital Essence 1 will help to build essential iron stores at the beginning of pregnancy.
Lutein and Lycopene - Newly added. Thought to help, amongst other things, to protect against free-radical damage to cells.
Magnesium - essential for energy production, for proper nerve function and for every major metabolic reaction. Few enzymes (the protein molecules which carry out the DNA’s instructions in the body) can work without it. It is also important for controlling calcium entry into heart cells. Now increased to 200mg.
Phosphorus - plays an important role in the utilisaton of carbohydrates, proteins and fats and is needed for your baby's bone development.
Selenium - a powerful antioxidant, especially important in the first trimester for cell growth, the early development of the brain and spinal cord and the prevention of spina bifida and other birth defects.
Vitamin C  - added to help with the absorption of Iron.
Zinc - essential for many of the body’s functions, including cell division, maintenance of hormone levels and brain development. Zinc deficiency is often found in women with fertility problems and in long-term users of the contraceptive pill. Low levels are thought to be one of the causes of morning sickness.
 

Source Ingredients:
 

Dicalcium Phosphate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Magnesium Citrate, Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Citrate, Vitamin C (as Ascorbic Acid), Magnesium Oxide, Anti-caking agent: Silica, Crosslinked Cellulose Gum, Magnesium Stearate, Modified Tapioca Starch, Stablisers: Acacia Gum, Hydroxpropyl Methyl Cellulose; Pomegranate Extract, N-Acetyl Cysteine, Ferrous Fumerate, Zinc Citrate, Choline Bitartrate, Niacin (as Nicotinamide), Alpha Lipoic Acid, Vitamin E (as D-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate) 1, Pantothenic Acid (as Calcium Pantothenate), Colour: Titanium Dioxide, Grapeskin Extract, Sunflower Oil, Olive Oil, Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride), Thiamine (as Hydrochloride (Vitamin B1)), Inositol, Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Manganese Gluconate, Soya Oil 1, Glycerin, Coenzyme Q10, Beta Carotene, Copper Citrate, Lycopene, Lutein, Folic Acid, Sodium Selenite, Potassium Iodide, Biotin, Antioxidants: Natural Mixed Tocopherols 1, Ascorbyl Palmitate; Chromium Chloride, Sucrose, Vitamin K (as Phylloquinone), Vitamin D (as Ergocalciferol), Vitamin B12 (as Cyanocobalamin). Allergen Information: 1 - From Soya
Allergen Information
From Soya: Soya Oil, Natural Mixed Tocopherols
 
Contains yeast

Frequently Asked Questions

My GP says if I am eating a good diet, I do not need to take vitamins?
In our view, even if you have a healthy diet - which many people don't these days, given missed, hurried or convenience meals - you can't always be sure you are getting the vitamins and minerals you need. Not least because intensive food production and processing has stripped many foods of a lot of their nourishment. In our opinion, a good multi vitamin and mineral supplement is essential during pregnancy, if only as an insurance policy.

Will Vital Essence 1 help with Morning Sickness?
Morning sickness is linked to nutritional deficiency. Some women find the product helps enormously.

Will Vital Essence 1 help with tiredness?
Yes, tiredness can be caused by numerous factors; taking a good quality multi-vitamin and mineral supplement such as Vital Essence 1 may help.

Why have you reduced the levels of Vitamin C and E in the new formulation?
The high levels of Vitamins C and E in the previous formulation of Vital Essence 1 were incorporated a couple of years ago, primarily in response to research conducted by St Thomas's Hospital's Maternal and Foetal Research Unit, which suggested that a combination of higher levels of supplemental Vitamin C and E may help minimise the risk of pre-eclampsia during pregnancy. Unfortunately, the full scale study that has since followed has failed to confirm the benefit. As a result, we have decided to restore the levels of Vitamin C and E to where they were before and reinvest the money more effectively, in improving other important areas of the product's performance.

All Zita West nutritional products have been approved by the HFMA (Health Food Manufacturers' Association) and have been formulated in accordance with Department of Health guidelines.