Children’s Vitamins may Contain More than Recommended Dosage

In a study published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics (formerly Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine), wherein researchers examined almost 200 dietary supplements for kids, it was discovered that should these be taken as indicated, majority had more than the recommended amount per vitamin. The vitamins that they took into account were vitamins A, C, D, E, K and B12, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, biotin and choline.

These children’s vitamins were classified into two: those for infants younger than 12 months, and the other for kids between 1 and 4 years old.

The recommended daily allowance (RDA) is normally set by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). The only vitamin that did not go beyond the RDA was vitamin D. Vitamin C, on the other hand, nearly met the RDA for children below 12 months. However, when it came to the segment for older children, the vitamin C dose was as much as five times the RDA.

IOM also emphasized that some children’s bodies may not be able to handle excessive amounts of vitamins. “Much of the pediatric vitamin supplementation is not based on IOM recommendations and therefore represents the wholesale over-supplementation,” said the researchers.