good vitamin supplement?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-30-2005
good vitamin supplement?
6
Tue, 10-11-2005 - 11:16am

Hi, all -- I'm getting a bit worried about Calvin's nutritional intake on the GFCF diet (Val -- we're looking into the enzymes, but aren't ready quite yet) and I think he needs a multivitamin. He just looks so tired lately. But he's not going to swallow a pill, so what do you all recommend?
Also, how do you all talk to your pediatricians about these alternative therapies for autism? Our pediatrician is definitely mainstream and isn't buying into this diet and I don't know if bringing him information will help. So I kind of feel like I'm doing this without a lot of guidance and I'm really concerned that I'm compromising Calvin's health (and having to defend doing so to our families). We are in a small town where there aren't a lot of options for guidance or for GFCF shopping (no Whole Foods or Trader Joe's here, alas). Just wondering what you all have done. Thanks.

Kellie

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 10-11-2005 - 11:40am
it's a little pricey, but checkout brainchild.com. i did a lot of research and think they have the best around. it's liquid too. v
~Valerie
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Tue, 10-11-2005 - 11:59am

Kellie,

You can get some great kids vitamins over the counter. My kids both love the "sour blast gummies" from BJs -although they are recommended for kids over 4yo. You can also get flintstones chewable vitamins (they are the chalky kind), or yummy bears (gummy bear vitamins) or vitaballs -vitamins in chewing gum form (although my kids only accepted the green ones). If you nave a GNC or other vitamin place nearby, check out the kids section (and don't go nuts).

The big concern for GFCF in a young kid is lack of calcium in the diet. Kids are growing bones and need a lot of it. There are lots of web sites which will give you vitamin and calcium counts for various fruits and veggies, so you can make sure he is getting enough. if you think you need to supplement, we found Scooby Doo calcium chews for Peter, and I think viactiv chews are OK for kids too.

However, you should run any and all of these suggestions by your ped before forging ahead.

My ped wouldn't even support me on the GFCF diet, beause Peter was so underweight (I never did it), so I don't really bother running alternative therapies by them.

-Paula

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-19-2005
Tue, 10-11-2005 - 12:47pm

Hi Kellie,

I was lucky that our ped thought it was ok that we do the diet, provided we worked with a nutritionist she recommended. But Eric also had digestive trouble and our ped has several kids in the practice with celiac. It turned out our neuro also recommended the same nutritionist, so we felt good about our decision.

Before we went GFCF, we tried Flintstone's and the Yummi Bears and I had also been giving him a calcium supplement called "calci bears" I think (by the yummi bear people). Our ped recommended these as over the counter options. They are chewable and Eric liked them fine. I used the children's multi vitamin from GNC, also chewable, but didn't think it was much better than the others and was a bit expensive.

When we went to the nutritionist, she had us keep a food diary for a few days, checked Eric over, then made a few recommendations about diet and supplements. Each child will be different, but she thought we did not need the calcium supplement since Eric was getting it through the calcium enriched juice, rice milk etc.

She recommended a company called "Mannatech" that has a multi-vitamin called "Glyco-bears" and another supplement called "Mannabears." The nutritionist preferred them b/c they are in a base made of fruits and veggies, which she felt assisted absorptions, which is a problem in a lot of our kids. The "Glyco-bears" are a basic multi. The "Mannabears" are kind of like a snack or a treat. They look like gummibears, but are made of dehydrated fruits and veggies. Neither are cheap, about $20 for 60 days worth. You can read about them at www.mannatech.com. Our nutritionist has no financial interest in the company etc. and she has a nephew with autism who uses these. Also her practice is mostly kids with special needs, so I kind of trust her.

I have also heard good things about the Brainchild vitamins but haven't used them.

A lot of people use the Kirkland's vitamin supplements (heavy on the B's) but Eric did not like the taste. Plus, they made him really hyper--I think it was all the extra B vits. It comes in a powder you can mix into drinks.

Also, most of these vitamin companies like Kirkland's will let you try a sample first, if you call and ask them. It's worth it before you invest in a big bottle.

I know you live in a small town, but is there a nutritionist you can consult? I found ours to be really helpful about all kinds of things related to the diet. There are some nutritionists who do phone consults, if there is not one near you.

Katherine

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-19-2005
Tue, 10-11-2005 - 5:46pm

Oops! I wrote "Kirkland's" and it is "Kirkman's." The product many people use is Super NuThera. But they have all kinds of things. Houston's does too (they are known for their enzymes). And like Val said, Brainchild is also highly recommended. I have actually been considering switching to Brainchild, but since Eric is doing ok on the Mannatech products, I guess I feel if it's not broken, don't fix it!

Katherine

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 10-11-2005 - 6:12pm

what i learned about brainchild is that they have different levels to help detoxify. from very mild to advanced. minerals are separate from vitamins. they come in large quantities for the $$. especially if you have a little guy who doesnt weigh much, it will last a long time. they have a way to have you start to minimize hyperness or sensitivity. their folic acid is folinic which is more easily absorbed. their b vitamins are also good formulations. however, in addition to theirs, you would likely want to add your own omega's and i add extra vitamin c as theirs doesn't have enough IMO.

all their products are liquid as they feel that they are better absorbed this way. can be bought flavored and unflavored. and no, i don't work for them or get a commission (LOL).

valerie

~Valerie
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-19-2005
Tue, 10-11-2005 - 7:16pm

Thanks Val,

I really need to think about this. Part of the problem is Eric really likes taking his vitamins as chewables. It is part of his little routine that he looks forward to each day. But I will consider this even more. As I said, he has always had problems with the B's although I know it is said ASD kids need more. Thanks!

Katherine