–Originally posted on scrolldowndigital.com (my original blog) Feb 2008
UPDATE (July 2008): An even purer source of Vitamin D located at “Ki Nature and Sante“. The only issue however is that this is a single drop solution, meaning you need to dilute the D in either his food or a bottle of milk/formula. Update2: Please see the milliner’s comment below on her doctor’s suggestion on how to give your baby the Ki version of D.
You have a kid, he’s so tiny. You try and limit his exposure to crap like preservatives and artificial flavours and colours in his food. And then the establishment recommends, especially in winter months, that you give your baby a daily Vitamin D supplement. You fill your prescription at the pharmacy thinking all is well in the world. The little fellow doesn’t much care for the syrupy 1 ml he needs to ingest every morning, but he learns to ‘enjoy’ it. And then one day, when you get a little sleep you turn the bottle around and read the ingredients carefully. Oh, perfect.
Here is the run down of the extras that tag along with the D. This brand (Pedia Vit D) is by far the worst I’ve seen on the Quebec market.
(Excipients: An excipient is an inactive substance used as a carrier for the active ingredients of a medication.)
Parabens: …a group of chemicals widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Parabens can cause skin irritation and contact dermatitis in individuals with paraben allergies, a small percentage of the general population.
EDTA: …added as preservative to prevent catalytic oxidation by metal ions or stabilizer and for iron fortification. EDTA has been found to be both cytotoxic and weakly genotoxic in laboratory animals. Oral exposures have been noted to cause reproductive and developmental effects.
Tween 80: Polysorbate 80 (commercially also known as Tween® 80, a trademark of Croda International Plc, previously Uniqema/ICI)[1] is a nonionic detergent and emulsifier derived from polyoxylated sorbitol and oleic acid, and is often used in foods.
BHT: Butylated hydroxytoluene is the organic compound with the formula MeC6H2(CMe3)2OH (Me = methyl). This lipophilic (fat-soluble) phenol is primarily used as an antioxidant food additive (E number E321) as well as in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, jet fuels, rubber, petroleum products, and embalming fluid. Concerns have been raised about the use of BHT in food products. The compound has been banned for use in food in Japan (1958), Romania, Sweden, and Australia.
Propyl Gallate: Propyl gallate is used to protect oils and fats in products from oxidation. It is used in foods, cosmetics, hair products, adhesives, and lubricants.
I left out sugar and water, since well…
So after making this discovery, I visited a few pharmacists who were mostly bemused that I would even ask such questions. In the end they couldn’t provide a completely crap-free source of VitD. I was however able to find one where the garbage was in lower quantities. Come spring, the little guy is getting off the D bandwagon and just going to soak up more natural sunlight!
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Oh and here is a letter I wrote to them (awaiting response - name changed to keep from being killed by the mob):
Hello Euro Pharm,
I am currently giving my baby PediaVit D. I have noticed however that your brand has a number of preservatives greater then all other brands on the Quebec market. I am switching brands to offer my baby a healthier supplement.
Do you offer another brand that is free of preservatives (Parabens, BHT, EDTA, Tween 80 etc)?
Sincerely,
Steve Sotty
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Tags: Baby · BHT · Excipients · Infant · Montreal · Parabens · Tween 80 · Vitamin D9 Comments
9 responses so far ↓
A note to add to the single drop concentrated Vitamin D solution: Our family doctor told us that you can give it straight to the baby (i.e. don’t need to mix it into anything), but he recommended to put the drop on your finger first and then put it in the baby’s mouth. As it’s so concentrated, you don’t want to give a double dose to your baby as it could have not so good consequences (too much for a little body). By putting it on your finger, if you squeeze out too much, just wipe it off and start again.
I will switch also. I am sick and tired of all the garbage that goes down a person’s throat before you even blow out the first candle on your birthday cake! I also started to read all the ingredients and once again sighed for mankind. Even though we have much knowledge of what all this chemical eating does to us, we are ‘forced’ to shove it down our throats! My premature baby started at the hospital! Good thing these large companies who make the crap, they are at least kind enough to ‘donate’ money to the cancer societies and campaigns! Ha ha.
We are also concerned about the “expedients”. The following was recommended to us:
http://ddrops.ca/
I second the DDrops. My pediatrician confirmed there was no junk in it. The leaflet instructs the user to pour the single drop on the mother’s nipple or the tip of bottle for the baby to suck on, not straight in baby’s mouth. Easy, safe and almost tasteless. Doctors should at least offer this alternative to parents before giving out a Pediavit Rx…
Agree on the Ddrops. Unlike the eye-dropper types from the old days, this product is easy to use. One drop on the nipple and we are good to go. No preservatives and very economical. It’s the perfect vitamin D for babies
I can’t believe that nobody has mentioned that a lot of store-brand baby vitamin drops (I read the labels at Walmart, Shoppers Drug Mart, Loblaws) ALL contain a chemical called BHA.
I looked it up on this web page
http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/eleventh/profiles/s027bha.pdf
It says that BHA is
“Reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen”
Why are they putting that stuff into something that is supposed to be good for babies??????????? It is worse than BHT!!!
I am giving my baby aging 2 months pediavit D,.Want you to inform me, does pediavit D make disturbed sleep to the baby, or let him unable to sleep well, plz answer asap
Hi Racha, we were only concerned about the extra chemicals they put into Pediavit D. We were able to find natural sources of Vitamin D that provide the same benefit without the added preservatives.
Examples noted are “Vitamin D” from Ki (what we still use for our baby) and DDrops noted as well. Please read the other comments for more info or comment again if you have more questions.
Bryan
PS: I should write an update soon, lots of interest in this topic. Good to see so many concerned parents willing to question and correct the establishment. Kudos to you all.
Dear Racha, yes pediavit makes it harder for the baby to sleep. That’s why it’s usually given in the morning or noontime. It will also decrease a baby’s appetite, so if you’re gonna give it, dont give it around feeding time. I’d rather not give any sort of medication unless really needed, sometimes babies need their vitamins esp if premature, pediavit is started after the baby reaches 2 kg in weight. In this day and age, research and technology has made us reject a lot of what’s being studied and applied, while the goal is meant to make advancments. Ironic but all we have left is our common sense.