Seeking Health Optimal Chewable Multivitamins

Questions on Seeking Health Optimal Chewable Multivitamins

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• Magnesium Stearate at 2/1/12 5:05 PM
  • I've been giving my children Dr. Mercola's children's multi but am always on the lookout for a better vitamin for them. I really like the amounts and quality of the nutrients in this vitamin but would like it to not contain magnesium stearate. I read/heard on Mercola's website that magnesium stearate forms a coating on internal organs (per a study on rats) so I am avoiding this in my and my children's supplements. I am also leery of silicon dioxide. What are your thoughts on this?
  • Hello - I, too, am not fond of magnesium stearate - especially in capsules or tablets. If magnesium stearate is found in sublingual vitamins or chewables, I am not nearly as concerned. Why? Because in sublinguals, the nutrients dissolve under your tongue and are delivered into your blood readily. In chewables, the contents are made more bioavailable through the act of chewing and then swallowing. Tablets are not chewed - just swallowed. Capsules are like tablets - just swallowed - not chewed or allowed to dissolve under the tongue. Silicon dioxide = silica which is the most abundant mineral on our planet and our bodies are made up of a lot of it - especially our bones. I do not believe that magnesium stearate forms a harmful 'coating' in our internal organs. I'd like to see that. Magnesium stearate is a fat so while it may 'coat' our internal organs, which fat does not do this? Vitamin D3 is a fat. I do not intend to 'support' the use of magnesium stearate as I do not like it much either. I do intend on eliminating it completely from my sublinguals and chewables. I use these Optimal Multivitamin Chewables on my own children with great results. If you try one tablet, you'll feel the effect as it is potent. If you'd like to use a children's multivitamin without magnesium stearate, consider Kid's Optimal Multivitamin as it is stearate free. http://www.healthegoods.com/kids-optimal-multivitamin-180-vegetarian-capsules.html All encapsulated supplements by Seeking Health are magnesium stearate free. Only the sublinguals and chewables contain magnesium stearate - and the extended-release Niacin (in order to extend the release of the niacin). Best Dr Ben
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• Why is Magnesium Stearate in this? at 5/30/12 9:16 AM
  • I've been purchasing the Optimal Chewable Multi for my children for several months now. I really like this vitamin with the exception of the magnesium stearate in it. I know that Dr. Ben has written some posts on his blog in the past (I read one from 6/6/11 answering a question) mentioning that he never includes magnesium stearate in his seeking health supplements. Just wondering why the magnesium stearate is in this one then and also wondering if it will be phased out in the near future. I plan on continuing to purchase this vitamin but am really hoping the mag stearate will be phased out soon. Thanks so much, Tulin

  • Hi Tulin - 

    I am with you on getting the Optimal Multivitamin Chewable made without magnesium stearate. I will talk with my lab to see if we can do this sooner than later. This multivitamin has increased in popularity so I may now be able to do it.

    Chewables are difficult to make without magnesium stearate - but I will put my head down and work it out.

    I estimate it taking about 3 to 6 months.

    While we are talking about making some changes to this chewable multivitamin, is there anything else you'd like to see improved with it? Nutrients added? Removed? Increased?

    Best

    Dr Ben

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• Can these be given to a 3 1/2 year old? at 9/13/12 11:01 PM
  • I'm looking to purchase these vitamins for my 11 and 7 year old but I also have a 3 1/2 year old. The label says children 4 and over should take 2. Would it be safe to give my 3 1/2 year old 1? If not, is there a vitamin that you recommend for her age?
    
    Thanks in advance.

  • Hello - 

    It is always recommended to talk with your doctor.

    In terms of safety, if you use a 1/2 tablet with breakfast, that would be a good start. Always give with food. If you see that 1/2 tablet works well, then you may give another 1/2 tablet with lunch.

    Best

    Dr Ben

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• licorice extract at 10/18/12 3:18 PM
  • Why the licorice extract? Isn't licorice extract estrogenic?

  • Hello,

    Thank you for your inquiry. The flavour is common in medicines to disguise unpleasant flavours.Liquorice affects the body's endocrine system as it contains isoflavones (phytoestrogens). It might lower the amount of serum testosterone slightly in men, but whether it affects the amount of free testosterone is unclear.

    Have a great day :)

    Chloe

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