Thorne Basic Prenatal – Complete Prenatal Vitamin for Pregnant & Nursing Women | Active Folate, Iron & DHA Support, 90 Capsules

What Is Thorne Basic Prenatal?

Thorne Basic Prenatal is a comprehensive, pharmaceutical-grade prenatal vitamin formulated specifically for the elevated nutritional demands of pregnancy and breastfeeding. Developed using Thorne’s uncompromising quality standards, it delivers all critical prenatal nutrients in their most bioavailable, active coenzyme forms — including 5-MTHF (methylfolate) instead of folic acid, methylcobalamin instead of cyanocobalamin, and TRAACS® chelated minerals — ensuring that both mother and developing baby receive optimal nutritional support at every stage of pregnancy and lactation. Trusted by OB/GYNs, midwives, and integrative medicine practitioners worldwide.

Why Active Folate (5-MTHF) Matters in Pregnancy

Folate is the single most critical nutrient in early pregnancy, required for fetal neural tube development in the first 28 days after conception — often before a woman knows she is pregnant. Most prenatal vitamins use folic acid, the synthetic form that requires conversion to active methylfolate (5-MTHF) by the MTHFR enzyme. An estimated 40–60% of women carry MTHFR gene variants that reduce this conversion by 30–70%, meaning a significant portion of women cannot adequately utilize folic acid-based supplements. Thorne uses L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) — the active, ready-to-use form of folate that requires no enzymatic conversion, providing reliable, effective folate delivery regardless of a woman’s genetic status.

Key Nutrients & Their Roles in Pregnancy

• Folate (as 5-MTHF) — Neural tube closure, DNA synthesis, cell division, placental development, and prevention of neural tube defects (spina bifida, anencephaly). Critical from preconception through the first trimester
• Iron (as Chelated Bisglycinate) — Blood volume expands by 40–50% during pregnancy, dramatically increasing iron requirements. Iron supports fetal hemoglobin synthesis, placental oxygen delivery, and prevention of iron-deficiency anemia — a leading cause of preterm birth and low birth weight. Bisglycinate form ensures high absorption with minimal GI discomfort
• Vitamin B12 (as Methylcobalamin) — Essential for fetal neurological development, myelin formation, and DNA synthesis. Works synergistically with folate in the methylation cycle. Methylcobalamin form is directly bioavailable without conversion
• Vitamin D3 (as Cholecalciferol) — Fetal bone mineralization, immune development, and regulation of placental function. Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm birth, and low birth weight
• Vitamin A (as Beta-Carotene) — Fetal organ development, immune system formation, and vision development. Beta-carotene (provitamin A) is the preferred form in prenatal supplements as it is converted to retinol only as needed, avoiding the teratogenicity risk associated with excess preformed retinol (retinyl palmitate/acetate)
• Iodine — Essential for fetal thyroid hormone synthesis, which governs brain development, neurological maturation, and metabolic programming. Iodine deficiency during pregnancy is a leading preventable cause of cognitive impairment in children worldwide
• Choline — Critically important for fetal brain development, hippocampal structure, and lifelong cognitive function. Most prenatal vitamins are inadequate in choline — Thorne’s formula addresses this commonly overlooked nutrient
• Zinc (Chelated) — Required for fetal cell division, DNA synthesis, immune development, and prevention of preterm birth. Zinc deficiency is associated with fetal growth restriction and increased infection risk
• Vitamin C — Collagen synthesis for fetal connective tissue and placental development; antioxidant protection; supports non-heme iron absorption from the formula
• Vitamin K (K1 + K2) — Fetal bone development and blood coagulation; K2 (MK-7) supports calcium routing into bone rather than soft tissues
• B Vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6) — Energy metabolism support for the increased metabolic demands of pregnancy; B6 specifically supports reduction of pregnancy-related nausea and morning sickness

Key Benefits

• Complete Prenatal Nutrition in 3 Capsules/Day — Comprehensive coverage of all critical prenatal nutrients in a convenient 3-capsule daily format
• Active Methylfolate (5-MTHF) — Effective for all women regardless of MTHFR genetic status
• Gentle Chelated Iron — High bioavailability without the constipation and nausea of ferrous sulfate-based prenatals
• Beta-Carotene Vitamin A — Safe provitamin A form with no teratogenicity risk from excess preformed retinol
• No Artificial Additives — No unnecessary fillers, binders, or excipients that are common in mass-market prenatal vitamins
• Practitioner-Trusted Quality — Recommended by OB/GYNs and integrative health practitioners as a best-in-class prenatal formulation

Who Should Take This?

• Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant — ideally starting 3 months before conception
• Breastfeeding and nursing mothers with elevated nutritional demands post-delivery
• Women with MTHFR gene variants who cannot effectively utilize folic acid
• Women who have experienced GI intolerance with standard prenatal vitamins (constipation, nausea from ferrous sulfate iron)
• Women seeking a clean, practitioner-quality prenatal free from artificial additives

How to Use

Take 3 capsules daily with a meal, or as directed by your healthcare practitioner (OB/GYN, midwife, or integrative medicine provider). For preconception use, begin supplementation at least 3 months before planned conception to build adequate folate and iron stores. For breastfeeding, continue use throughout the nursing period. Always use under the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider during pregnancy.

Product Highlights

• Complete prenatal vitamin specifically formulated for pregnant & nursing women
• 5-MTHF (Active Methylfolate) — works for all MTHFR genetic variants
• Chelated Iron Bisglycinate — high absorption, gentle on the stomach
• Methylcobalamin B12 | Beta-Carotene Vitamin A | Vitamins D3 & K2
• Includes Choline — essential for fetal brain development
• 90 Capsules — 30-day supply at 3 capsules/day
• No artificial additives | Practitioner-recommended
• From Thorne — trusted by OB/GYNs and healthcare practitioners worldwide