Body and Being
NATURAL SOLUTIONS FOR HEALTH AND BODY CARE
Monthly articles are supplied by guest writers who explore natural solutions to health and well-being issues.
Choosing a multivitamin for your child or teen
by Marci Clow, MS, RD
(July 2005) — Most health professionals now recognize multivitamins as an important component of daily nutrient intake. Still, the majority of our population does not consume a nutrient-rich varied diet. Of particular concern are children and teenagers. Although certainly not intended to replace a healthful diet, multivitamins can help fill in nutrient gaps resulting from lack of variety in the diet and reliance on highly processed fast and convenience foods.
With the assortment of multivitamins available in the marketplace, choosing the appropriate product to suit the needs of your child or teen can be a daunting task, but with the right tools it doesn’t have to be.
There are many products available designed to meet the particular needs of specific age groups. Look for products that are labeled with recommended dosages for children under 4, and children ages 4 to 12, as nutrient requirements vary between these age groups. Total nutrient needs are greater for pre-teens and teenagers than at any other time of life (except for during pregnancy and lactation).
Unfortunately teenagers are also the most likely group to make unhealthy food choices. While supplements aren’t designed to replace a healthful diet, products that specifically address the demands of teen development, including diet, energy needs, stress levels and skin health, are the ideal choice.
Serving size and delivery form also play a key role in selecting products for children and teens. It is important to look at how many tablets are needed to provide the stated nutrient potencies. When nutrients are ingested at intervals throughout the day, the body tends to absorb more, but if you know your child will only take one tab, choose a one-per-day product, rather than a three-per-day product.
If your child does not swallow tablets, look for an alternative delivery system such as chewable, gummy or powdered multivitamins. For infants and very young children, a powder mixed into their favorite beverage or food is the best option.
Another important factor to consider is purity. Many products available in the marketplace are loaded with sugar, artificial colors, flavors, preservatives and other unnecessary additives. Some of these may have side effects or pose potential toxicity with long-term usage. Look for natural products that contain only mineral and plant-based excipients, rather than a laundry list of unnecessary additives.
Also look for products that clearly label potential allergens such as wheat, lactose and soy, and that are free of refined sugars. Fructose, a natural fruit sugar scientifically proven to have minimal effect on blood sugar, is a preferred sweetener, as are natural fruit flavors and rice syrup.
Finally, learn about the brand you decide to purchase. Do they have qualified scientists developing the formulas that are based on nutritional research for the ingredients they use? Does the company represent good ethical practices? What is their formulating philosophy? When it comes to choosing supplements, the reputable name of the brand does matter, and you do get what you pay for.
Marci Clow has been with Rainbow Light Nutritional Systems for over six years and is currently the company’s product information manager. She is board-certified as a registered dietitian with the American Dietetic Association and has a master’s degree in Nutritional Science.
This information is intended for educational purposes only. It is not provided in order to diagnose, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease, illness or injury. Those individuals suffering from any disease, illness or injury should consult with their healthcare provider.
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