Why Don't Children's Vitamins Have Iron Or Potassium In Them?

According to MayoClinic.com, experts are divided on whether children need multivitamins at all, much less vitamins with added iron and potassium. Most children's vitamins do have sufficient amounts of iron but lack any significant amounts of potassium. Children need much less of these minerals than adults do, so many children's multivitamins excludes these two nutrients.

Iron

Iron is a common mineral in children's diets. Children ages 1 to 3 need 7 mg daily, while children 4 to 8 need 10 mg. Preteens and children who have not entered puberty should get 8 mg daily. Iron is dangerous for children in large doses and can even cause death from poisoning. According to the National Institutes of Health, children tend to get enough iron primarily from beef, chicken and fish, so they do not need additional iron. For example, one 3-oz. serving of beef tenderloin contains 3 mg of iron, most of their daily intake in just one meal.

Potassium

Potassium is another mineral that is common in a variety of food. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, children between ages 2 and 5 need 1.5 g of potassium, while children 6 to 9 need 1.6 g. Older children and preteens should aim for 2 g daily. Like iron, potassium is dangerous for children in large amounts. Potassium is found in every type of meat and fish, most fruits and vegetables, and dairy products, so children who eat a balanced diet are exposed to sufficient amounts of the mineral daily; therefore, it does not need to be included in a children's vitamin.

Vitamins Children Need

Children do occasionally need additional vitamins and minerals from a multivitamin. If they do not spend much time outside, they will need additional vitamin D to support calcium absorption and bone growth. Children are also exposed to large numbers of germs in school and on the playground, so it can be wise to support their immune system with the antioxidants vitamin A and C. Finally, you may wish to supplement your child's rapidly growing skeleton with calcium.

Specific Supplements

Children should get all of the potassium, iron and other nutrients they need from a well-balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables and lean protein. In addition, many children's foods, like cereal, milk and juice, are fortified with additional vitamins and minerals. You may need specific supplements for iron if your child is on a vegetarian or vegan diet, since iron is found primarily in animal products. If your child has an eating disorder or food allergies that limit her diet choices, talk to your doctor about adding in an iron or potassium supplement to support a multivitamin.