This article from Babble.com is one of the best we’ve seen on vitamins for kids. It’s simple, direct, and contains great information that’s easy to put into practice for busy mamas.
Most kids don’t need multivitamins.
The American Academy of Pediatrics does not advise vitamin supplementation for healthy kids. “The run-of-the-mill child who is thriving does not require a multivitamin,” says Dr. Jatinder Bhatia, chair of the AAP’s committee on nutrition.
But most kids do need a vitamin D supplement — 400 I.U./day.
In general, kids do not get enough of it — mostly because they don’t spend that much time in the sun and, when they do, they are slathered with sunscreen, which blocks vitamin D formation in the skin. In addition, kids are drinking less milk than they used to. Vitamin D is crucial to development —it helps the body absorb calcium, and calcium helps bones grow. If kids achieve optimal bone mass in adolescence, some researchers believe they will be at less risk for osteoporosis in adulthood. In 2008 the AAP began recommending that kids take a supplement that provides supplies 400 international units (I.U.s) of vitamin D. (By the way, most adults should consider taking a D supplement too, since deficiency in the vitamin may play a role in heart disease and cancer.)
Multivitamins with 400 I.U.s of Vitamin D:
Flintstones Children’s Complete Multivitamin, Chewable tablets
Flintstones Gummies with Calcium & Vitamin D Children’s Multivitamin/Multimineral
One-A-Day Kids Scooby-Doo! Complete Multivitamin, Chewable Tablets
Marvel Heroes Gummies
Vitamin D supplements:
Vitamin D Sunny Gummies Chewable, 60 Chews, Rainbow Light
L’il Critters Vitamin D Gummy Bears, Dietary Supplement. Give just one tablet (which has 400 IUs), rather than the recommended 2.
Mason D-400 Chewable for Kids
UPDATE: A recent FDA warning points out the potential dangers of too much vitamin D. Children should not get more than the recommended dose of 400 IU/day. Get the details here.
Multivitamins don’t necessarily help, but they probably don’t hurt either.
Dr. Bhatia says, “Your child will not overdose on vitamins, even if he eats fortified cereals every day.” But if your child is sick often or is not growing well, then ask your pediatrician whether you should give him or her vitamins and, if so, what kind.
The jury is still out on whether mega-fatty acids help brain development — or whether they’re safe for children.
“There is no strong evidence to suggest that omega-3, omega-6 or omega-9 supplements are beneficial for kids,” says Dr. Kimberly Giuliano, a pediatrician at the Cleveland Clinic. “Therefore, I do not recommend these supplements to my patients.” A few studies, such as a 2007 report published in the journal, Lipids in health and disease, show that Omega-3 fatty acids may help relieve ADHD and autism symptoms, such as hyperactivity, in some children but other studies, like one in the August 2009 issue of Neurology, show no benefit at all. If you have a child with either of these syndromes, talk to your doctor before you add an Omega-3 supplement to their diet. Dr. Guiliano cautions: “No long term studies have been done to prove [Omegas] are safe for children.”
Go by the quantities on the back of the vitamin bottle, not the daily recommendation percentages.
Actual amounts of the vitamin will be listed in I.U.s, mgs (milligrams) or mcgs (micrograms). Because recommended quantities change, you’re safer to just go by the quantity itself.
Either store- or name-brands can be okay.
The C that’s in a jar of Centrum is often just the same as the C that’s in a bottle of a generic brand. The Food and Drug Administration is in charge of regulating vitamins, but it does not test the pills before they are sold to the public; it is the manufacturer’s responsibility to ensure that their products are safe and that the levels of vitamins in the pills are as stated on the label. If you want to guarantee getting the best manufacturer, you can pay $35/year to subscribe to ConsumerLab, an independent organization that tests hundreds of vitamins each year.
Dr. Tod Cooperman, president of ConsumerLab, recommends Flintstones Gummies. “It passed our tests, has conservative amounts of vitamins, and uses the D3 form of vitamin D.”
And, yes, chewable vitamins have some sweetener, but the doctors I spoke to felt the amount was negligible.
Get your vitamins from food whenever possible.
Of course, the best strategy is to encourage your children to eat a varied diet, full of fruits and vegetables, so they get all their vitamins and minerals from real food. “Vitamin pills are not the answer for a picky eater,” says Dr. Giuliano. “We all absorb vitamins better from food.”
Vitamin D is rare in foods, but you can get it.
Very few foods contain vitamin D. Fatty fish like salmon and tuna are the best sources, and there are also small amounts in beef liver, cheese, and egg yolks. Fortified foods — most prominently, milk — provide most of the vitamin D in the American diet. Orange juice and some cereals are also fortified with Vitamin D.
The information provided by MamasOnCall is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, but is for information purposes only. You assume full responsibility for the health and well-being of your family. Talk with your healthcare provider about any questions you may have regarding a medical or psychiatric condition.
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