Questions about multivitamins are very common. Children’s multivitamins and prenatal vitamins can be particularly confusing categories. Here are a few things to consider when counseling parents and patients.
There’s no standard or regulatory definition for “multivitamins'' in the US. Product formulations vary significantly. In fact, a recent study reviewed formulations of 288 children’s multivitamin products. Fifty-six percent of the products containing vitamin D didn’t provide even half of what is necessary to meet daily needs. And none of the potassium-containing products met daily requirements. Conversely, 49% of the folic acid-containing products provided amounts above upper tolerable intake levels (UL). And most multivitamins contained 16 additional nutrients that most children already obtain from the diet in adequate amounts.
If parents ask you about multivitamins for kids, specifically toddlers and up, tell them to consider their diet first. If possible, it’s best to address potential nutritional gaps through dietary changes. The American Academy of Pediatrics currently states that children receiving a well-balanced diet don’t need a multivitamin. They also recommend against giving children products containing vitamin megadoses due to potential toxic effects. If parents still wish to give their child a supplement, tell them to check product labels closely to ensure they include enough, but not too much, of certain nutrients like vitamin D, iron, potassium, calcium, folic acid, and zinc. And remind parents to look for products verified by a third party, like USP, to ensure that what’s on the product label is what’s actually in the bottle. Also, keep in mind that nutritional needs for infants aren’t the same as older children. Parents should talk to their pediatrician before giving any supplements to infants.
If you get questions about prenatal vitamins, tell patients their best bet is to look for products that meet dietary reference intakes (DRIs) during pregnancy. Product formulations vary significantly, and not all products contain the necessary nutrients. Gummy prenatal vitamins are a good example of this because they typically don’t contain iron. Patients who take gummy products may need to obtain enough iron from foods or another supplement.
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The information in this brief report is intended for informational purposes only, and is meant to help users better understand health concerns. This information should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Users should consult with a qualified healthcare provider for specific questions regarding therapies, diagnosis and/or health conditions, prior to making therapeutic decisions. Copyright © 2024 NatMed. Commercial distribution or reproduction prohibited. NatMed is the leading provider of high-quality, evidence-based, clinically-relevant information on natural medicine, dietary supplements, herbs, vitamins, minerals, functional foods, diets, complementary practices, CAM modalities, exercises and medical conditions. Monograph sections include interactions with herbs, drugs, foods and labs, contraindications, depletions, dosing, toxicology, adverse effects, pregnancy and lactation data, synonyms, safety and effectiveness.
