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Vitamin Supplements Contaminated With Gluten

Hidden gluten in your multivitamins

Are You Flushing Your Money & Health Down The Toilet?

A recent study investigated over the counter vitamin and mineral supplements for the presence of gluten, and the results were alarming for those who are trying to follow a gluten free diet and maintain a healthy lifestyle through the use of multi-vitamins, probiotics, etc.
we investigated the presence of gluten in twenty one common dietary supplements from the national market using the immunochromatographic assay. This visual assay proved to be an efficient rapid tool for gluten screening as an alternative to the ELISA techniques. The results have shown the presence of gluten in 23.8% of the investigated samples (vitamins, minerals, plant extracts, probiotics supplements, lactoferrin, propolis supplements).
Source: Roum Arch Microbiol Immunol. 2011 Oct-Dec;70(4):174-7.

Why is Gluten Cross Contamination Such a Problem?

Many supplement manufactures process multiple products in their facilities. Often times, grain is used as a filler or additive. Wheat germ is a common example of a gluten based ingredient being used in supplement processing. This same problem can be seen in a number of prescription and over the counter medications. Below is a list of commonly used terms that may be grain based fillers in vitamin supplement products:
  • Wheat germ
  • food glaze
  • food starch
  • maltodextrin
  • MSG
  • Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
  • Textured plant protein
  • Artificial flavors and colors
  • natural flavors
  • dextrin

Supplementation is Critical For Those With Gluten Induced Gut Damage

Multiple studies have shown the relationship between vitamin and mineral deficiencies and gluten intolerance and celiac disease. It is well established that damage to the intestinal cells can lead to malabsorption and poor digestion. One study showed that celiac patients following the gluten free diet still had vitamin and mineral deficiencies after 10 years of compliance. Add to this the fact that the chronic autoimmune inflammatory damage taxes the nutritional status of the body and we are left with chronically ill patients who need supplementation as part of their recovery process. Now add to this that almost 1/4 of all supplements contain hidden gluten and we have a major medical disaster.

Corn is a Very Commonly Added Component in Supplements

If you have stayed up to date with current literature and research regarding corn gluten, then you are aware of Gluten Free Society’s stance on this problem. If you are not aware, go here now and catch up. Corn based fillers are extremely common in supplement products. As a matter of fact, most brands of vitamin C are derived from corn. This is one of the many reasons why vitamin C formulations cause reactions in patients with gluten intolerance issues. As corn is easily hidden and disguised in many ways, I have put together a list of terms you will want to be aware of to avoid this contaminant in your supplements. If you are in need of probiotics and vitamin supplements without gluten, you can go here.

Important Supplements Recommended for a Speedy Healing Process

  1. A high quality multi-vitamin
  2. A comprehensive digestive formula that contains gluten degrading enzymes
  3. A strong probiotic
  4. A supplement containing immune factors to help restore immune function and balance
  5. Vitamin B-12 in the form of methylcobalamin (95% of patients with gluten sensitivity are deficient in B-12)
  6. A bowel regulator (this is recommended for those with chronic constipation issues.) I recommend GI Restore
 

13 Responses

  1. Some great information and we do a lot of physical work in our Garden. Now picking squash/snapbeans/tomatoes/butterbeans/onions,leeks and blackberries!
    At my age I have a very special workout plan you may not have heard about? It’s called….”Pumping Rust”!

  2. What do you recommend for this? A supplement containing immune factors to help restore immune function and balance.. My gut is finally get healthy since I switched to a naturopath that did tests but she doesnt know about grains being in the stuff she prescribes.. I know that I my cortisol is high so I am having trouble sleeping and some other hormones are off so how do I know what supplements I need when I start taking these.. this is a gradual process i am replacing lost vitamins and minerals and I can tell the difference. so my gut never healed and it was really getting bad.. once I get it back in shape I wonder will need anything for hormones my age is definitely where i am losing them like for sex drive and other stuff.. I am reading so that I can communicate to her.. what I want to do and not just do what she says so this knowledge will empower me.

  3. I am allergic to wheat, corn, soy, peanuts and walnuts, sesame. Is there a brand of multivitamin that would exclude these?

  4. I DON’T KNOW ABOUT ANYONE ELSE, BUT MY G.I. DOCTOR HAD A PACKET OF INFORMATION AND A LIST OF VITAMINS THAT WERE THE SAFEST, WHEAT FREE AND GLUTEN FREE, THAT WAS NATURE’S MADE BRAND AND I FEEL MORE ENERGETIC SINCE I’VE BEEN TAKING THEM FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS. ALSO MY ANEMIA IS IN CONTROL AND CENTRUM MULTI VITAMINS I TAKE ON A DAILY BASIS, THE OTHERS HAVE TO BE TAKE TWICE AT A TIME CAUSE THE VITAMINS GO RIGHT THROUGH YOU AND DON’T BENEFIT FROM IT. JUST SOME ADVICE I WAS GIVEN FROM OUR CEIAC CLASS. ALWAYS LOOK FOR NUTRIITONISTS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THIS FIELD. I HOPE THIS WAS SOMEONE HELPFUL.

  5. I have had a bad response to supplements…..finally thru trial and error figured out that most had gluten or some sort of wheat/soy ingredients in either the capsules or gel tablets. Was wondering if taking a Liquid Vitamin might help…..

  6. I’ve a gluten problem. I live in Greece so there is not much help foods or info on gf everything. I need vitamins badly . The makes they have here are lanes, Centrum and powerhealth. I’m want to take multivitamin or b12 .pls tell me which make I can take without getting poisoned. Pls answer quickly. Thanks in advance

    1. Hi Maria Papa. I’ve also struggled to find an affordable GF product. A number that I tried to do not work well for me. And some are so expensive that I feel guilty purchasing them. I have finally found a multi-vitamin that works well and is very affordable. I have more energy, even my hair is growing faster. If you would like to, you can email me at Hunter_1704@hotmail.com and I can talk to you about a couple of things I’ve found that work well.

  7. My naturpathologist prescribed a supplement of calcium 1200 mg/ magnesium 600 mg/d3 1000 is & K2 100mcg. I try even to find a supplement only of calcium and or magnesium and I’ll take the rest vitamins from supplements I’ ve already found in market that satisfy my health requirements. I’m multi allergic, suffering from dysanexia in lactose, gluten, starch, wheat, yeast, soy, corn. Sugars of any form are prohibited since l have serious candida syndrome and follow anticandida diet and therapy for more than two years. Recently, in August, after blood check up and ultrasound test of thyroid glands, the results showed that I suffer from autoimmune Hashimoto’s thyreoiditis and I also have a single thyroid nodule 10,8mm and several others of <4mm size. I visited an endocrinologist in my city (Thessaloniki, Greece), and he only prescribed levothyroxine of 50mg just for the start, since his first advice was to take 65mg. I explained all my heath history and precautions about my liver condition and then he accepted the start of 50mg. I took this pill only for two days and stopped its use because I started suffering from severe gut pains. I read the pill’s ingredients and found out that they contained gluten, lactose and starch among others. I started chearching the internet and asking also pharmacists about levothyroxine pills of 50mg free from the above mentioned allergens. To my disappointment there is nothing in the market. So up to now I don’t take any levothyroxine and just follow a diet about overpopulation of candida and Hashimoto’s inflammations and thyreoiditis’ symptoms. Now I need to take omega 3 1000 mg supplement without the above mentioned ingredients (soy, corn, wheat, gluten, lactose, starch, sugars, yeast and gmo). Up to now I used to take the one of now foods but it has soy and my naturpathologist advised me to exclude soy at all.
    What I would like to know is I what other ingredients/ fillers contains your cal/mag supplement and if you know an omega 3 1000mg supplement free of the mentioned allergens to suggest. I also look for a rich of probiotics supplements without the prohibited fillers.

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