Ask the Expert – Multivitamin and Kids

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, Registered Dietitian Liz Marr explains why you need to exercise caution when considering a multivitamin for your child.

Liz Marr Education: Master of Science, Food Science & Human Nutrition, Colorado State University Experience: over 20 years as a food & nutrition educator Expertise: food, nutrition, family nutrition, food safety Website: http://www.lizonfood.com Twitter: @lizmarrmsrd LinkedIn Profile Contact: via via Web form on www.lizmarr.com (but I don’t address consumer questions directly)

Question: How important is taking daily multivitamins and when should kids start?

Answer:

While parents may worry that their toddlers are not taking in adequate nutrients, normal, healthy children, even picky eaters, typically don’t need multivitamin supplements. According to the American Dietetic Association, the best strategy for meeting nutritional needs, for children and adults alike, is eating a wide selection of nutritious foods. Studies suggest that positive health outcomes are related more to overall dietary patterns rather than intakes of individual nutrients. Foods contain an array of health-promoting substances beyond vitamins and minerals, for example flavonoids.

Parents believe supplements provide children nutrients that may be lacking in their diets, according to research. However, by introducing supplements at an early age, parents may be unwittingly sending the message to children that supplements are a substitute for healthful eating patterns.

No solid evidence exists that children’s health is improved by multivitamin supplements. Nonetheless, about one third of children in the United States take multivitamin supplements. However, that figure is down from the 1970s. Compared to infants and adolescents, children ages 4-6 are most likely to take supplements. Interestingly, national surveys suggest that supplements may be taken by those who have healthful diets and lifestyles more often than those at a greater risk for vitamin and mineral inadequacies.

Because many foods that are consumed by children are already fortified with various vitamins and minerals, children are probably consuming more nutrients than parents might think. For example, many foods common in children’s diets are typically fortified, including breakfast cereals, breads, dairy products and juices.

One nutrient for which some infants and children may require supplementation is vitamin D. Because of the role of vitamin D in healthy bone formation, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 400 IU of supplemental vitamin D for the following:

• Breastfed infants
• Non-breastfed infants consuming less than one quart of vitamin D-fortified formula
• Children consuming less than one quart of vitamin D-fortified milk
• Adolescents with intakes less than 400 IU per day.

So, if parents choose to give children multivitamins, they should make sure the supplement contains vitamin D.

A particular caution with keeping multivitamins (children’s or adult’s) in the house with young kids, is risk of overdoses. Of particular concern with multivitamins is iron, an overdose of which can be fatal. Many children’s vitamins are designed for kid appeal, available in a variety of colors, flavors and branded characters. And children may view them as candy. If parents choose to keep multivitamins in the house, the supplements should well out of reach of young children.

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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: Overdose, Supplements, Toddler Health, Toddler Multivitamins, Vitamin D