A video circulating online, claiming that the active ingredient in vitamin K shots given to newborns can lead to infertility and autoimmune problems, has been debunked by health experts. The claim revolves around polysorbate 80, a common preservative used in the injections, but experts say there is no evidence linking it to either condition.
The video, which gained traction through a Facebook post with the caption “Vitamin K Shot: The Devil’s Helping Hand Is Not To Be Trusted,” features a woman suggesting that polysorbate 80 is the main ingredient in the vitamin K shot, warning of its supposed connection to infertility. However, fact-checkers have found that the video is a rehash of a 2018 segment from the debunked InfoWars network.
Vitamin K shots are a routine part of newborn care, recommended to prevent Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB), a potentially fatal condition that can lead to brain damage or death. Babies naturally lack enough vitamin K at birth, which is why health authorities, including Australia’s government health advice, advocate for this supplement shortly after delivery.
Medical experts have clarified that while polysorbate 80 is present in the vitamin K shot, it is used solely as a preservative and has no harmful effects on reproductive or immune health. Dr. Mark Corkins, a pediatric expert and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, emphasized that the active ingredient in the shot is phytonadione (vitamin K1), not polysorbate 80. He added that polysorbate 80 serves as a solubilizer, helping the vitamin K dissolve in liquid. According to Dr. Corkins, after thoroughly reviewing medical literature, there are no studies linking this ingredient to infertility or autoimmune diseases.
Jaspreet Loyal, an associate professor of pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine, further confirmed that polysorbate 80 is a safe stabilizer with no known adverse health effects.
Additionally, polysorbate 80 is commonly used in a wide range of products, including food and vaccines. It’s found in higher concentrations in everyday products like ice cream, where it aids in texture and slows melting. According to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the amount of polysorbate 80 in a typical vitamin K shot is significantly lower than in food items such as ice cream.
The claims about infertility often reference a 1992 study on rats, which received high doses of polysorbate 80—far higher than the levels used in human vaccines. The doses in the study were up to 70 times greater than the amount given to newborns through the vitamin K injection.
These widespread myths about the vitamin K shot ingredient have been thoroughly debunked by experts, reinforcing the safety and necessity of the injection in preventing potentially life-threatening conditions in newborns.
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