Soy (and dairy)-free prenatal vitamin? And are coconuts nuts?

[porcelina]

My prenatal vitamins contain soybean oil. I am avoiding soy, and while my LO has not reacted to soybean oil, I have offered to start pumping for someone whose son has similar allergies. However, she said he is reactive even to the oil. Does anyone have a recommendation?

Also, if I am to avoid all nuts, does that include coconut milk, coconut yogurt, coconut ice cream? Or are those not really allergens?

[deditus]

No, to my knowledge there are no multi vits that do not contain SOME soy. It is the vitamin e that is derived from soy in most. My dd does react to it so she doesn't get a multi. The only multi I can think of that may not have soy would be the Perque brand. It is practitioner grade and thus not easily available. I think you can still get it through vitalbee.com though.

Coconut is not a nut. It is a semi-common allergen/intolerance but not in the way nuts are.

[staceyshoe]

Originally Posted by deditus 

Coconut is not a nut.

This is right on.  I never realized this until my youngest was diagnosed with severe allergies to peanuts and tree nuts.  The allergist stated that he should not come in contact with any nut except coconut.  I guess coconuts are more closely related to fruits than nuts.

[ASusan]

PP are correct wrt coconuts are not nuts.

But the FDA classifies them as tree nuts. go figure.

[jocelyndale]

I haven't called on the newer line, but Citracal Prenatal Rx was completely soy-free (synthetic vitamin E) back in 2006/7.  I'm about to call on the Citranatal line soon, but not today.  I had to have a prescription, but my doctor was fine with writing it.

[altoidmandy]

My son is very soy intolerant to all types of soy, including soybean oil, and reacts to most prenatals, but he has been okay with me taking Garden of Life Vitamin Code Raw Prenatal Vegan Capsules.  They say they contain "no soy allergens" but my son usually reacts to all types of soy so whatever is in here must be in very low concentrations.

[amyhulen]

I take Thorne Research Basic Prenatal vitamins and they are free of allergens. You can find them online by googling Thorne Research. I love them because they are in capsule form so I don't have to worry about them disolving, plus 3 different health care providers all in different fields recommended them to me.

[Emalin]

I was also going to suggest Garden of Life's Vitamin Code Raw Prenatal. Doesn't appear to have any soy or nuts. I'm taking it because it is so easily digestible. I have a hard time with synthetic or super-concentrated vitamins. I am usually a Thorne user, but the prenatals were unfortunately too concentrated for me. If that's not an issue for you, however, I believe Thorne is about the highest quality you can get. They are more expensive, but I personally really feel the difference (at least with the regular mutis). You usually need to get them through a health practitioner or a natural pharmacy behind the counter. You can get the Garden of Life Raw Prenatal at most health food stores.

[changingseasons]

Originally Posted by amyhulen 

I take Thorne Research Basic Prenatal vitamins and they are free of allergens. You can find them online by googling Thorne Research. I love them because they are in capsule form so I don't have to worry about them disolving, plus 3 different health care providers all in different fields recommended them to me.

We do ok with Thorne as well, but I'm not sure I would call them allergen-free unless you've actually talked to the company.  I'm fairly certain their vitamin C is derived from corn, and I would guess the vitamin E is soy-derived as well.

Originally Posted by Emalin 

I was also going to suggest Garden of Life's Vitamin Code Raw Prenatal. Doesn't appear to have any soy or nuts. I'm taking it because it is so easily digestible. I have a hard time with synthetic or super-concentrated vitamins. I am usually a Thorne user, but the prenatals were unfortunately too concentrated for me. If that's not an issue for you, however, I believe Thorne is about the highest quality you can get. They are more expensive, but I personally really feel the difference (at least with the regular mutis). You usually need to get them through a health practitioner or a natural pharmacy behind the counter. You can get the Garden of Life Raw Prenatal at most health food stores.

I can almost guarantee that the vitamin E in a raw food vitamin is soy derived.

[altoidmandy]

Changingseasons, you may be right about the soy in the Garden of Life prenatals.  Their packaging says "no soy allergens" which I assume means there is some soy of some kind.  However, I've tried to other "no soy allergen" prenatals and my breastfeeding son always had an immediate response.  With these, we don't get a reaction.  Not perfect, but it seems to be working.  Do you have another recommendation, or is the Vitamin E in all multivitamins derived from soy?  I'd love to 100% eliminate soy.

[changingseasons]

Originally Posted by altoidmandy 

Changingseasons, you may be right about the soy in the Garden of Life prenatals.  Their packaging says "no soy allergens" which I assume means there is some soy of some kind.  However, I've tried to other "no soy allergen" prenatals and my breastfeeding son always had an immediate response.  With these, we don't get a reaction.  Not perfect, but it seems to be working.  Do you have another recommendation, or is the Vitamin E in all multivitamins derived from soy?  I'd love to 100% eliminate soy.

Yeah- if it says that, usually that means there are soy derivatives, but the proteins are removed (which is what *most* people react to, so some people will tolerate that fine.)  From my research, the sources of E are usually soy or synthetic... and synthetic is not absorbed so well. 

I wish I could find a better E source as well.  :(

[skinnypups]

Originally Posted by Emalin 

I was also going to suggest Garden of Life's Vitamin Code Raw Prenatal. Doesn't appear to have any soy or nuts. I'm taking it because it is so easily digestible. I have a hard time with synthetic or super-concentrated vitamins. I am usually a Thorne user, but the prenatals were unfortunately too concentrated for me. If that's not an issue for you, however, I believe Thorne is about the highest quality you can get. They are more expensive, but I personally really feel the difference (at least with the regular mutis). You usually need to get them through a health practitioner or a natural pharmacy behind the counter. You can get the Garden of Life Raw Prenatal at most health food stores.

I can almost guarantee that the vitamin E in a raw food vitamin is soy derived.

In researching this I found that the Vitamin E in the Garden of Life's comes from lanolin. HERE is their explanation Never heard of that before, but I was reading that a bunch of vegans were pretty miffed because the packaging says vegan on it...and lanolin is definitely NOT vegan.

I am still searching...

[changingseasons]

Originally Posted by skinnypups 

Originally Posted by Emalin 

I was also going to suggest Garden of Life's Vitamin Code Raw Prenatal. Doesn't appear to have any soy or nuts. I'm taking it because it is so easily digestible. I have a hard time with synthetic or super-concentrated vitamins. I am usually a Thorne user, but the prenatals were unfortunately too concentrated for me. If that's not an issue for you, however, I believe Thorne is about the highest quality you can get. They are more expensive, but I personally really feel the difference (at least with the regular mutis). You usually need to get them through a health practitioner or a natural pharmacy behind the counter. You can get the Garden of Life Raw Prenatal at most health food stores.

I can almost guarantee that the vitamin E in a raw food vitamin is soy derived.

In researching this I found that the Vitamin E in the Garden of Life's comes from lanolin. HERE is their explanation Never heard of that before, but I was reading that a bunch of vegans were pretty miffed because the packaging says vegan on it...and lanolin is definitely NOT vegan.

I am still searching...

It looks like the vitamin D comes from lanolin (that is a pretty common source for it), not the vitamin E. If they're using a raw food source (and not synthetic), I can't imagine what it would be other than soy.

That is crazy that they label it as vegan though.

[skinnypups]

Originally Posted by changingseasons 


It looks like the vitamin D comes from lanolin (that is a pretty common source for it), not the vitamin E. If they're using a raw food source (and not synthetic), I can't imagine what it would be other than soy. That is crazy that they label it as vegan though.

Gah! My bad. I am tired and getting Google induced blindness from incessant searches for a "safe" vitamin.

But yes, still very misleading as far as "vegan" goes

[jayell79]

I know this is an older post, but I wanted to share the information I have gathered on vitamin E. I'm super allergic to soy, and can't tolerate anything made from soy, or anything that has even touched soy. There a lots of brands I can't eat anything of because I know their manufacturing process taints what would otherwise be a soy free food. (Frito Lay, and the Envirokidz are the two that come to mind.) I've spoke to a Frito Lay representative and she confirmed the product that I ate should have been safe for me, but it was manufactured on the same equipment that also processes food containing soy. However, she was assured me that the equipment is fully washed to all government specifications in between batches. Right, that's why I got sick.

Anyways, back to vitamin E. Synthetic Vitamin E is indicated by the dl-alpha prefix (as in dl-alpha-Tocopheryl acetate.) I'm not sure I would want to take large amount of it, as it's derived from petroleum products. Yuck.

Natural forms of vitamin e drop the L, becoming just d-alpha forms. There are many plant sources of E, not just soy. It's only because soy is the cheapest, and readily available that it's the most commonly used source. (It's the same with Lecithin. Unless it specifies sunflower, egg, or some source I will not eat anything with lecithin.)

There is also a newer form of natural "dry" vitamin E which is commonly advertised as soy free. However, this is completely false because it starts with soy oil just like all most all natural vit E. Because of the drying method most of the soy proteins are removed, thus considered free from allergens. I know this is not safe for me, and I haven't gambled with any of it.

I think the best solution is to find a product with a natural vitamin e, and ask the manufacture to specify it's source. Easier said than done. Many times they claim a mixed source, and not just one. I couldn't find any prenatal vitamins that I could take with my last pregnancy in 2008. I took a lot of grief from nurses about that, but my Dr said it was perfectly fine. I did take calcium, folic acid, and a DHA/omega 3 & 6 supplements.

A good source to start with: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tocopherol

[jayell79]

I just got a response from a rep at Thorne. She said "Our vitamin E is derived from Soy but there is not soy protein or residue left in the finished product."