o The Other Press The ABC’s of Vitamins by Dan Cass reprinted from ~ CANADIAN SCIENCE NEWS Canadian children consume vastly excessive quantities of vitamins each year. Not only is most of this use unwarrant- ed, but it has also led to several overdoses, says a Hamilton, Ontario research team. Not only is this overuse of vitamins.a_waste of money— Dr. Robert Issenman, of Che- doke-McMaster Medical Cen- tre, estimates that over $200 million a year of vitamins in Canada are ‘‘peed down the drain’’—it can also be dan- gerous to children. The researchers found that “an average of 21 vitamin- related overdoses occurred each year between 1978 and 1981 in the community of Burlington, just west of Tor- onto. Fortunately, although these poisonings are an important problem, their outcomes were rarely serious, the research- ers say. None of them result- ed in death or long-term prob- lems, and the few admissions to hospital which were requir- ed lasted no longer than a day. The study had three parts. First, the researchers checked the records from the emer- gency department at Joseph Brant Memorial Hospitial in Burlington; all records of mul- tiple-vitamin overdoses - in children under 16 years of age were reviewed. Second, ques- tionnaires on vitamin use were filled out by parents of over 1,200 Burlington school chil- dren in kindergarten and grade one. Finally, local phy- ‘scians were asked about their attitudes and precscribing ha- bits regarding vitamins. Dr. Issenman, of the Cen- tre’s Department of Paesdi- atrics, led the study . The results included some sur- prises , he says. The greatest was the extensive use of vitamins by paitents survey- ed. In the peak winter cold and flu season, 71 percent of parents gave their children vitamens, sometimes of sev- eral varieties. However, only 27 percent of physcians said that they recommended such vitamin use in children over THE CONTACT LENS AND SOLUTION SPECIALISTS Purchase a pair of daily wear spherical contact lenses and receive a duplicate pair and our 12 month replacement warranty at no additional cost. CLA CONTACT LENS TECHNICIANS 701 625 5th Avenue NEW WESTMINSTER, BC J (Cyt CAACILIaAUUIIS (Cyt CAACILIaAUUIIS (Cyt CAACILIaAUUIIS (Cyt CAACILIaAUUIIS (Cyt CAACILIaAUUIIS 526 - 4631 Limited offer- phone for costs Appointments recommended- (eye examinations arranged) alraupgeuy alraupgeuy alraupgeuy alraupgeuy alraipeu) one year of age. Over half of these doctors had suggested vitamin and mineral tablets not for nutri- tion or as cold protection, but to provide fluoride in areas without fluoridated drinking water. (Until recently there were no fluoride tablets or drops. Drops are now avail- able, and should be used if fluoride supplements are needed, Dr. Issenman says.) ‘‘There is a fair consensus in the medical community that such extensive use of vitamins is not necessary,”’ says Dr. Issenman. ‘‘’Many doctors feel that they are under pressure from parents to give vitamins. ’’ Indeed, 68 of the 74 phy- sicians questioned, or 92 per- cent, said that parents had requested vitamin supple- ments for their children. Another surprise, says Dr. Issenman, was that ‘‘a small minority of about 10 percent of parents were using up to four different vitamin prepar- ations.”’ The greatest danger to chil- dren results from iron in the multiple vitamin pill. Though rare cases of vitamin A and D poisonings are reported, iron is toxic in much smaller con- centrations that most vita- mins. Initial symptoms of iron poisoning are stomach aches and vomiting, but if left untreated it can escalate into shock. A dose of *60 milli- grams per kilogram of body weight is considered toxic; 200 milligrams per kilogram is lethal. A bottle of 100 multi-vitamins may contain as much as 1,500 milligrams of iron, Dr. Issenman says. As yet, there have been no studies on the ultimate effects of continual sub-toxic over- doses of iron or vitamins, he says. Indeed, until recently even toxic overdoses were not widely recognized as a pro- blem, he adds. “When we first began the study, we went to the (fed- eral) Health Protection Branch and told them that these poi- sonings were, in fact, happen- ing. Their reply was, ‘These poisonings can’t be happen- ing, since vitamins are pack- aged in childproof contain- ers’,”’ he says. Though the federal govern- ment has devised guidelines limiting the iron content in a single bottle of vitamins to 250 mg, the guidelines are not yet mandatory. However, many drug companies have adopted these recommenda- tions voluntarily. Dr. Issenman sees the vita- min overdoses as ‘‘a symptom of a larger misunderstanding of nutrition’’. A 1982 study by other researchers in Montreal and Toronto showed _ that young children’ on average consume several times the recommended daily require- ment of most vitamins, he says. “Vitamins put the wrong emphasis on children’s nutri- tion,” Dr. Issenman_ says. ‘‘The deficiency of fibre, the excess of salt and sugar, and other such imbalances in kids’ diets are a far more important consideration than vitamins.’’ od , Includes: Yeti Ski re WHISTLER WEEKEND _ March 28, Days wuys wuys wuys wuys N NN NN BNO BO WwuUys Nights Accomodation: Skiing, YNINTY, YNINTY, YNINTY, YNINTY, VNU, | aS °S.09 29,30