Multivitamin Use in Children: Benefits, Risks, and Expert Guidelines

The Role of Multivitamins in Supporting Children’s Growth

The debate over whether or not to take a multivitamin has raged for many years. However, research suggests that children, especially those who may not receive all the necessary nutrients from their diet, may benefit from taking a multivitamin (1). Due to their rapid growth and development, children have greater nutritional needs than adults and may require more specific minerals to support their developing bodies. When children are picky about what they eat or experience a growth spurt, they may not eat a well-rounded diet. If children are not receiving enough nutrients, multivitamin supplementation may be an effective strategy to fill the nutritional gap to enhance growth and boost immunity.

Essential Vitamins and Their Functions

Dr. Rajiv Chabbra advocated for vitamin D supplementation in all children up to the age of one, as they are not well-exposed to sunlight. Vitamin D is crucial in children as it helps strengthen bone formation and development (2). Supplementation in children is necessary, as Vitamin D deficiency can lead to delayed motor development and muscle weakness. Younger children not given Vitamin D supplementation are likely to suffer from bone fractures (13). Vitamin D is crucial in ensuring strong bone formation by helping in bone mineralization with calcium.

Nutrient needs in children may vary depending on factors such as sex, size, growth stage, activity level, and age. Multivitamins are generally safe among the population but carry potential risks (3). Its supplementation in HIV and AIDs improves the prognosis of the condition (4).

The health practitioner, Dr. Rajiv Chabbra, advised that vitamin D supplementation at older ages is unnecessary unless under exceptional circumstances. These include starving people without proper nutrition and adequate food for months, low-income families, and picky eaters. The placebo effects of vitamins can make people less predisposed to infections (5). Vitamin D supplementation is essential in these cases to ensure proper bone development and mineralization.

Dr. Rajiv Chabbra commented that most children in the UK do not necessarily need multivitamin supplementation. Some researchers argue that multivitamins do not provide many health benefits (6). However, vitamins and minerals such as calcium are essential nutrients the body requires in small quantities to facilitate efficient functioning. Many people choose to take supplements, not knowing that taking them in excess could be detrimental to their health.

Some researchers discuss the placebo effect in children, which may be crucial in understanding children’s behavior (7). Most children come from wealthy families and, therefore, have access to a balanced diet. A balanced diet provides these children with essential minerals; therefore, supplementing them is unnecessary (8). Picky eaters are more prone to mineral deficiencies than children fed a properly balanced diet.

Vitamin B12 is essential for the proper functioning of the human body. It is crucial for forming red blood cells; thus, a deficiency of vitamin B12 causes megaloblastic anemia (9). Other symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency would encompass weakness, tiredness, shortness of breath, and cardiovascular problems (14).

Its supplementation is recommended for individuals on a strict vegetarian diet, patients with digestive disorders, breastfeeding mothers, and pregnant women (16). Most people meet the requirements without vitamin B12 supplementation. Proper nutrition is essential for maintaining cognitive function, which in turn ensures the child excels academically (17).

Fatigue can significantly contribute to exam failure among young learners (18). Dr. Rajiv Chabbra suggested that in the past, doctors often preferred to give children antibiotics and multivitamin supplementation. The doctors perceived that the children deficient in vitamins were immunocompromised and thus prone to bacterial infections. Dr. Rajiv Chabbra did not prefer giving children multivitamin supplementation unless under particular circumstances.

Risks and Toxicity of Vitamin Overuse

Vitamins A and D are highly toxic to the body when consumed in excessive quantities. These vitamins are fat-soluble, and thus, they can quickly accumulate in the body tissues to toxic levels (22). Water-soluble vitamins, such as the vitamin B complex, do not cause toxicity easily because they can be excreted in urine to avoid accumulating poisonous levels. Vitamin D toxicity leads to an increase in serum calcium, known as hypercalcemia. Hypercalcemia causes nausea, vomiting, frequent urination, and generalized body weakness.

During the coronavirus pandemic, people took vitamins and zinc supplements without a doctor’s prescription, even when not recommended. No research has been done to prove their benefit in relieving the symptoms of coronavirus infection (23). People were taking these supplements to save their lives, yet there was no proven benefit in eliminating the disease. This led to a pharmacological overdose of these supplements, making them accumulate to toxic levels that are detrimental to human health.

Vitamin C is a crucial component in protecting the integrity of the immune system. White blood cells are essential for fighting off infections, and Vitamin C helps synthesize them (15). Vitamin C’s primary function is to protect cells from oxidative stress, which can harm cells and lower the immune system. A person’s body can more effectively absorb vitamin C from natural sources like fruits and vegetables than from a supplement. It is because many vitamin C-rich foods come from sources that include chemicals that aid the immune system.

Vitamin supplements may include various substances, including colors and preservatives. These ingredients are added to supplements to make them more aesthetically pleasing or to differentiate between several types or brands of supplements (3). They are not necessary to add nutritional value to vitamin C supplements.

It is crucial to remember that avoiding supplements that contain certain colorants may be necessary for some individuals due to sensitivity or allergy. It is common to find alternatives in these categories that use natural colorants or none at all. Whether or not to take a vitamin supplement that contains colors should depend on personal choice and any relevant health issues.

Guidelines for Supplementation and Expert Recommendations

As someone who values excellent health, I believe it is essential for people to understand the importance of vitamins. Human bodies support several physiological processes, including immunity, cognition, and energy regulation. Although taking too many specific vitamins is possible, doing so in the prescribed doses is usually harmless. Many individuals do not receive enough of particular vitamins, especially if they have a restricted diet or a health condition that hinders the absorption of nutrients.

Daniel Clark, General Manager at Nutriburst Vitamins in the United Kingdom, discussed the various recommendations for multivitamin supplementation across different countries. The standard diet of British children should include all the necessary nutrients (24). However, there can be times when a child needs to take a multivitamin. 

A multivitamin may benefit a child with a weak appetite or a medical condition preventing them from absorbing nutrients properly. It may also benefit children who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, as they may be deficient in specific nutrients. Parents should visit a child’s physician or a certified dietician before giving the child a multivitamin supplement.

To ensure they receive everything they need for good health, individuals in England and India often take multivitamins as a supplement to their regular diet. Yet, multivitamin availability and usage may vary somewhat across the two nations (24). Supplements containing many vitamins and minerals are readily available in England, where they can be purchased without a prescription at any drugstore, grocery store, or health food store. People can buy a multivitamin at any drugstore or supermarket in India.

The desire of individuals in India and England to purchase multivitamins might vary widely based on various variables, such as their own opinions about the efficacy of supplements, their perceptions of their own need for supplements, and the price (25). The frequency of specific dietary shortages, the accessibility and cost of other sources of nutrients, and other variables may all have a role in the Indian population’s propensity to purchase multivitamins.

Similar considerations, as well as the perceived efficacy of supplements and the availability of information about their benefits and risks, may influence the purchase of multivitamins in England. The price of multivitamins may also turn away some individuals.

Breastfeeding has several benefits, including protecting newborns from vitamin deficits. Breast milk provides infants with all the vitamins, minerals, and other elements necessary for optimal growth and development. Vitamin D is crucial for maintaining a healthy immune system and for building and maintaining strong bones and teeth. Since breast milk is a good source of vitamin D, it helps protect breastfed infants from vitamin D deficiency. Vitamins A, C, and E may also be present in breast milk and are essential for healthy eyes, immune systems, and neurological systems.

Children’s healthy growth and development depend on adequate intakes of vitamins A, C, and D. The eyes require vitamin A to maintain the health of their cornea and other tissues. It aids the immune system in fighting off infections and is hence crucial (27).

Vitamin C is another vital component in the formation of collagen, which helps keep skin and other tissues healthy. Strong bones start in childhood, and calcium absorption is aided by vitamin D in children. Children under 5 have a higher risk of being vitamin deficient, so ensuring they receive enough vitamins A, C, and D is crucial during this period of rapid growth and development.

Low sun exposure is a significant contributor to vitamin D insufficiency. Children in India are at risk for vitamin D insufficiency due to limited sunlight exposure (26). Vitamin D deficiency is a significant health concern for children due to its link to rickets and other bone-weakening conditions. Children in India are often advised to take vitamin D supplements to help avoid deficiency. Parents should consult a doctor before prescribing a vitamin D supplement to a child to ensure the correct dosage is administered.

There has been a rapid rise in the sales of children’s vitamin products in recent years. This increase may be attributed to the rising frequency of vitamin deficiencies in children and the increasing awareness of the significance of proper nutrition for their development and health (25). Children require specific nutrients, including vitamins and minerals, to reach their full potential. Due to concerns about their children’s diets, many parents are exploring dietary supplements.

Multivitamins, minerals, and specialized supplements designed explicitly for children comprise the majority of the children’s vitamin industry. Many parents augment their children’s diets with vitamins to ensure they receive all the necessary nutrients. Many parents do this because they worry about their children’s diets or believe their children are not receiving enough nutrients from the meals they consume. However, it is essential to remember that multivitamins are not meant to replace a healthy diet. However, care should be taken when providing children with vitamin supplements, as excessive intake of specific vitamins can be harmful.

Multivitamin supplementation is crucial, but it must be administered with care. Parents considering giving their child a multivitamin should consult their child’s pediatrician or a qualified nutritionist. They may help decide whether a supplement is necessary, what kind, and how much should be given to the child. It is worth stressing that multivitamins are not meant to replace a balanced diet. It is essential to encourage children to consume a varied diet to ensure they obtain all the necessary nutrients.

Tarun Kapoor, who works at Nutriburst, suggested that nutrient supplementation is unnecessary if parents cook healthy foods for their children. Vitamin D, D3, and K2 are essential for the growing child (28). The vitamin D family, which includes vitamin D3 and K2, all play a critical part in maintaining health. They are particularly crucial for children since they help them develop and grow.

Vitamin D is essential for a healthy immune system, as well as for the growth and maintenance of strong teeth and bones. Children need vitamin D to help absorb calcium, which is essential for developing strong bones. One form of vitamin D generated by sun exposure is vitamin D3. Vitamin K2 is essential for various bodily functions, including bone and tooth development, as well as proper blood clotting.

Each of the polyunsaturated fats —omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 —plays a vital role in maintaining health. Children, in particular, need them since they are crucial for healthy brain growth and function during childhood (10). Polyunsaturated lipid omega-3 fatty acids are crucial in maintaining cognitive function (11). They help produce neurotransmitters that aid in transmitting messages between neurons in the brain; therefore, they play a vital role in maintaining cognitive performance. Prostaglandins are produced in part from omega-6 fatty acids and have a role in regulating several biological functions (12). Eicosanoids enhance brain function and cannot be made without omega-9 fatty acids.

Vitamin Products and Market Trends

The Sugar Bear Hair chewable vitamins maintain healthy skin, hair, and nails. Many industries have adopted gummies as a more effective way of marketing vitamin supplements to children (19). Many flavors of vitamin-chewable supplements help attract customers (20). Manufacturers have devised strategies to market their products, aiming to counter the notion that purchasing supplements is a waste of money (21).

The Sugar Bear Hair products include a proprietary combination of vitamins, minerals, and other elements proven to support skin, hair, and nail condition (29). The multivitamin candies’ formulation utilizes natural flavors and colors, complemented by an attractive design. Due to the brand’s social media promotion, Sugar Bear Hair’s popularity has increased, particularly among young people.

Vitamin C supplementation has been linked to improved energy levels, enhanced physical performance, and reduced weariness. Further studies are needed to elucidate the relationship between vitamin C and energy levels. It is crucial to remember that the effects of vitamin C on energy levels may vary from person to person (27). Children, like adults, are encouraged to meet their nutritional needs by eating a wide variety of foods rather than relying solely on supplements.

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