Drug Information Centre looking for info

Dear Chris,

Re: the e-mail from: [email]charles-tugwell@druginfo.demon.co.uk[/email]
Organization: Drug Information Centre, The Royal London Hospital

I recently learned that peanut oil (whether hot or cold pressed I don't
know) is often used to bind fat soluble vitamins in commercially available
vitamin pills. The peanut oil is not usually listed on the ingredient list
because (according to one company representative I spoke with), "It's only
a trace ingredient."

One vitamin which includes peanut oil is Orifer-F, a prenatal vitamin which
does list peanut oil as an ingredient. I take Materna prenatal vitamins,
which (according to the company, Wyeth-Ayerst) does not contain peanut oil,
but another type of oil instead. I've personally had no problems with it.

Before taking any vitamin, I always contact the chemist (i.e. the lab) of
the company which produces the vitamins in which I'm interested.

Caveat emptor, and good luck.

Best,

Andrea L.

>>>

THANK YOU ANDREA FOR YOUR EMAIL

------------------
Stay Safe

[email]"Chris@PeanutAllergy.Com"[/email]

Chris - I don't know a whole lot about the peanut oil issue, safe vs. not safe, (we avoid all) but I have to tell you is vitamin thing really scares me.

For all of us who are still considering having children (that already have PA children) I would think it is a safe bet we are going to avoid peanut products during pregnancy. Is it possible that we have exposed our PA children to peanut products while in utero? What about any future children who could possibly be PA (because of the higher risk due to it running in families).

How can we get more information on this? I can ask the allergist on Monday his view. We have our third round of testing and I plan on asking a lot of questions.

Thanks Chris!

------------------
Kelly M
Another Mom in Michigan

[This message has been edited by Spencer's Mom (edited July 21, 1999).]

Just wanted to note that recent changes to regulations in Canada require that all ingredients, not just active ingredients, be listed on prescription and over the counter drugs, vitamins, etc. This change is really exciting, don't you think?