A Sprinkle of Nutritional Magic for Babies and Infants

The first flavour-free vitamin food sprinkle for children

Nutrigen, a brand new range of nutritional supplements for children is launching its first products to the UK; providing parents with a fresh approach to children's healthy diet and nutrition.

The products, Vitamixin and Ferromixin, contain scientifically proven combinations of vitamins and minerals that have been formulated around a concept of called 'nutrigenomics', where the ingredients are designed to adapt to personal nutritional requirements, and can be added straight to food with their unique 'sprinkle application'.

As experts continue to warn of the decrease in naturally occurring vitamin and mineral levels in foods¹, easy and scientifically substantiated supplementation provides parents with a reassurance that their children are receiving all the nutritional elements needed to help them remain fit and healthy.

Both Ferromixin and Vitamixin are one-a-day, so can be incorporated into any daily meal. Easily hidden, full of goodness and with no affect on the flavour, colour, texture or taste of your child's favourite foods, Nutrigen gives you the nutritional platform needed to get your child 'well above average.'

Ferromixin Sprinkles sachets contain the Dietary Reference Intake (DRA) of Iron as well as mix of vitamin A, zinc and folic acid to ensure that children receive the nutrients needed to promote healthy blood and developmental growth. Vitamixin, which also contains Iron, is a rounded nutritional supplement containing the complete RDA of 10 vitamins and 4 minerals² that help sustain energy levels, growth, blood health and immunity.

Nutritional expert, Dr Sarah Brewer says; "Parents often face the difficult task of ensuring their child is receiving all the nutrition they need despite a fussy appetite. Nutritional supplements that provide added fortification to a child's diet provide added peace of mind to parents that they're looking out for the development and healthy growth of their child."

The Nutrigen sachets, which are recommended for children between six months and two years, are best applied to any semi-solid food and are odourless and taste-free. What's more, the sprinkles, which are light and discreet so they are easily hidden in food and undetectable to any eagle-eyed fussy eaters!

There is evidence from the 14,000 person study 'The Avon Longitudinal Study on Parents and Children' at Bristol University, that infant fussy eaters do not grow as tall as their non-fussy counterparts when measured at age 10 with toddlers are at an increased risk of iron deficiency³ and, as they grow older, the tendency for them to become fussier with food can also place limits on their iron intake.

Thousands of infants in the UK have a shortage of iron in their diet, raising the risk of delayed development or behaviour problems. Research suggests the problem is the most common nutritional disorder in the country, with about a quarter of infants not getting enough iron⁴. The main cause is the use of cow's milk in babies under one year old, coupled with a reduction in red meat consumption and increase in vegetarianism.

If your child is lacking in iron, they may be pale and lack energy, easily irritated and refuse to eat properly. Every child needs different levels of each nutrient to reach their full genetic potential, so it's worth ensuring that they are consuming enough with a daily sprinkle from Nutrigen.

Vitamixin (£6.99 for box of 30 sachets) and Ferromixin (£4.99 For box of 30 sachets) are available from The Nutri Centre and all good health food stores and pharmacies. Nutrigen is also available on prescription, on request from your GP.

Nutrigen Kids' Nutrigenomics is also available at www.viva4life.co.uk , the official online store of the company.

References

1. Journal of the American College of Nutrition; December 2004

2. Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, Folic acid, iron, copper, zinc, iodine

3. Based on the demands from a growing body -Bulletin of the World Health Organization; 2003; 81; 108-115

4. The government's Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition set up a working group to look at iron deficiency in infants. Dr Ann Prentice, vice-chairman of the advisory committee, said: "Iron deficiency is a common problem in the UK and we will examine the issues and their ramifications for public health policy." Iron in the diet is important because it helps the body to produce, among other things, haemoglobin - a prime component of red blood cells which carry oxygen around the body to supply its tissues. A national study found that 27% of a mixed group of eight-month-old infants had haemoglobin values below healthy levels.