Multivitamin Supplement in Infants and Toddlers Associated With Allergies

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This study of over 8000 children concludes that early use of multivitamin supplements increases the risk of asthma and food allergies. COMMENT: this is an unusual study that must be viewed very skeptically. Of note, the researchers found that breastfeeding was also associated with a higher risk of food allergies. The type of multivitamin supplement was not defined (in the abstract) and it may be that the chemical binders and other, non-vitamin components included in many vitamin supplements are the cause of the problems. This research looks like data mining; their findings are interesting however, and worthy of further evaluation. I would recommend continued breastfeeding, and possibly holding off vitamin supplementation until later in life (5 years old or greater). Also, the brand of vitamin supplement is likely to be important. My family uses Shaklee (http://shaklee.heston.com) supplements.

PEDIATRICS Vol. 114 No. 1 July 2004, pp. 27-32

Early Infant Multivitamin Supplementation Is Associated With Increased Risk for Food Allergy and Asthma

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/114/1/27

http://www.healthtalk.ca/infant_vitamin_07062004_3889.php