Though A Booming Industry, Vitamin Supplementation For Kids May Be Excessive

May 4, 2010: 09:04 PM EST

Sales of children’s dietary supplements reached $1.1 billion in 2008, and are growing at a rate of 4% to 6% a year, but some experts say many kids just don’t need them. No one disputes the fact that all children need good nutrition. But parents may be overdoing supplementation. Nutrition is best gained through food, according to pediatricians and nutritionists: a good, balanced diet doesn’t require vitamin supplementation. Taken in excessive doses, some supplements like vitamin A can even be harmful, while the benefits of some supplements for children, like omega-3s, have been exaggerated. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission recently warned 13 companies about making hyped-up claims about the benefits of omega-3 supplements for children, though a group representing supplement makers says most companies “are doing a great job" on safety.

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Though A Booming Industry, Vitamin Supplementation For Kids May Be Excessive

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