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Vitamins Containing Lead

Shocking as it may be, the U.S Food and Drug Administration found in a 2008 study that 99 percent of over-the-counter multivitamins for women and children contained traces of lead. Admittedly, most of these fall within the FDA's "safe/tolerable exposure levels," yet lead poisoning continues to be a major environmental and health problem in the United States, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Know which vitamins are safe and which to avoid. Fetuses are particularly vulnerable, so take extra care when selecting prenatal vitamins.

  1. Children's Vitamins

    • For children up to age 6, the following vitamins are best avoided due to their lead content:

      1. Nature's Plus Animal Parade Shake

      2. Superior Multi Age

      3. Nutraceutical Pedia Power

      4. Physio Kids Multilogics Chewable

      5. Ola Loa Kids

      6. Nature's Plus Animal Parade

      7. Vita-Big-Kids

      8. Wonder Laboratories Formula Nineteen

      9. Clinicians Choice Chewable Daily Multivitamins

      10. Dynamic Health Multi for Children

      For children aged 7 and above, the FDA advises against the consumption of:

      1. Kal Enhanced Energy Teen Complete

      2. Clinical Nutrients for Female Teens

      3. Clinical Nutrients For Male Teens

      4. Doctor's Choice For Male Teens

      5. Maxi Teen Supreme

      6. Rainbow Light Active Health TEEN

      7. Nature's Plus Source of Life Power Teen

      8. FoodScience Teen's Superior

      9. Esteem Total Teen

      10. Vitanica Women's Symetry

    Women's Vitamins

    • Women's vitamins containing the most lead:

      1. NutriBiotic Ultimate Matrix

      2. Super Nutrition Women's Blend

      3. Esteem Total Woman

      4. Garden of Life Living Multi Optimal

      5. GenSpec VF-1 for African-American Females

      6. For Women Only

      7. Garden of Life Living Multi

      8. DaVinci Laboratories Spectra Woman

      9. Women's Superior

      10. GenSpec VF-3 para Mujeres Hispanas

    Prenatal and Postnatal Vitamins

    • Prenatal and postnatal vitamins to avoid:

      1. After Baby Boost 1

      2. A to Z Naturals Wow! PreNatal

      3. Vitamin Source Prenatal Complete

      4. Prenatal Superior

      5. Rainbow Light Complete Prenatal System

      6. Buried Treasure Prenatal Plus DHA Complete

      7. DaVinci Laboratories Ultimate Prenatal

      8. Life Time Professional Pre-Natal Formula

      9. Daily Foods Baby & Me

      10. Carol Bond Women's Choice Prenatal

    Vitamins Without Traces of Lead

    • Of the FDA's 325 multivitamins tested, only four contained zero traces of lead. These were:

      1. NF Formulas Liquid Pediatric

      2. Natrol Liquid Kids Companion Liquid

      3. Twinlab Infant Care

      4. After Baby Boost 2

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