The proposal addresses the issue of the bioavailability of the supplement SuppleFem as compared to the current standard supplement Materna during pregnancy in Canadian women. In recognition of the difficulties Canadian women face in order to meet their iron (27 mg/day) and folic acid (600 µg/day) requirements from dietary sources alone during pregnancy, Health Canada currently recommends that an iron/folic acid supplement be taken by all women during pregnancy. However, because of issues related to adherence, many pregnant women do not fulfill the Health Canada recommendation. Adherence is largely influenced by the gastrointestinal side-effects associated with the use of iron tablets or pills, as well as the nausea and vomiting common during the first trimester. It is estimated that approximately10% of women discontinue the use of iron because of adverse effects while others use less than a daily dose. Women suffering from indigestion and heart-burn (gastro-esophageal acid reflux) associated with the use of iron supplements commonly discontinue their use and many find it difficult to swallow pills when nauseated.