CALLING ALL PARENTS!
Whether your child is a picky eater, a tornado of energy, having trouble focusing at school or struggling with poor immunity, there are lots of reasons why you might be considering a multivitamin and mineral supplement for them. We want our kids to enjoy healthy growth, sharp minds, strong immunity and adequate nutrient levels, but do kids really need a supplement? Shouldn’t they be getting everything they need from food?
To answer this question, we need to first look at nutritional challenges among children and young people. In Australia, a 2021 national survey of children under the age of 2 years old, found that inadequate levels of both iron and zinc are concerningly common.1 A recent comprehensive dietary survey of children and adolescents in 2013 found that, on average, Australian kids did not meet the minimum intake requirements for a range of food groups. Some of the results are shown below.
Children and Adolescents Between the Ages of 2-18 Years:
⊲ Do not meet the recommended minimum requirements for vegetable intake.
⊲ Do not meet the recommended minimum requirements for fruit intake.2
It is also known that ultra-processed foods, and/or foods high in fat, sugar and salt appear in excess in the diets of many children, especially fussy and restrictive eaters.3
Given that the energy and micronutrient demands are very high for kids, due to their growth and development, these poor dietary patterns often result in fatigue, trouble with focus and concentration, slow growth and behavioural problems.4 Kids multivitamins are, therefore, a particularly important consideration.
Even with their parent’s best intentions, some kids may not be getting everything they need from food, and a well-formulated kids multivitamin supplement can be a great tool for ‘filling in the gaps’, nutritionally speaking. But with so many kids multivitamins products available, what do you need to look for? Here are our top 4 tips for making your selection:
1. A COMPREHENSIVE FORMULA
Make sure you choose a multi with a complete suite of both vitamins and minerals, including B-group vitamins, iron, zinc, iodine and vitamin D3. This will ensure that the supplement is truly ‘filling in the gaps’.
2. WHOLEFOOD ADDITIONS
A truly comprehensive kids multi will also include wholefoods rich in micronutrients. Look out for antioxidant-rich berries, like bilberry, cranberry, strawberry and raspberry; cruciferous vegetables, including broccoli, radish, cauliflower, cabbage, rocket and watercress; and other nutrient-dense additions such as beetroot, parsley and tomato.
3. BIOAVAILABILITY
In choosing the best absorbed and utilised formulations for kids, prioritise formulations that specify nutrients as ‘bioavailable’, ‘methylated’ or ‘activated’. This could include activated B-vitamins and chelated minerals, as well as food sources of key nutrients.
4. A SUITABLE FORM AND DOSE
Kids can rarely successfully swallow tablets or capsules, and fussy kids may turn up their noses at liquids and powders. A delicious, chewable formulation with easy, age-appropriate dosing, will keep the kids happy, providing everything they need.
In many cases, a well-chosen kids multivitamin can support mental function, growth and development and a healthy immune system, especially where diets are less than perfect, giving parents peace of mind and kids the very best of health.
*References available on request.
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