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 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?

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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!