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Study: Up to 1 in 10 Infants Given Herbal Supplements, Teas by Their Mother

Study: Up to 1 in 10 Infants Given Herbal Supplements, Teas by Their Mother A recent study has alerted US physicians that many of the infants in their care are given potentially harmful herbal supplements and teas. Researchers from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland reported data from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II showing that about 9% of infants receive supplements or tea during their first year of life (Zhang Y et al. Pediatrics. doi: 10.1542/peds.2010-2294 [published online ahead of print May 2, 2011]). The data are based on questionnaire responses from 2653 healthy mothers who gave information about their pregnancy and their child's first year of life. The questionnaires were distributed nationally but results are not considered nationally representative because some ethnic groups were underrepresented in the study population. In the survey, mothers reported giving their infant a wide variety of supplements and teas. Those most commonly used included gripe water (an herbal preparation given for colic), chamomile, teething tablets, and unspecified types of tea. Mothers were more likely to give their infant a supplement or tea if they used the products themselves, had only 1 child, were aged 35 years or older, had attended college, had incomes at or above 350% of the poverty level, and lived in the Western part of the United States. Hispanic mothers were more likely than white mothers to give their infant a supplement or tea. The most common reasons mothers gave for using the products were to appease fussy infants, as a digestion aid, to relieve colic, and to help their infant relax. Many of the products were marketed and sold specifically for infants, according to the study. Supplements and tea are not regulated in the same way as pharmaceuticals, the authors noted. Therefore, they could contain potentially harmful contaminants or heavy metals, and some could also cause adverse effects if given while an infant is taking medication. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png JAMA American Medical Association

Study: Up to 1 in 10 Infants Given Herbal Supplements, Teas by Their Mother

Voelker, Rebecca
JAMA , Volume 305 (21) – Jun 1, 2011
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Study: Up to 1 in 10 Infants Given Herbal Supplements, Teas by Their Mother

Abstract

A recent study has alerted US physicians that many of the infants in their care are given potentially harmful herbal supplements and teas. Researchers from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland reported data from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II showing that about 9% of infants receive supplements or tea during their first year of life (Zhang Y et al. Pediatrics. doi: 10.1542/peds.2010-2294 [published online ahead of print May...
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Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 2011 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0098-7484
eISSN
1538-3598
DOI
10.1001/jama.2011.717
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

A recent study has alerted US physicians that many of the infants in their care are given potentially harmful herbal supplements and teas. Researchers from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland reported data from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II showing that about 9% of infants receive supplements or tea during their first year of life (Zhang Y et al. Pediatrics. doi: 10.1542/peds.2010-2294 [published online ahead of print May 2, 2011]). The data are based on questionnaire responses from 2653 healthy mothers who gave information about their pregnancy and their child's first year of life. The questionnaires were distributed nationally but results are not considered nationally representative because some ethnic groups were underrepresented in the study population. In the survey, mothers reported giving their infant a wide variety of supplements and teas. Those most commonly used included gripe water (an herbal preparation given for colic), chamomile, teething tablets, and unspecified types of tea. Mothers were more likely to give their infant a supplement or tea if they used the products themselves, had only 1 child, were aged 35 years or older, had attended college, had incomes at or above 350% of the poverty level, and lived in the Western part of the United States. Hispanic mothers were more likely than white mothers to give their infant a supplement or tea. The most common reasons mothers gave for using the products were to appease fussy infants, as a digestion aid, to relieve colic, and to help their infant relax. Many of the products were marketed and sold specifically for infants, according to the study. Supplements and tea are not regulated in the same way as pharmaceuticals, the authors noted. Therefore, they could contain potentially harmful contaminants or heavy metals, and some could also cause adverse effects if given while an infant is taking medication.

Journal

JAMA – American Medical Association

Published: Jun 1, 2011

Keywords: infant,mothers,tea

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