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Some of the common questions that parents have are whether their child is getting the recommended amount of vitamins and minerals through their diet or whether the child will benefit from taking nutritional supplements.

The best source of nutrients is a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, adequate amounts of protein, fiber and carbohydrates, and limited amounts of processed sugar. This diet is sufficient to meet the child’s needs for vitamins and minerals. A balanced diet optimizes the child’s growth and development, while a less healthy diet can have negative short-term or long-term consequences on health as well as school performance.

What are dietary supplements?

Dietary supplements are products intended to enhance the amount of vitamins and minerals ingested through daily diet. Some supplements include a single vitamin or mineral, while others contain vitamin or mineral complexes. Other popular supplements are probiotics (live bacteria and yeasts that are naturally found in the intestinal tract), prebiotics (a broader category of carbohydrates found in plant fibers and are “food” for probiotics), symbiotics (a combination of probiotics and prebiotics). Omega-3 fatty acids or fish oil, proteins/amino acids, and herbs are also dietary supplements.

When are they needed?

Nutritional supplements must be administered to specific groups of children at risk of low nutrient intake, such as:

•    Children with eating disorders (anorexia nervosa or bulimia), children who follow restrictive diets.
•    Children with a specific diet (e.g. vegetarians or children with food allergies who follow a diet that excludes foods such as dairy).
•    Children with chronic diseases who have increased basic needs for nutrients, e.g. gastrointestinal malabsorption syndromes, metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, liver diseases and other diseases.
•    Children who exercise intensely and do not eat properly.
•    Children who are exclusively breastfed for more than 6 months.

Are they safe?

Although many dietary supplements come from natural sources, “natural” does not necessarily mean “safe.”
Some supplements may be of poor quality or contaminated with drugs, chemicals, or metals.

Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) when taken in amounts greater than the recommended daily allowance (RDA) can be toxic.

Some supplements may interact with medications that the child is already taking or have side effects of their own.

Dietary supplements of unknown origin or composition from mainly Asian countries based on traditional / “folk” medicine of these countries have at times been implicated in acute liver necrosis, lead poisoning, and other side effects and should therefore be avoided.

Some homeopathic products are promoted as substitutes for immunization but have not been proven to protect children from disease. Vaccination remains the main recommendation for immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases.

In conclusion

Healthy children with a balanced diet do not need nutritional supplements. No preparation is completely harmless and before administering it, the advice of a pediatrician, pediatric gastroenterologist or nutritionist is necessary. The best way to absorb nutrients is through the foods themselves.