Parents and caregivers have been urged to stop giving their children a brand of nutritional gummies after tests revealed the presence of an undeclared prescription-only medicine used to help sleep conditions.
Nutrition Ignition Kids Magnesium Glycinate Gummies are designed to help reduce tiredness and improve the immune system, but the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has told parents to dispose of the product over harmful side effects.
Magnesium glycinate is a dietary supplement often recommended to help reduce anxiety and improve sleep.
The government body carried out tests in two batches of the branded product and found each gummy contained 1.5mg to 1.7mg of melatonin.
While melatonin is a hormone that regulates the sleep cycles and is naturally produced by the body, some UK adults and children aged over six may be prescribed a synthetic version to help with sleep disorders such as insomnia.
The recommended starting dose for children is 1mg.
The MHRA is currently working with online retailers to pull any listings of the product and remove the gummies from sale.
It also said the sleep hormone is not listed anywhere on the Nutrition Ignition Kids Magnesium Glycinate Gummies’ packaging, yet the product advises a dose of one or two gummies per day.
Taking too much melatonin can cause various side effects, including drowsiness, headache, dizziness and nausea.
However, the MHRA said there were no serious side effects present in the studies it carried out.
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 since removed the product from sale and is working closely with online retailers to remove all listings.
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