Ask The Expert – Toddler Nutritional Supplements

Ask The Expert is a weekly column on Littlestomaks.com. The idea is to have a reader-submitted question answered by a nutrition expert or a pediatrician. Feel free to submit your question in the comments section below.

This week, Dr. Douglas Husbands recommends a few good nutritional supplements for your toddler.

Douglas Husbands, DC, CCN, ABAAHP

BSc Human Physiology, San Francisco State University DC: Cleveland Chiropractic College of Los Angeles Certified Clinical Nutritionist (CCN): Post-graduate board certification with the International & American Associations of Clinical Nutritionists Anti-Aging Health Practitioner (ABAAHP): Post-graduate board certification with the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine Post-graduate training in Functional Medicine with the Institute for Functional Medicine Approximately 2 decades of private practice in functional medicine, chiropractic, anti-aging health care and clinical nutrition Expert in nutritional and holistic solutions for reversing common chronic disease and resolving many acute conditions using a holistic approach Website: www.drhusbands.com Blog: www.drhusbands.com/blog LinkedIn Profile Contact: via website

Question: What are good nutritional supplements for toddlers 2-5 years old?

Answer:

The majority of the research shows that nutritional supplementation is currently necessary in addition to a healthy diet to meet adequate and especially optimal nutrient requirements, of most people.  In fact, according to an article published earlier this decade in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), it is advisable for physicians to  recommend nutritional supplements to their patients and that most people require nutritional supplements to make up for the shortcomings in their diet.  Additionally because many modern farming practices often do not adequately replenish the nutrients in the soil, the vegetables and fruits grown today commonly have lower nutrient content than the same vegetables and fruits harvested many years ago. Therefore supplements for toddlers are also advisable.

Since toddlers are often picky eaters, a good multivitamin/multimineral supplement formulated for toddlers is a good start.  There are various chewables on the market which often contain some type of sugar, but you preferably want one that is lightly sweetened with xylitol rather than fructose.  Avoid any brand sweetened with table sugar or high fructose corn syrup. Xylitol is a natural sugar causing minimal changes in blood sugar and insulin levels, and does not feed the bacteria causing tooth decay.

Another good way of getting a multivitamin/multimineral supplement into your toddler is to use a powdered supplement.  This is convenient in that many of these powdered supplements can be easily dosed according to the child’s age or weight for the proper amount.  They can also be easily mixed in some of the child’s beverages or foods.  There are various brands on the market, but be sure to purchase one especially formulated for toddlers, read labels carefully to avoid those with table sugar or fructose.   Any good one formulated for toddlers will not contain iron.

One of the supplements with the greatest amount of scientific research supporting its use in toddlers and children is fish oil.  Fish oil contains the essential omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids docosahexanoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).   Since a large proportion of brain tissue is made of DHA, this is particularly important in the toddler years where brain growth is occurring.  Fish oil given in children is also associated with decreased risk of developing type 1 diabetes.  A study published in JAMA in September 2007 found that among 1770 infants and toddlers at high risk for developing type 1 diabetes, those toddlers who obtained supplemental omega 3 fatty acids from cod liver oil had significantly decreased risks of the development of type 1 diabetes. Approximately 1 gram of fish oil each day is beneficial for many toddler aged children.

Since cod liver oil also contains vitamin D, the beneficial effect of supplemental vitamin D is also well supported by research for being protective against the development of type 1 diabetes in toddlers and children.  Additionally, since vitamin D has multiple benefits, the latest research supports toddlers getting a total of approximately 1000 to 2000 IU of vitamin D each day.  Supplemental Vitamin D comes in different forms, but the advisable form is vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol).   Do not purchase one that is made with ergocalciferol!  Vitamin D is essential for immune function, proper bone growth, proper brain function, and proper growth hormone output, among other functions, so optimal levels of vitamin D are vitally important for healthy, happy toddlers.

Probiotics would also be among my recommended supplements for infants and toddlers.  Probiotics is a general term describing various strains of the beneficial bacteria that should reside in adequate numbers within the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract.  These strains have specific names such as Bifidobacterium infantis, Lactobacillus plantarum and variations thereof.  Probiotics have many functions in supporting a healthy and balanced immune system and in supporting proper nutrient digestion and absorption. It is critically important for newborns delivered via C-section to begin probiotics, and for any infant or toddler who has been given an antibiotic to be given probiotics.  The recommended strains of probiotic and dose are dependent on the age and physical state of the child.  A knowledgeable health professional well educated and experienced in nutrition should be consulted for specific dose and strains of probiotics for your particular child.

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Disclaimer – Information provided in Ask The Expert column on Littlestomaks.com is intended to give you general guidance on a question related to toddler nutrition. It is not meant to be treated as medical advice. You are welcome to contact this expert for a detailed consultation on your specific situation to determine what actions, if any, you should take regarding nutrition and health of your toddlers. We do not recommend you to take any action based solely on the information presented in this column. Experts have agreed to provide their professional opinion on toddler nutrition related questions on a voluntary basis and no compensation is offered to them by Littlestomaks.com.

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Tagged as: Ask The Expert, Fish oil, Omega 3, Probiotics, Supplements, Toddler Multivitamins, Vitamin D