Toxin Alert: Are You Overdosing Your Kids on Supplements?

A recent study in research published by the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine has stirred up important questions about supplements in regards to children. Could children possibly be getting too much of a good thing when it comes to vitamins and other nutritional supplements?

Here’s what the experts had to say.

Eating Healthy Is Crucial

The study discovered that many parents, for fear that their children are not getting enough of their dietary supplements in their meals, are giving children as young as three years old vitamin supplements. While a children’s daily vitamin will not harm a child, additional supplements, when taken along with daily vitamins or in excess of the standard dose, can cause some harmful side effects. There have been reports of digestive problems, headaches and even cases of pains in children who are given too many nutritional supplements. Most pediatricians will not advise anything other than a children’s vitamin for a child who is generally healthy.

Iron And Vitamin C

Many children’s supplements are fortified with iron or Vitamin C. Vitamin C is known to protect the immune system and ward off colds. Iron can help a child who has a lack of energy. A pediatrician will usually advise on these vitamins and even prescribe them for small children. But many children who are otherwise healthy and regularly get a balanced diet may be at risk for getting too much iron and Vitamin C by taking the additional supplements. Because of negative side effects, experts agree that there can be such a thing as too much of a good thing. 

Who Misses Vitamins?

Unfortunately, the study indicated that children who are from low-income families and who may not get a balanced meal are also most likely not to get any vitamin supplements at all. Yet, these are the children who need the vitamins the most. Sadly, they are not getting the daily supplemental dose of the vitamins that they need in order to thrive. 

The study also indicated that while a children’s vitamin is not harmful to the average child, any reaction to the vitamin by the child should be reported right away to the pediatrician. The report also indicated that it is not usually necessary to provide a child with dietary supplements in addition to a multi-vitamin, and because of the potential for side effects, this may do more harm than good. 

It is important to keep your children healthy by making sure that they eat the right foods and supplement with a multi-vitamin so they can get the recommended doses of the vitamins and minerals they need. However, you should discuss any additional supplements (such as Vitamin C tablets or iron) with your pediatrician before administering them to your child.