According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, $2 billion is spent each year on supplements in the United States, but many parents are still not sure if their child should be taking them.
An article in February’s issue of Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine observed vitamin and mineral supplement use in children and adolescents, to determine which children in the United States were taking vitamins or mineral supplements on a regular basis. Over 10,000 children between the ages of 2 and 17 years were studied; it was found that more than one-third of them took a vitamin and/or mineral supplement in the previous month.
But when it came to the need for supplementation, researchers found that children who they perceived to not really need vitamin and mineral supplements were more likely to take them, such as those who were healthy, had active lifestyles and enjoyed access to good food and health care. The study also showed that children who would benefit from vitamin and mineral supplements the most were less likely to take them, such as those who had health problems, less active lifestyles and limited access to healthy food or healthcare.
For retailers, this means that parents coming into the store looking for supplementation for their children might already be providing them with the nutrition and healthcare they need—and it would be wise to assess the diet of the individual child to determine what type of supplementation is necessary. On the other hand, retailers who meet parents shopping for their child to fill a nutritional void or address an issue (weight, blood pressure, etc.) might do well to suggest a supplement according to the guidelines set forth by Carolyn Dean, ND, MD, medical director of the National Magnesium Association.
According to Dean, the most effective children’s supplement will contain the following:
- Magnesium: 200mg per day
- Calcium in balance with magnesium: 200mg per day
- Zinc: 2-5mg per day
- Essential fatty acids EPA and DHA: 150-200mg per day of each
- B vitamins in methylated form
- Vitamin C: 200mg per day
- Vitamins A, D and E, in addition to trace minerals
- Non-chewable, liquid form
- Non-sucrose sweeteners
