Food Allergies and Multivitamins: Are Phlexy Vits Appropriate For Your Child?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) doesn’t recommend the use of multivitamins for all children because eating a balanced diet (with iron-fortified foods) is usually sufficient to meet a child’s vitamin and mineral requirements. However, for a child with a restricted diet, a multivitamin may be necessary. We’ve been getting a lot of inquiries about Phlexy Vits, our powdered micronutrient supplement, so I wanted to use this blog post to provide some more information on it.
Phlexy Vits are a powdered micronutrient supplement containing vitamins, minerals and trace elements. They were designed to meet the nutritional needs of older children (11+) and adults. Occasionally Phlexy Vits are used in children but the dosage must be adjusted and this should only be done under the direction and supervision of a healthcare professional.
Phlexy Vits were actually originally developed for patients with Phenylketonuria or PKU, who require a restrictive, low protein diet. However, they may be useful for anybody with a medical condition that requires them to follow a restrictive diet. We have received inquiries about the use of Phlexy Vits for patients with multiple food allergies because many popular multivitamin brands contain hidden allergens.
Hidden Allergens in Children’s Vitamins
Below is a list of popular children’s multivitamins and the food allergens that they contain:
- Centrum Children’s: contains milk, soy and wheat (as well as lactose)
- Flintstones Complete and Flintstones Plus Immunity: contain soy
- Flintstones Gummies: contains wheat and tree nuts
- One-A-Day Scooby Doo Gummies: contains wheat and tree nuts
Vitamins for Children 11 and Older with Food Allergies
For older children (11+) with food allergies, Phlexy Vits may be a great option because they are free of milk and soy proteins, gluten and the sugars lactose, sucrose and fructose. There are no corn proteins in Phlexy Vits; however, certain nutrients are derived from corn so discuss this with your health care provider if your child is very sensitive to corn derivatives. Keep in mind that Phlexy Vits were developed for individuals over 11 years of age so do not use for younger children unless advised by your health care professional. The daily intake will have to be adjusted for a younger child.
For those of you with children on Neocate products, a multivitamin probably isn’t necessary. Neocate products are nutritionally-complete and were designed to meet all nutrient needs: protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.
- Mallory