January is coming to a close (I can’t believe January is almost over!), so we will end our Vitamin Series with a run through of the vitamins we haven’t discussed yet. We have already covered Vitamin D, Calcium, and all of the B vitamins. (Calcium snuck its way into the Vitamin Series even though it is a mineral because it is very closely linked with Vitamin D).

As you may recall, the B vitamins are all water soluble. Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid) is also water soluble and acts as an antioxidant. In addition, vitamin C is important for wound healing. A deficiency in vitamin C, results in a disease called scurvy.

• Good sources of vitamin C are colorful fruits and veggies such as red peppers, broccoli and strawberries.

You may notice lots of fruit juices out in the market have added vitamin C, as a result deficiencies in this vitamin are rare in today’s world.

Vitamins can be either water soluble or they can be fat soluble. Vitamins D, E, K, and A are all fat soluble vitamins. These vitamins are absorbed into the GI tract with the help of fat. They are also easier to accumulate in the body vs. the water soluble vitamins. Vitamin E and vitamin A are both useful antioxidants. Vitamin A also plays an important role in eye sight.

• Good sources of vitamin A are broccoli, carrots and most fruits or vegetables that are orange or yellow in color.
• Good vitamin E sources are asparagus, avocado and eggs.

Lastly, we will discuss Vitamin K (also known as phylloquinone). This vitamin is interesting because it helps for wound clotting and coagulation. Any scab you may get is a result of vitamin K at work! It is rare to be deficient in this nutrient, unless there is significant damage to your intestine.

• Good sources of vitamin K are leafy green vegetables.

When a child is on a restricted diet due to allergies, ensuring they are getting adequate amounts of each nutrient can be tricky. This vitamin series was developed to help families understand these nutrients and find ways to ensure your little one is getting the amounts they need to thrive. If your little one is on a very restricted diet, it may help to look for nutritionally complete amino acid-based formulas, like Neocate Infant or Neocate Junior, that will ensure these vitamins (along with minerals and macronutrients) are being taken in adequate amounts.

Do you often find it hard to ensure your little one is getting all the vitamins he/she needs? What have you done to help this?

Christine

With help from State Representative Todd Schlekeway, a group of families in South Dakota have introduced a new bill that would require insurance companies to cover amino acid-based formulas like Neocate.

Keloland Television in Sioux Falls, South Dakota recently did a story on the bill and shared the story of the Kurtz Family whose two children, Annie and Quincy, both have milk protein allergies. Annie relies on Neocate for the nutrition she needs to survive, and her mother April is eager for the bill to pass so that it can bring some much needed economic relief to her family.

Hopefully South Dakota will pass the bill requiring reimbursement of amino acid-based formulas and join other states like Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Texas, which have passed similar legislation.

If you are interested in introducing reimbursement legislation in your state, please visit the Children’s MAGIC website and download the “Guidebook to Enacting Legislation,” which can help you get started.

- Sarah

I hope everyone’s New Year is off to a great start! We are excited to begin 2010 with our Vitamin Series. Each week we will highlight interesting facts about a different vitamin and provide tips to help you make sure your kids are getting enough of each one. This week we are going to focus on vitamin D.

Vitamin D has been in the news lately due to a recent study that showed that as many as 70% of children have a deficiency in this vitamin! (http://cli.gs/6S8hqq). A second study found that children with low levels of vitamin D are more likely to have high blood pressure and lower levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), also known as “healthy” cholesterol — two issues that are considered major risk factors for heart disease later in life. A deficiency in vitamin D also results in Rickets.

In October of 2008, the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) increased their recommendations for vitamin D by 100%, from 200 IU/d to 400 IU/d for infants, children, and adolescents.

So how come so many children are not getting enough vitamin D? One theory has to do with how our bodies get vitamin D. While you can get it from certain foods such as oily fish and egg yolks, the majority of our vitamin D is derived from sun exposure. And in today’s world with computer technology, TVs galore, Xboxes and Wiis; children are just not playing outside as much as they used to.

Not to worry! Here are a few ways to make sure you and your family are getting enough vitamin D.

1. Try to eat more foods that are high in vitamin D.  Unfortunately, if your little one has a cow’s milk allergy, vitamin D can be trickier to get from food. Because of this, you may want to…
2. Take supplements such as a multivitamin. Whichever vitamins you choose, be sure to check with the manufacturer to ensure they are allergen-free and will be tolerated by your little one.
3. Look into formulas, like Neocate, which meet the new AAP guidelines if they are taken as a sole source of nutrition and meeting the child’s calorie needs.
4. Send your little ones out to play in the yard for about 10-15 minutes (without sunscreen) to get the vitamin D amounts they need. Make sure to time them! You don’t want them to get a sunburn!

What do you think of this new finding? How do you make sure that your family gets enough vitamin D?

- Christine

Did you know that since 1993 childhood food allergies have increased by 18%? While some have questioned whether the increase is real, or just due to an increase in the number of cases actually reported, new research from the Centers for Disease Control suggests that the spike is real.

So what is causing more children to suffer from food allergies? An article I read yesterday from ABC News suggests that the increase could be caused by the introduction of foods to babies too early or super clean environments.

Dr. Clifford Bassett, the medical director of Allergy and Asthma Care of New York who is quoted in the article, says that one theory is that certain foods might be introduced too early to children. Even if you aren’t feeding your baby things like nuts, they might be in the creams or lotions you use on them in the form of oil.

The “hygiene hypothesis” explains another possible cause of increased allergies – super clean environments that are commonly associated with today’s medical and hygiene practices. The article cites Dr. Bill Parker of Duke University Medical Center:, “the immune system essentially lacks a normal workload… however, [it] does what it is built to do, and finds something to attack, often directing its attention toward such harmless things as pollen grains … even healthy food.”

Who knew that being so clean was a bad thing!

Hopefully these new findings will help highlight the seriousness of food allergies and the need for food allergy treatments. Would love to hear your thoughts on the study – make sure to let us know what you’re thinking in the comments section.

-Nita

While I’m always paying attention to stories about food allergies, I’ve noticed lately there have been even more articles than usual in the media, which is great. More stories helps to increase awareness and educate the public about how serious food allergies can be as well as some of the signs/symptoms people should look for if they suspect an allergy. Below are just a few of some of the articles and posts about food allergies from the past few weeks that have caught my attention.

How – and How Not – To Diagnose A Food Allergy

Have you been thinking about having your child tested for food allergies? Before heading to the allergist check out this entry from The Washington Post’s “Checkup” blog. It talks about the benefits of formal allergy testing and gives some helpful information about the different types of diagnostic tests from the Food Allergy Initiative.

A Family That Takes It’s Food Allergies Seriously

I always think it is amazing when kids are out in the community raising awareness about their food allergies. The Boston Globe reported last week on Spencer and Zoe Cohen. Between the two, they are allergic to nuts, fish, soy, mangoes, bananas, carrots, broccoli, and lettuce! The siblings traveled to the FAAN Kids Congress last month where they met with lawmakers to lobby for the FAAMA Act which could help fund more food allergy research.

A Next-Generation Epi-Pen is unveiled

Dey Pharma, the makers of Epi-Pen, released a new more user-friendly Epi-Pen. If your little one needs one, don’t forget to read our tips for Epi-Pen safety. Hopefully you will never need to use one, but it is always best to be prepared for an emergency situation!

Trained Dog Warns Child with Allergy to Peanuts

We blogged about a new furry trend in food allergy safety – food allergy dogs – a few weeks ago. Now USA Today is telling the story of the Rine family whose adorable Portuguese water dog Nicco helps their son Ethan avoid peanuts. Right now these dogs are expensive because of the high cost of their extensive training, but they are helping keep kids safe. Perhaps as they become more common, the cost will go down and they will be more affordable.

Have you read any interesting news or tips recently? If so, share them with us in the comments!

-Christine