Latest news with #NutritionIgnition
The Sun
3 hours ago
- Health
- The Sun
Urgent warning as parents told to bin brand of kids' health gummies that contain prescription only drug
PARENTS have been told to bin a brand of kids' health gummies that contain a prescription-only drug. Regulators issued an alert after tests found Nutrition Ignition Kids Magnesium Glycinate Gummies have synthetic melatonin, with too much causing headaches and nausea. Magnesium glycinate is a supplement used to combat anxiety and improve sleep. However, tests of this specific brand showed between 1.5 and 1.7mg of melatonin in each gummy. Melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle, is naturally produced in the body. However, a synthetic version is authorised for use on prescription in the UK for adults and children over six with sleep disorders such as insomnia. If prescribed, the recommended starting dose is 1mg for children. According to the MHRA, melatonin is not listed anywhere on the packaging of Nutrition Ignition Kids Magnesium Glycinate Gummies. The packaging advises a dose of one to two gummies daily. Taking too much can cause headaches, drowsiness and nausea. Dr Alison Cave, chief safety officer at MHRA, said: "We advise any parent or caregiver to stop use of this product and safely dispose of it. "Side effects such as headache, hyperactivity, a feeling of dizziness and abdominal pain have been reported in children when melatonin is prescribed and used for its licensed indications. No serious side effects were observed in studies in children. "Anyone who suspects that their child, or a child in their care, is having a side effect from this product is advised to stop taking it and speak to a healthcare professional and report it directly to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme." Viral 'Dubai-style' chocolate is pulled from UK supermarket shelves over dangerous health risk 2
The Independent
8 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Children's supplement recalled over fears it contains prescription-only sleep drug
A health alert has been issued to parents over a brand of children 's magnesium gummies after batches were found to contain a prescription-only drug used to aid sleep. Melatonin, which may cause drowsiness, headaches, dizziness and nausea, was detected in Kids Magnesium Glycinate Gummies made by Nutrition Ignition. The synthetic hormone is not listed on the packaging of the raspberry-flavoured gummies. Health chiefs have ordered the gummies to be removed from sale, working with online retailers to withdraw all listings. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has warned parents to stop giving them to children and to safely dispose of any left. According to top US research school John Hopkins Medicine, people should not use melatonin if they have and autoimmune disorder, a seizure disorder or depression. It also says melatonin supplements may raise blood sugar. Experts at the agency, who tested two batches of the supplements, found between 1.5 and 1.7mg of melatonin in each gummy. The usual adult dose of prescription melatonin, to help severe sleep problems or to recover from jet lag, is 2mg. If prescribed for children, the recommended starting dose is 1mg but may be increased to up to 5mg a day. The product packaging advised one or two gummies per day, depending on the child's age. MHRA chiefs say advice should be sought from a healthcare professional if a child has any worrying side effects. According to the NHS, melatonin takes up to two hours to work. It is usually recommended for up to 13 weeks, and anyone taking it for a long time might need help to come off it. But the MHRA says lasting harm is not expected when ingesting melatonin at high levels, and the body typically clears it within 12 hours. Anyone who has the gummies at home is advised to store them in a tamper-proof container until they take it to a pharmacy for disposal. The gummies must now be regulated as a medicine. Nutrition Ignition Kids Magnesium Glycinate Gummies were promoted as supporting 'calm, focus and digestion '. Alison Cave, chief safety officer at the MHRA, said: 'Side-effects such as headache, hyperactivity, a feeling of dizziness and abdominal pain have been reported in children when melatonin is prescribed and used for its licensed indications. No serious side- effects were observed in studies in children. 'Anyone who suspects that their child or a child in their care is having a side-effect from this product is advised to stop taking it and speak to a healthcare professional and report it directly to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.'
The Independent
8 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Parents urged to stop using brand of children's magnesium gummies due to harmful side effects
Parents have been urged to stop giving their children a brand of gummies after testing revealed the presence of an undeclared prescription-only medicine for sleep disorders. Nutrition Ignition Kids Magnesium Glycinate Gummies claims to help reduce tiredness and boost the immune system, but now the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is working with online retailers to remove the product from sale. Magnesium glycinate is a dietary supplement that can help with anxiety and improve sleep. However, tests on two batches of this specific brand showed between 1.5 and 1.7mg of melatonin in each individual gummy. Melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle, is naturally produced by the body. However, a synthetic version is authorised for use on prescription in the UK for adults and children over the age of six with sleep disorders such as insomnia. If prescribed, the recommended starting dose is 1mg for children. According to the MHRA, melatonin is not listed anywhere on the packaging of Nutrition Ignition Kids Magnesium Glycinate Gummies. The packaging advises a dose of one to two gummies per day. Taking too much melatonin can cause headaches, drowsiness, dizziness and nausea. Dr Alison Cave, chief safety officer at MHRA, said: 'We advise any parent or caregiver to stop use of this product and safely dispose of it. ' Side effects such as headache, hyperactivity, a feeling of dizziness and abdominal pain have been reported in children when melatonin is prescribed and used for its licensed indications. No serious side effects were observed in studies in children. 'Anyone who suspects that their child, or a child in their care, is having a side effect from this product is advised to stop taking it and speak to a healthcare professional and report it directly to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.' Nutrition Ignition Kids Magnesium Glycinate Gummies are sold online as a food supplement, but the MHRA has now removed the product from sale and is working with online retailers to remove all listings.
The Independent
8 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Children's supplement recalled over fears it is laced with prescription-only sleep drug
A health alert has been issued to parents over a brand of children 's magnesium gummies after batches were found to contain a prescription-only drug used to aid sleep. Melatonin, which may cause drowsiness, headaches, dizziness and nausea, was detected in Kids Magnesium Glycinate Gummies made by Nutrition Ignition. The synthetic hormone is not listed on the packaging of the raspberry-flavoured gummies. Health chiefs have ordered the gummies to be removed from sale, working with online retailers to withdraw all listings. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has warned parents to stop giving them to children and to safely dispose of any left. According to top US research school John Hopkins Medicine, people should not use melatonin if they have and autoimmune disorder, a seizure disorder or depression. It also says melatonin supplements may raise blood sugar. Experts at the agency, who tested two batches of the supplements, found between 1.5 and 1.7mg of melatonin in each gummy. The usual adult dose of prescription melatonin, to help severe sleep problems or to recover from jet lag, is 2mg. If prescribed for children, the recommended starting dose is 1mg but may be increased to up to 5mg a day. The product packaging advised one or two gummies per day, depending on the child's age. MHRA chiefs say advice should be sought from a healthcare professional if a child has any worrying side effects. According to the NHS, melatonin takes up to two hours to work. It is usually recommended for up to 13 weeks, and anyone taking it for a long time might need help to come off it. But the MHRA says lasting harm is not expected when ingesting melatonin at high levels, and the body typically clears it within 12 hours. Anyone who has the gummies at home is advised to store them in a tamper-proof container until they take it to a pharmacy for disposal. The gummies must now be regulated as a medicine. Nutrition Ignition Kids Magnesium Glycinate Gummies were promoted as supporting 'calm, focus and digestion '. Alison Cave, chief safety officer at the MHRA, said: 'Side-effects such as headache, hyperactivity, a feeling of dizziness and abdominal pain have been reported in children when melatonin is prescribed and used for its licensed indications. No serious side- effects were observed in studies in children. 'Anyone who suspects that their child or a child in their care is having a side-effect from this product is advised to stop taking it and speak to a healthcare professional and report it directly to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.' Companies House documents show that Nutrition Ignition, based in Epsom, Surrey, has one employee. In June, the employee - who is also sole director - was ordered by the regulator to remove the gummies from the company website and from Amazon while it investigated. She told The Guardian she was complying with the investigation and denied knowingly selling a prescription-only substance.
The Sun
9 hours ago
- Health
- The Sun
Children's vitamin gummies urgently recalled due to fears they contain prescription sleep drug
VITAMIN gummies for kids have been urgently recalled over fears they contain a prescription-only sleep drug. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) told parents who'd bought Nutrition Ignition Kids Magnesium Glycinate Gummies for their kids to "stop all use" immediately. It said testing had identified undeclared melatonin - a prescription only medicine used to treat sleep disorders - in certain batches. Ingestion of melatonin won't cause "lasting harm" in kids, the MHRA said. But it can leave children feeling drowsy, dizzy or nauseous if they take too much. The health watchdog is also working with online retailers to remove the gummies from sale. Magnesium glycinate is a dietary supplement that can help with anxiety and improve sleep. The Nutrition Ignition Kids Magnesium Glycinate Gummies are marketed to children above the age of four to support "calm, focus, and digestion". But tests on two batches of vitamins showed between 1.5 and 1.7mg of melatonin in each individual gummy. Melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle, is naturally produced by the body. However, a synthetic version can be prescribed to adults and children over the age of six in UK if they suffer from sleep disorders such as insomnia. If prescribed, the recommended starting dose is 1mg for children. Your ultimate sleep toolkit in 13 steps - from recording snoring to daylight hack According to the MHRA, melatonin is not listed anywhere on the packaging of Nutrition Ignition Kids Magnesium Glycinate Gummies. The packaging advises a dose of one to two gummies per day, depending on the child's age. "Lasting harm is not expected when ingesting melatonin at high levels, and the body typically clears this within 12 hours," the MHRA said. But taking too much melatonin can cause headaches, drowsiness, dizziness and nausea, the health watchdog added. Dr Alison Cave, chief safety officer at MHRA, said: "We advise any parent or caregiver to stop use of this product and safely dispose of it. "Side effects such as headache, hyperactivity, a feeling of dizziness and abdominal pain have been reported in children when melatonin is prescribed and used for its licensed indications. "No serious side effects were observed in studies in children. "Anyone who suspects that their child, or a child in their care, is having a side effect from this product is advised to stop taking it and speak to a healthcare professional and report it directly to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme." Nutrition Ignition Kids Magnesium Glycinate Gummies are sold online as a food supplement, but the MHRA has now removed the product from sale and is working with online retailers to remove all listings. Parents or care givers who have this product at home were advised to store it securely in a tamper-proof container out of reach of children until they can take it to a pharmacy for disposal. What is melatonin and who can't take it? Melatonin is a hormone that occurs naturally in your body. At night, your levels of melatonin rise, before returning to normal during the day. This helps to control how and when you sleep. You can take a synthetic version of melatonin for short periods if you have sleep problems such as insomnia. This adds to your body's natural supply of melatonin, so you fall asleep more quickly and you're less likely to wake up during the night. It may also help with symptoms of jetlag. Melatonin is mainly used to treat short-term sleep problems in people aged 55 or over. It can also sometimes be prescribed by specialists to help with longer-term sleep problems in some children and adults. Melatonin is available on prescription only. It's not suitable for some people. To make sure it's safe for you, tell your doctor or pharmacist before taking it if you: Have ever had an allergic reaction to melatonin or any other medicine Have liver or kidney problems Have rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis or lupus, or any other autoimmune condition Side effects of melatonin Melatonin doesn't have many common side effects but it can cause the following: Source: NHS
