April 9, 2008

Risks from Vitamin K Shot at Birth

Lace at Finding the Truth has an interesting breakdown of the Vitamin k shot given at birth. Apparently there is a potential link to Leukemia.

Apparently one of the ingredients in the shot is Sodium hydroxide or "Lye". Drain cleaner in baby shots. Nice.

She notes that there is some safer alternatives, oral Vitamin K9 given at a much lower dose over 5 weeks. Also a nursing mom's Vitamin K supplementation of vitamin K will pass through the breast milk to the baby. And apparently formula has plenty.

1 comment:

Jim said...

What should be noted is that not only is sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in the K Shot, but also hydrochloric acid (HCl). While both of these are caustic and dangerous by themselves, together they form a common chemical buffer solution. NaOH dissociates into Na+ and OH- ions. HCl dissociates into Cl- and H= ions. The H and OH combine to form water, the Na and Cl combine to form salt Depending on the concentrations of both chemicals, the pH of the entire solution will be maintained. I am almost certain this is done to maintain the solution at a pH near human blood, and the vitamin K itself may alter the pH.

That said, two different formulations of the K shot (BP and USP) have two different pH ranges - the BP injection has a pH of 5.0 to 7.5; the USP. injection has a pH of 3.5 to 7.0. That discrepancy is rather large - a pH 7 is that of pure water is 7, while a pH 3.5 is approximately that of wine. Given that, and the fact that the body's bicarbonate buffer will absorb some pH change itself, and the fact that the AquaMEPHYTON injection doesn't seem to contain any buffering agents, the NaOH/HCl buffer seems unnecessary. But the buffer itself is quite common (although that does not of course mean it is safe).

In addition to the fact that whole entire shot being unnecessary. And the body of research showing the link to leukemia - which I have not reviewed so I don't know if there is a known reason for it, although I believe it.