What Are the Possible Dangers of Vitamins and Supplements to Children?

vitamins supplements American Academy of Pediatrics AAP George Fuchs Rachel Dawkins MD Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine Clinic Vitamins for children Supplements for children

By Camille Hutchison , Parent Herald Sep 06, 05:23 am

Nowadays, vitamins appear like candy-coated pills or gummies as it is one of the ways to give a child enough nutrients they need to stay healthy. But some vitamins are only a waste of money as there are cases in which they can harm children.

The leading authority on children's health in the United States, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), do not suggest multivitamin for kids as megadoses of vitamins can be toxic. Parents do not have enough knowledge when buying a vitamin or supplement.

George Fuchs, a pediatric gastroenterologist at the University of Kentucky and member of AAP's Committee of Nutrition, told Fatherly that children need to have vitamins A, B, C, D, and K, which they can easily get from food. Numerous food is fortified with different vitamins so that even picky eaters can get the needed nutrients.

Vitamins and supplements also pose a danger to children, especially when parents give more than the recommended levels of vitamins, which can have serious consequences. Also, Mayo Clinic says that vitamins can meddle with a kid's certain medications.

Some vitamins may not be safe and necessary for the child

Fuchs explained that if a child gets a heavy overdose of water-soluble vitamins such as vitamin B, they will just pee it all out. Fat-soluble vitamins like A and D will be stored in the body and gradually released over time, but it has a huge possibility of establishing toxic levels in the blood, while excessive taking of vitamin A can lead to vomiting, brain swelling, and distorted vision. Nausea and vomiting, liver damage, and extreme levels of calcium in the blood can mainly damage the heart's function due to vitamin D overdose.

Adults, especially parents, do not know what nutrients kids get from the supplements they have purchased. Consumer Labs, a company that independently examines health and nutrition products, determined that 46 percent of multivitamins in the market do not indicate all ingredients, which is dangerous, especially to children. Some tested supplements are found to have levels of nutrients, folic acid, which is far above what is recommended for children.

Do kids need to have vitamins and supplements?

According to a 2012 national survey, almost 12 percent of children in the United States, including teens, use dietary supplements for weight loss or bodybuilding. Numerous dietary supplements have not been tested for children as their bodies are still not fully developed, which can be dangerous as the side effects on children and adults may differ. Moreover, such dietary supplements contain harmful prescription drug ingredients and controlled substances.

Dr. Rachel Dawkins, director of the Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine Clinic, says that children do not need vitamins but notes that every kid is different and has different needs. Parents should consult their pediatrician if they want to give their children vitamins.

Dawkins clarifies that there are exceptions in terms of vitamins and supplements. Infants and breastfed infants need vitamin D supplementation, while premature infants may be prescribed a multivitamin with iron before getting discharged from the hospital.

According to Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, parents must ensure kids are consuming a colorful variety of fruits and vegetables to get the nutrients they need.