Supplements

What should children be taking?

Anna Polucha

Cooking Matters

Fall 2012

Supplements Are Drugs

• Most supplements are sold OTC

• Is it necessary for participants to get a doctor’s OK?

YES

Supplement Facts

• Forms Liquid (drops): Infants- 2 years Chewable: Ages 2+ Gummies: Ages 4+ Pills: Recommended for ages 11+

• Don’t generally recommend against dyes unless there is a known sensitivity

• Take supplements with food unless otherwise noted

Supplements for Kids

Vitamin D

• Prevents rickets

• Usually recommended for breast fed infants Comes in drop form

• For children over 2 years old: get vitamin D in a multivitamin

• Is sun exposure a good substitute?

Supplements for Kids

Iron• Generally supplementation not needed with healthy diet• Do not give iron supplements unless prescribed/recommended

by a physician May consider for adolescent girls or vegetarian/vegan kids

• Low iron symptoms: Irritability Listlessness Increased susceptibility to infection

• Iron in the MV (12-18 mg) is OK• Iron supplements meant for adults can be toxic for young

children!!

Supplements for Kids

Multivitamins • Commonly recommended as a “catch-all”• Kids with OK diets don’t necessarily need

them• How to choose:

Designed for your child’s age group No more than 100 DV% for each vitamin or

mineral Does it have everything you want/need?- check the

label!

Multivitamins Continued

• Chewable vs. Gummy Chewable generally has better profile Gummies have less iron & calcium Gummies are generally better preferred by kids

• Best multivitamin recommendation for kids: Flintstones Complete Chewable (has full compliment of vitamins and minerals)

Supplements for Kids

Omega-3s

• Not necessary but popular

• No issue with kids taking it

• 600-1200 mg is recommended

• Comes in liquid, gel or tablet

• Make sure it is purified (mercury free) and odorless

Supplements for Kids

Fluoride

• Requires a prescription

• Comes in chewable or liquid Sometimes prescribed as part of a MV

• Only need it if the kids are not drinking fluoridated water Contact your community water district to find

out- each town/district is different!

Supplements for Kids

• Other singled-out vitamins and minerals are generally not needed

• Especially if the child has a variable diet• May be some exceptions

Kids with food allergies Kids with limited diets

• Extreme picky eaters • Vegetarian/vegans• Kids who don’t like milk

• Discuss individual concerns with a physician or nutritionist

At the Pediatrician’s Office

• Participants should ask: Do you recommend a brand/specific kind? How much iron/calcium/etc. is appropriate

for a child this age? How long should they take this? Is it possible to overdose?

Click here to access the complete DRI table

Supplement Safety

• Supplements are drugs!• Look like candy

(especially gummy vitamins)

• Keep out of reach of children

• Do not take more than the recommended serving size

• If you miss one, don’t take two to make up for it

• Do not give a child a supplement meant for adults Mmm… Yum!

Choosing a Supplement

• Be a smart consumer FDA does not regulate supplements before they

are released to the shelves

• Read the label activity: Participants will be given several different

supplement bottles and a scenario Should judge if the multivitamin is appropriate

Read the Label Activity

• Scenario Examples Your 4 year old son eats an OK diet, but you’re worried

she’s not getting enough nutrition. Your pediatrician says it is OK for you to give a multivitamin. This is the one you pick off the shelf. Is it OK? How many pills should you give per day?

Your 5 year old child has a milk allergy and your physician recommended a calcium supplement with vitamin D. She recommends the RDA of 1000mg calcium and 600 IU vitamin D. Is this one OK? How many pills should you give per day?

Five Key Points

• Supplements are drugs, so check with a doctor or pediatric nutritionist before giving them to a child

• Most commonly asked about is a multivitamin, which is generally perfectly safe

• Teach participants how to read labels because all multivitamins (and other supplements) are different

• Supplements are not an acceptable substitute for a healthy and varied diet!