Enfamil Poly-Vi-Sol With Iron/ D-Vi-Sol Contain Caramel Color-- Ok?

[BrooklynFamily]

Hello-

Here's a paranoid question for you fellow parents. Our son was diagnosed with Celiac disease in late June. He's been responding amazingly well to his new gluten-free diet and has gained over 4lbs in 4 weeks. Our GI doc told us to give him a multivitamin with iron and a Vitamin D supplement to help him "catch up" with these nutrients. We've been giving him Enfamil's Poly-Vi-Sol with Iron and D-Vi-Sol with since his diagnosis with NO negative reaction. When I first bought the vitamins, I called Enfamil to check that the products were gluten-free. They claimed that they were. Now, here's my dilemma... at the same time, I've been reading Danna Korn's "Kids with Celiac Disease" and at one point she lists a series of additives that are "forbidden" within the gluten-free diet. One of the ingredients is "caramel color" with the caveat that "caramel color may or may not contain gluten, depending on how it is manufactured. In the USA caramel color must conform with the FDA standard of identity from 21CFR CH.1. This statue says: 'the color additive caramel is the dark-brown liquid or solid material resulting from the carefully controlled heat treatment of the following food-grade carbohydrates; Dextrose (corn sugar), Invert sugar; Lactose (milk sugar), Malt syrup (usually from barley malt), Molasses (from cane), Starch Hydrolysates and fractions thereof (can include wheat), Sucrose (cane or beet).'" The Enfamil Poly-Vi-Sol with Iron contains caramel color and the Enfamil D-Vi-Sol contains artificial caramel color.

Obviously, I want him to get his vitamins, but I also don't want to cause even the slightest bit of damage to his intestine. Have any of you given these vitamins to your kids? Any gluten reactions? Would you trust what the company says about their product being gluten-free? Is there a way to find out EXACTLY what ingredients go into Enfamil's caramel color? Or, is there an alternative liquid vitamin that I could give our son?

Thanks!

[psawyer]

Caramel color is one of those celiac urban myths that just won't go away.

Here is Shelley Case's take on it, from Gluten-Free Diet A Comprehensive Resource Guide:

Although gluten-containing ingredients (barley malt syrup and starch hydrolysates) can be used in the production of caramel color, North American companies use corn as it has a longer shelf life and makes a superior product. European companies use glucose derived from wheat starch, however caramel color is highly processed and contains no gluten.

[Emphasis in original]

[scarlett77]

I give my son the same drops. They are fine.

[dkelm]

If you are worried, could you just get vit d drops and a seperate iron supplement? That's what we do.

[Charlene7797]

PLEASE DO NOT GIVE TO YOUR BABY. My son (6month) has not been diagnosed but after some extensive research, I have changed my diet (breastfed mom) to gluten-free and after a month I have seen great results. He was diagnosed with eczema at 3 weeks old and I tried "Everything" no dairy, soy, or nuts. Throughout this my son went from the 50 percentile to 20 percentile. My pediatrician suggested ploy vi sol. After giving my LG the vitamins yesterday, I noticed how active and irritated he was (like nothing I've ever seen). Not realizing it was the vitamins, I gave it to him again today and his behavior got worse. He was so hyper, and only took a ten minute nap today. I'm scared to sleep as I will be up watching him tonight.  I am glad to say he has gained two pounds since starting the gluten-free diet. You should read another Mom's post in regards to this.. Goggle "Weird Behavior on Poly-vi-sol Vitamins" Her son had a similar reaction.