Study finds mismatch between kids and vitamins

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Vitamin supplements are meant to fill-in where diet may be lacking, but a new study finds that U.S. kids may not be getting some of the most needed nutrients from their vitamin pills and the kids taking vitamins may not be the ones who need them the most.

Looking at the diets and supplement use of more than 7,000 kids, researchers found that between the ages of nine and 18 many had low levels of certain vitamins and minerals, and few took supplements, while younger kids had adequate levels of most nutrients and were possibly getting too much of some vitamins and minerals.

Most children under eight, for instance, got the nutrition they needed from the food they ate, regardless of whether or not they took supplements, the study found.

Even with the use of supplements, however, more than a third of children failed to get sufficient calcium and vitamin D. And users sometimes overloaded on essential nutrients such as iron and vitamin A. Zinc and folate were consumed to excess across all age groups.

"We don't know if these excessive amounts cause any harm," said Regan Bailey, a nutritional epidemiologist at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, who led the study. But, Bailey and her coauthors note in The Journal of Pediatrics, their findings suggest that makers of children's vitamins should consider reformulating their products to better match kids' needs and modern diets.

Bailey's team used dietary surveys to assess mineral and vitamin intake among children between the ages of two and 18 who took part in a major government health survey between 2003 and 2006. About 40 percent of children between ages two and eight take a supplement, the study found. Supplement usage was lower among older kids - 29 percent of kids between nine and 13 years old took them and 26 percent of teenagers did.

White children were more likely than their black or Hispanic counterparts to take a supplement, commonly a multivitamin/mineral. Overall, supplement users and nonusers got roughly similar levels of 15 different vitamins and minerals from food sources alone. But users were also more likely to get recommended doses of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin A and vitamin C from food than nonusers.

When supplement use was considered, researchers found users had much better nutrient levels than nonusers. Across all age groups, taking supplements improved intake of calcium and vitamins A, C, D and E. Calcium and vitamin D consumption often fell below recommended levels, however, even among kids who took supplements.

More than a third of kids using supplements did not get enough calcium. The recommended amount is between 200 and 1,000 milligrams a day for children up to age eight, and 1,300 mg per day for kids age nine and up and teens. Most children between ages two and eight who didn't take supplements failed to get adequate levels of calcium and vitamins D and E.

"This is unfortunate," Bailey said. "Calcium and vitamin D are critical during this age for bone growth and development." Teens fell short on several other essential nutrients as well, including magnesium, phosphorus and vitamins A, C and E.

Vitamin E is involved in immune function, vitamin A in vision and bone growth and magnesium promotes nerve function and cellular energy production. At the same time, supplement users were more likely to boost consumption of certain nutrients - such as zinc, folate, iron and vitamin A - above recommended upper limits.

The long-term effects of high doses of these micronutrients in children are unknown, the report noted. The bottom line, Bailey explained, was that for some kids who would have been deficient in some vitamins and minerals, supplements were a help.

"For older children, taking supplements added nutrients for which intake would have been inadequate from food alone," she told Reuters Health. Bailey added that the problem of overloading affected children under age eight the most. The findings highlight the gap between supplement formulations for children and their needs as identified in national research data, Bailey explained.

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Fruit versus vegetables: What's better for kids?

Inspection your child refuse to eat his vegetables day after day can be very discouraging. Not to mention frustrating. Many children have an intense dislike for vegetables but will gladly gobble up a bowl of fruit in 30 seconds flat. Megan Alsford, an accredited practising dietitian from Nutrition Australia, reassures parents that this behaviour is completely normal. “Veggies are often the first foods kids refuse to eat when they start to exert their independence at the dinner table," she says. The key to successfully getting your kids to eat their veggies is “gentle persuasion and persistence”, says Alsford. And, in the meantime, adding a little bit of extra fruit to their diet may not be a bad idea.


Why are vegetables so important?

Vegetables are nutrient-rich and full of fibre. They are very useful to the digestive system and help prevent constipation, which means that kids who eat very little in the way of vegetables can find going to the toilet hard work. “Vegetables also help to prevent diet-related diseases like diabetes, obesity, heart disease and some cancers," says Alsford. And although it’s fairly rare, children who don't eat vegetables are more at risk of developing a vitamin or mineral deficiency.
Will extra fruit make up for a lack of vegetables?

Both fruit and vegetables are made up of essential nutrients that kids need for growth, good health and development.

“Each fruit and each vegetable has its own unique mix of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals," says Alsford. “To help make sure you capture as many nutrients as possible, you need variety”. If your child’s vegetable intake is not ideal, serving more fruit can help, “as a lot of the nutrients are the same in fruit and vegetables”.

However, warns Alsford, it’s very important to continue to offer children a variety of vegetables every day, and not just the types you know they like. Remember, it can take up to 10 times for kids to try and like a new food.

Are vitamin supplements recommended?

If you are worried that your child is not getting enough nutrients, it’s best to make an appointment to see a dietitan, recommends Alsford, before you decide to administer any vitamin supplements.

“While we can put all the vitamins and minerals into a supplement, we can’t quite get them to act the same as when they come from real foods," says Alsford. Ensuring your child has a balanced diet is definitely the most effective way of giving kids all the nutrients their little bodies need.
Tips to get your kids more interested in vegetables

When it comes to healthy eating, the best thing you can do as a parent is lead by example, says Alsford. “It’s not fair to expect kids to eat foods you won’t eat," she says.

Here are some other ways to help your children increase their veggie intake:

* Offer some veggies to snack on while you are preparing their lunch or dinner – something like a few carrot sticks or a cup of frozen peas always goes down well.
* Offer vegetables as an entre, before the main meal. The more creative your presentation, the better. If your kids are hungry, the chances of them eating their veggies will be greater.
* Try veggies in different ways; some kids like them raw, others prefer them soft-cooked, while others have a preference for partially cooked and slightly crunchy veggies.
* Grate veggies into your kids' favourite meals – bolognaise or other tomato-based sauces can hide grated carrots, zucchini and mushrooms very well. Or you could try mixing chopped cauliflower into plain rice.

The most important tip is to not to make a fuss. Always offer and keep offering vegetables every day, and let your child choose whether he is going to eat them or not. Eventually, you will find a way to give him something he enjoys. Do some experimenting, stay calm and don’t give up.

Thanks: kidspot.com.au/familyhealth/

Potatoes (non-fried) are healthy for kids

A new research has suggested that consumption of white potatoes (non-fried) by children does not displace other vegetables from their meals.

Instead, it makes their diet rich in nutrients and leads to higher overall diet quality.

White potatoes are significantly higher in potassium, fiber and vitamin C.

Both potassium and fiber were identified as nutrients of concern in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines, released February 2011.

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Can Schools Improve Kids Health by Banning Homemade Lunches?

Some of my friends are circulating this Chicago Tribune article about a public school in Chicago banning homemade lunches. Chicago's solution for the school nutrition conundrum is not a trend, but it brings up a good opportunity to talk about the perpetual hot-potato topic of healthy foods at school.

I’m old enough to remember frantically trying to bake cookies the night before a class party when my daughter was in grade school, only to feel like a failure when I screwed up the recipe—for no-bake cookies, no less—and had to swing by the grocery store to buy prepackaged treats. (Note to those who might be considering making my favorite no-bake cookies—do not use tub margarine because the cookies won’t set.)

Now, there are strict guidelines at most schools and daycares about what type of food can be brought to share with the class. In short, nothing homemade is permitted, because the teachers must be able to clearly discern the ingredients in case of allergies. Less guilt for me, the non-baker, but less fun and more processed food for all the kids’ birthday celebrations.

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