Available naturally in food and a well-balanced diet, vitamins are natural ingredients for your body's normal growth, development and function. However, when food is depleted of vital nutrients or you need an extra dose to receive the required vitamins--during illness, pregnancy and childhood--multivitamins are prescribed.
The 2007 Declaration of nutrition, health and intelligence for the child-to-be, reported in Nutrition and Health, states, "the nutrients implicated in healthy reproduction and lifelong health include B vitamins, particularly B1, B6, folate, B1312 antioxidants, particularly vitamins C and E: minerals such as iron, zinc, magnesium, selenium, iodine, and copper; and essential fatty acids, particularly DHA." The B complex vitamins have several functions in carbohydrate metabolism, vitamin C and E are antioxidants, zinc aids immunity, and calcium and magnesium are essential for bones, nerves and muscles. These nutrients ensure that your child has a lower risk of disorders like autism, dyslexia, Down syndrome or childhood cancers and obesity. To this end, children need to be fed properly during their growing years and long school days. So, supplements are inevitable unless your child is used to taking whole grains, fruits and vegetables, fish and milk.
Vitamin D has potential anticancer activity. This vitamin is below normal levels in many children in North America and Europe. Rickets can affect dark-skinned infants who are being breastfed for prolonged periods without vitamin supplementation. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 200 IU of vitamin D each day for breastfed infants and older children that are not used to drinking 500 mL of fortified milk daily. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in children. A 2008 study in Pediatric Blood and Cancer advises prenatal consumption of multivitamin supplements by pregnant mothers to prevent any risk of cancers among their children.
What to Look for
Choose multivitamins for your infants that have a combination of vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin D, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, vitamin B12 and vitamin E, along with added iron (unless they were given iron-fortified cereals to prevent anemia).
You may want to supplement the children's multivitamin intake with omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) for brain health and nerve function, in general. If your child has special health needs, why not pay a visit to your doctor, nutritionist or dietitian to ensure you buy the correct supplements.
Common Pitfalls
To avoid counterfeit products, it is advisable to purchase high-quality children's vitamins from a reputed health food store. Make sure the medication is not outdated.
Let your doctor and pharmacist know if your child is allergic to multivitamins or any other drugs, or if they are already taking prescription and nonprescription medications and any other vitamins. Do not give multivitamins available in high-dose formulations (therapeutic multivitamins) or in combination with iron, calcium and minerals without your doctor's advice.
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