A Sportron International mother was recently prohibited by a paediatrician from giving her asthmatic 16 month old son Respitron Syrup and duly slapped him on a steroid. Why? Because of the Vitamin A content!
Looking at the facts and figures Sportron have shared the following; 'The percentage of children aged 1 – 9 years with a low serum retinol level (<20ug/dL), meaning that these children have marginal or inadequate levels of vitamin A. Children suffer from severe vitamin A deficiency if their serum retinol levels are significantly low (<10ug/dL).
Vitamin A is needed for a range of bodily functions and for protection from severe infections and resultant death. Deficiency usually occurs where diets contain insufficient amounts of vitamin A. Children with vitamin A deficiency have increased risk of infection and are more prone to diseases. Improvement of vitamin A status is considered one of the most cost-effective health and nutrition interventions for child survival.1
The 2005 National Food Consumption Survey found that nearly two-thirds (64%) of children aged 1 – 9 years had a marginal or inadequate vitamin A status, and about one in seven children (14%) were severely vitamin A deficient. Children living in "tribal" areas were most affected – 17% were severely vitamin A deficient. KwaZulu-Natal had the highest proportion (89%) of children with an inadequate vitamin A status, with nearly half of the 1 to 9 year population severely deficient. Similarly, large proportions of children in the Limpopo (76%), Gauteng (65%) and Eastern Cape (64%) provinces had inadequate vitamin A status.
A marked increase in the prevalence of inadequate vitamin A status in children aged 1 – 5 years is evident: The national rate has nearly doubled between 1994 (33%) and 2005 (65%). Children aged 3 – 5 years are most affected. The NFCS reports that, according to internationally accepted criteria, these high rates indicate that vitamin A deficiency is a serious public health problem in South Africa.'
The information above was written by Lizette Berry & Katharine Hall (CI) & Michael Hendricks (Child Health Unit, UCT) in July 2010 and taken from Deficiency of Vitamin A in South African children.
RESPITRON SYRUP
Babies up to three years: 2 - 3 mills once or twice a day
Children up to 12 years: 5 - 10 mills daily with meals
Adults: 10 mills daily with meals or as directed
Asthma, hay-fever, nasal congestion and sneezing are symptoms of the most common form of allergies in South Africa. In addition to allergies, a person's respiratory mechanisms may be compromised due to other conditions such as lung infection, bronchitis or lung disease. Respitron Syrup contains a number of micronutrients to maximise the body's respiratory defence mechanisms.
What does this product contain?
Vitamin A builds resistance to respiratory infections
Vitamin D aids in preventing colds (if taken with Vit. A and C)
Vitamin E vasodilator and anticoagulant
Vitamin C aids in prevention of viral and bacterial infections
Vitamin B1 aids in the treatment of fever sores
Vitamin B2 helps eliminate sore mouth and tongue
Vitamin B6 fights infections by building antibodies
Pantothenic Acid one of the B vitamins. Fights infections by building antibodies
Bromelian a natural anti-inflammatory agent
Histadine stimulates tissue repair after infections, allergies and damage from smoking
Tyrosine reduces the physical and psychological impact of stress and hence the allergic reaction and the chance of infections
Chickweed has healing properties
Licorice root an expectorant and in alleviating ailments such as bronchitis, sore throat and coughs
Echinacea builds up immune system
Quercetin has, inter alia, anti-viral effects and an anti-inflammatory
Garlic an immune system stimulant and a natural antimicrobial
Hydrastis excellent for catarrh whether in the throat, nose or bronchial passages
MSM fortifies the body's natural barriers against allergens like pollen and food. It also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent which is helpful in an asthmatic person
Drosera - Honey
RESPITRON SYRUP is a specially formulated liquid nutritional supplement designed to support the nutritional status of the respiratory system. The human body's defence mechanisms are continually compromised by inappropriate food choices, pollution and medication. This has made it essential to nutritionally boost the respiratory system. RESPITRON SYRUP contains;
- no salt, yeast, wheat, soya, artificial colours or flavours
- builds up the respiratory system
- improves and heals allergies
- sinus, hay-fever, asthma, bronchitis (wonderful results)
- emphysema
- wonderful for chesty babies, simply add to bottle of formula.
Sportron have responded with the following, 'The conversion units for Vitamin A can be very confusing. In order to answer your question about the safety of the Vitamin A level in Respitron Syrup for a child of 16 months, I have to take you through some unit conversion calculations. This way, I am able to compare the amount of Vitamin A in Respitron Syrup with the amount recommended by the National Academies of Sciences for the age group 1-3 years.
1. 10ml Respitron Syrup contains:
Vitamin A: 750 µg RE
Betacarotene: 1500 iu
Note: Both these ingredients contribute to the total amount of Vitamin A in the product.
10ml is the recommended adult dose.
2. To convert 1500 iu (international units) Betacarotene into micrograms (µg) of Betacarotene, the following conversion factors are used:
1 iu Vitamin A = 3.3 µg Betacarotene
6 µg Betacarotene = 3.33 iu
Therefore, 1500 iu is divided by 3.33 iu (=450) and multiplied by 6 µg = 2700 µg Betacarotene in 10ml of Respitron Syrup.
3. Now, this 2700 µg Betacarotene has to be converted in Retinol Equivalent Activity (RE). The following conversion factor is used:
1 RE = 12µg Betacarotene.
Therefore, 2700 µg Beta-carotene divided by 12 = 225 µg RE of Vitamin A is coming from Beta-carotene in every 10ml dose of Respitron Syrup.
4. So, the total amount of µg RE of Vitamin A in 10ml Respitron Syrup is:
750 µg RE plus 225 µg RE = 975 µg RE.
5. The recommended doses for Respitron Syrup for the various age groups are as follows:
Infants 1-2ml per day
1-3years 2.5ml once or twice a day
3-6years 5ml once or twice a day
6-12 years 5ml twice a day
Adults 5ml twice a day
6. The recommended dose for a 16 month child is 2.5ml once a day. Therefore the amount of Vitamin A per dose is 975 µg RE (in 10ml) divided 4 = 244 µg RE.
The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) set by The National Academies of Sciences for the age group 1-3 years is 300 µg RE.
The Academy has also set a Tolerable Upper Safe Level (UL) of 600 µg RE Vitamin A for this age group.
Based on this information, is clear that the amount of Vitamin A in Respitron Syrup, when used at the recommended dose for a 16 month child, is within scientifically recommended safety limits.'
Marian van der Westhuizen is our local Sportron representative.