Lifespan Nutrition

Bill Sardi Health Blog

  • COMING SOON: NEW First-in-Class™ Multivitamin for Kids Provides Nutrients that Desensitize for Nut Allergy*

    Lifespan Nutrition introduces “FIRST IN CLASS™”, the first multivitamin for kids that includes ample amounts of key nutrients to help address the growing problem of nut allergy.*

    Published reports point to a shortage of vitamins A, vitamin D and IP6 bran factor as missing nutrients in the growing problem of nut allergy in children says Bill Sardi, product formulator.

    The dietary answer is to get kids to eat more vitamin A-rich butter or eat more carrots that provide beta carotene which converts to vitamin A, and to eat more fiber-rich grains that provide bran instead of white bread, and to spend more time outdoors in midday sun to get sufficient amounts of sunshine vitamin D.   But this can be challenging for parents.  Kids are often picky about the foods they eat.  Pizza, macaroni and French fries are consumed and everything else is left on the plate.   This is where a well-designed multivitamin comes in, says Sardi.

    The problem of nut allergy

    Nut allergy has tripled in the US over the past two decades.  About 1 in 20 (5%) of school-aged children have nut allergy.  That means every school classroom has a child who is sensitive to nuts.

    To date the only preventive measure for nut-sensitivity is avoidance.  Modern medicine appears to be clueless as to the cause.  Allergists are at a loss to explain why kids’ immune systems are more sensitive to nuts nowadays.

    Only a few children outgrow nut allergy (~9%).  Some children who outgrow nut allergy may suffer a recurrence, suggesting there are dietary and/or environmental factors that are involved.

    Causes of nut allergy

    A review of the scientific literature points to changes in children’s diets and proclivity to spend more time indoors resulting in a deficiency of sunshine vitamin D.  A shortage of vitamin A, a nutrient involved in directing tolerance to potential allergens, may also be involved.  Reduced consumption of fatty foods like butter, fortified margarine and vegetables like carrots, cantaloupe and broccoli that provide beta carotene which converts to vitamin A may contribute to nut allergy.

    The lack of fiber in the American is also a factor, particularly fiber from bran, which contains an important nutrient called IP6 (inositol hexaphosphate).

    Kids need more than RDA or Daily Value

    Parents may sometimes be unduly alarmed at nutrients in multivitamins that are provided in amounts that exceed the Recommended Daily Allowance or the Daily Value, which is used for dietary supplements.   These recommended nutrient intake levels are tailored down for smaller-sized children, but in fact, because children are growing so fast, their nutrient needs may exceed that of adults at times, says Sardi.

    Superior forms of nutrients

    FIRST IN CLASS™ provides superior forms of nutrients not commonly provided in any children’s multivitamin, such as folate in instead of folic acid, methylated vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin, not cyanocobalamin that provides cyanide), the superiorly absorbed (fat-soluble) benfotiamine form of vitamin B1 and vitamin B6 as pyridoxyl-5-phosphate (P5P) as recommended by many childhood behavioral experts.

    Vitamin B1 is particularly difficult to absorb in its water-soluble form (thiamin hydrochloride) because sugars and carbohydrates block its absorption.  Vitamin B1 is a key nutrient for the autonomic nervous system.

    Beyond RDA nutrients

    Most children’s multivitamins leave out key nutrients important for brain, visual and immune system development.  FIRST IN CLASS™ provides important nutrients for which no Daily Value has been established, such as lutein for the eyes, royal jelly as a natural source of vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), beta glucan to further boost immunity*, nucleotides for growth and DNA repair*, and resveratrol to help vitamin D work better.

    Importance of nutrients to develop immunity

    Of course, a children’s multivitamin should address the undeveloped immune system of children*.  Children have not yet developed antibodies to common viruses and bacteria, making them vulnerable to infections.  An adequate amount of zinc citrate (not poorly absorbed zinc oxide) is critical to produce white blood cells known as T-cells that have a memory and develop natural long-lasting immunity.  Zinc is also critically important in helping vaccines produce antibodies.  Most American children are zinc deficient.

    According to Sardi, gummy vitamins that are sugarized to mask the bitter taste of vitamins simply can’t provide the amount of nutrients kids really need.

    FIRST IN CLASS™ is provided in a small size-4 vege-capsule shell, easy for kids to swallow.  Capsules may also be opened and contents added to fruit or vegetable juice (though kids may not like the taste).  Serving size: 2 capsules per day.

    FIRST IN CLASS™ is economical and is provided in a 120 capsule (2-month supply) bottle and should be consumed with food to inhibit nausea sometimes experienced by children taking vitamins supplements.  While iron is important for growing children (red blood cells) but should be consumed from the diet (red meat) it is not provided in FIRST IN CLASS™ as iron pills induce nausea and gastric discomfort. No GMO, no artificial colors or sweeteners.

    Sources:

    * These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent any disease

    Here’s the nutrient line-up for FIRST IN CLASS™ multivitamin for kids:

    NUTRIENT TYPE DOSE %DAILY VALUE
    1-3 years of age
    % DAILY VALUE
    4 years of age & over
    Suggested serving size: 2 capsules per day with meals
    Vitamin A Retinal palmitate 2500 IU 458% 153%
    Vitamin B1 Benfotiamine 2 mg 400% 166%
    Vitamin B3 Niacinamide 8 mg 133% 50%
    Vitamin B6 Pyridoxyl 5 Phosphate 10 mg 2000% 588%
    Vitamin B9 Folic acid 100 mcg 67% 25%
    Vitamin B12 Methylcobalamin 30 mcg 3333% 1250%
    Vitamin C Ascorbic acid 200 mg 1333% 222%
    Vitamin D Natural D3 3000 IU 500% 375%
    Vitamin E Succinate 5.8 mg
    Zinc Citrate 10 mg 333% 91%
    Selenium Selenomethionine 50 mcg 250% 91%
    Rice bran IP6 100 mg
    Resveratrol Trans resveratrol 8 mg
    Lutein Marigold 5 mg
    Royal jelly 10 mg
    Beta glucan 25 mg
    Nucleotides RNA 10 mg
    Source: New Daily Values NIH

    — No Daily Value established