Safety of Uqora in children under 12-years-old

Dr. Alexandra LaStella, Pharm.D is a Doctor of Pharmacy graduated from St. John’s University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Queens, New York. Doctors of pharmacy are healthcare providers who have mastered advanced experiential and clinical education regarding the safe and effective use of drugs. Pharmacists are highly trusted medication experts, equipped with the tools and the knowledge needed to assess the safety of drugs, supplements, and natural products in all patient populations.

Each ingredient in all Uqora products (Defend, Promote, and Flush) was analyzed via the Natural Medicines Database to assess for established safety of use in pediatric patients. When further information was warranted, scientific journals and research databases such as PubMed, were used to clarify any uncertain information. This review relies heavily on the use of the Natural Medicines database for healthcare professionals. Natural Medicines is the most authoritative resource available on dietary supplements, natural medicines, and complementary alternative and integrative therapies designed for use by healthcare professionals in the United States. All resources utilized are listed at the end of the article.

Is Uqora safe for children under 12? Yes. All of the ingredients in Uqora Flush, Promote, and Defend have demonstrated safety and efficacy in children under the age of 12. The following is an in-depth review of each product, as well as dosing information, to provide patients with information regarding the safe use of Uqora products for children under 12.

All ingredients in Uqora Flush have been studied in children in the United States, and have been determined to likely be safe in children who are at least 4-years-old and weigh at least 45 pounds. This evaluation is based on two ingredients: D-mannose 2g and Potassium (as potassium citrate and potassium bicarbonate) 360mg.

The adequate intake (AI) of Potassium, as established by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Institute for Medicine in 2005, is 3,800mg/day for children 4-8 years old, and 4,500mg/day for children 9-13 years old. Patients should be advised to consume adequate amounts of potassium to meet daily requirements, but not excessive amounts. In order to account for normal dietary intake of potassium, Uqora Flush is not recommended for children under 4 years old. For any child using Uqora Flush, special attention should be paid to the amount of dietary and supplemental potassium the child is receiving. For reference, 1 medium sized banana provides 422 mg of Potassium, ½ an avocado provides nearly 500 mg of potassium, and two wedges of watermelon provide 640 mg of potassium.  

Regarding D-Mannose, single doses greater than 200 mg/kg are more likely to cause osmotic diarrhea. Uqora Flush contains 2g of D-mannose, which translates to approximately 200mg per 44 pounds of body weight. Therefore, it is not recommended to use Uqora Flush in children less than 45 pounds, as it increases the risk of osmotic diarrhea. If your child has any other health conditions, or uses any other dietary, herbal, or multivitamin supplements, we recommend discussing Uqora Flush with your pediatrician prior to use.

Recommended dose of Flush for children under 12: Mix one packet in 8-12 ounces of water as needed. (Not to exceed more than 1 packet every 3 days)

*This product has a very high level of reliable clinical evidence showing its safe use when used appropriately. Products rated “Likely Safe” are generally considered appropriate to recommend.

All ingredients in Uqora Promote have been studied in children in the United States, and have been determined to likely be safe.

Uqora Promote is a daily probiotic containing three strains of vaginal lactobacilli (L. Rhamnosus, L. Reuteri, and L. Acidophilus.) Studies have shown that these probiotics promote the restoration of healthy vaginal lactobacilli.

Restoring the vaginal microbiome with daily vaginal probiotics is shown to be linked to urinary health success. It is important to note that at this time, there are no published studies on the long-term use of daily probiotics in children. For this reason, we recommend children should not use Promote for longer than 12 weeks without approval from a physician.

For children who can not swallow capsules, Uqora Promote can be taken out of the capsule, but this may alter the integrity of the ingredients. For example, parents may empty the contents of 1 Promote capsule into a small serving of applesauce (a serving size that the child can eat within minutes). However, there is a higher risk of probiotic death in the stomach when the capsules are opened, potentially making the product less effective. For best results, Uqora Promote capsules should be swallowed intact.

Recommended dose of Promote for children under 12: 1 capsule by mouth once daily with a glass of water

*This product has a very high level of reliable clinical evidence showing its safe use when used appropriately. Products rated “Likely Safe” are generally considered appropriate to recommend.

All ingredients in Uqora Defend have been studied in children in the United States, and have been determined to likely be safe following a dosing adjustment (described below).

Mechanism research in Uqora Defend's ingredients show its ability to cleanse biofilm in the urinary tract, as well as strengthening the bladder wall. Uqora Defend helps keep the bladder clean despite stress, hormonal changes, or having to hold your bladder for extended periods of time. 

Due to the amount of Vitamin D3 present in Uqora Defend, a dosing adjustment is advised for children. Uqora Control contains 750 IU (international units) of Vitamin D3 per capsule, but the daily requirement for children under 12 is only 400 IU/day. Vitamin D toxicity is rare; recent cases of intoxication involve high total intake in the range of 240,000 IU to 4,500,000 IU3.

In order to prevent excess Vitamin D3 consumption, we do not recommend that children under 12 take the adult dose of Uqora Defend (2 capsules per day). Instead, children should be advised to take 1 capsule by mouth per day.

The amount of Vitamin D3 provided by 1 capsule of Control (750 IU) in addition to the recommended dietary allowance (600 IU) is within the upper limits of intake (2500IU) for children 1+ years old set forth by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). It is important that children using Uqora Defend do not receive any additional supplementation of Vitamin D3. If your child has any other health conditions, or uses any other dietary, herbal, or multivitamin supplements, we recommend discussing Uqora Defend with your pediatrician prior to use.

For children who can not swallow capsules, Uqora Defend maintains its integrity when taken out of the capsule if consumed immediately. For example, parents may empty the contents of 1 control capsule into a small serving of applesauce (a serving size that the child can eat within minutes). For best results, Uqora Defend capsules should be swallowed intact.

Recommended dose for children under 12: 1 capsule by mouth once daily with a glass of water.

Uqora products appear to be safe and effective for children under 12 when used appropriately.  

All ingredients in the aforementioned products have demonstrated safety and efficacy when used appropriately.

Uqora Flush, Promote, and Defend are not intended to diagnose or treat urinary tract infections (UTIs). Uqora products appear to be safe and effective for use in children when they are used at the recommended dosage for the recommended duration of time.

Uqora products are not a replacement for antibiotic therapy in the treatment of UTI. If you suspect your child has a recurrence of UTI, or any active infection, seek medical attention promptly.

The statements in this article have not been evaluated by the FDA. If you have any current health conditions or concerns about the safety of any Uqora products, we encourage you to speak with your doctor.

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