This is infuriating in the context of women being criminalised for choosing to end a pregnancy (because a fetus has more human rights than the woman carrying it) but in the name of business and profit it’s ok to poison/ cause nutrient deficiency to the fetus and the mother.
I says it ok, because if it wasn’t ok they would be doing something about it…
There is another reason why gummy prenatal vits do not contain iron. This is because iron is poisonous to children and children can see gummy vitamins as candy and accidentally ingest toxic amounts of iron. So we ob/gyn doctors always need to ask patients what prenatal vitamin they are taking. You'd be surprised how many OB patients take the gummies and are not aware that they don't contain iron, one of the most important nutrients they should be getting enough of.
Ugh. Nice investigative leg work! I guess the only way "we, the people" can make change is with our dollar$. DON'T BUY SUPPLEMENTS! If we start speaking with dollar$, the unfortunate universal language of the world, maybe things will change and testing can become mandatory. (?) It should terrify and enrage every human, not just pregnant ones, that no one is looking out for you when it comes to supplements (amongst other things). Thanks for the reporting Dr. Gunter.
An interesting side note, I work in the manufacturing world. We started getting offers from contract manufacturers about four years ago to "make your brand's own supplement line." Literally a catalog hundreds of supplements from A-Z. It was gross. I think a big issue with supplements and cosmetics is contract manufacturing and the issues that go along with it; flooding the market with products that no one needs and that are not tested. It's simply capitalism but...at what cost to human health and safety? How can we install regulatory protocols for protections? I have no answers ... just watching this crazy movie.
This post should be shared with every pregnant person you know! How Gunter manages to summarize the issues and frame them with words that convey the message so clearly has me in complete awe.
I imagine this information would also apply to multivitamins that many women turn to at different stages of life. There are too many people who are marketing (not within the pharmaceutical industry) supplements such as a cure all pro biotic or nutrient formulas that have ingredients that pose a risk even if a woman is not pregnant. For example high levels of Xyletol and licorice root which is hard on the bowels (weight loss scheme these two ingredients will increase bowel function thus a weight loss), also excess iodine or biotin will impact thyroid function blood tests (every age), too much vitamin D3 will also cause several problems. The companies that make the products must be held accountable for the production, marketing and sales of all products much like food quality.
This is another sad story of the CAM Industrial Complex. Why I suggest third party independent verification like USP, NSF and BSCG. I also wonder if doctors are aware of this and can recommend checking for brands. I have suggested this site before and this is on women's health:
"Pregnancy and lactation
If you’re pregnant or plan to become pregnant soon, talk with your healthcare provider about taking a multivitamin/mineral (prenatal) supplement that contains folic acid, iron, and iodine. It’s important to get enough folic acid (from food and/or supplements) daily before conceiving to reduce the risk of birth defects. For more information, read the OPSS article about supplements during pregnancy." https://www.opss.org/article/dietary-supplements-and-womens-health
This is infuriating in the context of women being criminalised for choosing to end a pregnancy (because a fetus has more human rights than the woman carrying it) but in the name of business and profit it’s ok to poison/ cause nutrient deficiency to the fetus and the mother.
I says it ok, because if it wasn’t ok they would be doing something about it…
There is another reason why gummy prenatal vits do not contain iron. This is because iron is poisonous to children and children can see gummy vitamins as candy and accidentally ingest toxic amounts of iron. So we ob/gyn doctors always need to ask patients what prenatal vitamin they are taking. You'd be surprised how many OB patients take the gummies and are not aware that they don't contain iron, one of the most important nutrients they should be getting enough of.
Ugh. Nice investigative leg work! I guess the only way "we, the people" can make change is with our dollar$. DON'T BUY SUPPLEMENTS! If we start speaking with dollar$, the unfortunate universal language of the world, maybe things will change and testing can become mandatory. (?) It should terrify and enrage every human, not just pregnant ones, that no one is looking out for you when it comes to supplements (amongst other things). Thanks for the reporting Dr. Gunter.
An interesting side note, I work in the manufacturing world. We started getting offers from contract manufacturers about four years ago to "make your brand's own supplement line." Literally a catalog hundreds of supplements from A-Z. It was gross. I think a big issue with supplements and cosmetics is contract manufacturing and the issues that go along with it; flooding the market with products that no one needs and that are not tested. It's simply capitalism but...at what cost to human health and safety? How can we install regulatory protocols for protections? I have no answers ... just watching this crazy movie.
This post should be shared with every pregnant person you know! How Gunter manages to summarize the issues and frame them with words that convey the message so clearly has me in complete awe.
I imagine this information would also apply to multivitamins that many women turn to at different stages of life. There are too many people who are marketing (not within the pharmaceutical industry) supplements such as a cure all pro biotic or nutrient formulas that have ingredients that pose a risk even if a woman is not pregnant. For example high levels of Xyletol and licorice root which is hard on the bowels (weight loss scheme these two ingredients will increase bowel function thus a weight loss), also excess iodine or biotin will impact thyroid function blood tests (every age), too much vitamin D3 will also cause several problems. The companies that make the products must be held accountable for the production, marketing and sales of all products much like food quality.
Are these prenatal vit.s Rx or OTC?
This is another sad story of the CAM Industrial Complex. Why I suggest third party independent verification like USP, NSF and BSCG. I also wonder if doctors are aware of this and can recommend checking for brands. I have suggested this site before and this is on women's health:
"Pregnancy and lactation
If you’re pregnant or plan to become pregnant soon, talk with your healthcare provider about taking a multivitamin/mineral (prenatal) supplement that contains folic acid, iron, and iodine. It’s important to get enough folic acid (from food and/or supplements) daily before conceiving to reduce the risk of birth defects. For more information, read the OPSS article about supplements during pregnancy." https://www.opss.org/article/dietary-supplements-and-womens-health