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CALL them 'pop'' stars.
More and more kids are now popping health supplements in all shapes and sizes, from robots and gummy bears to plain round ones.
| Too much of a good thing?
MULTIVITAMINS have been receiving some bad press recently, with reports saying they might be linked to early prostate cancer.
Most healthcare professionals also warn against over-consumption of supplements on the whole as excessive intake may have side-effects such as nausea and kidney stones.
The common view is to be wary of product claims because they usually cite 'anecdotal' results. 'Trials on vitamins may also not be as stringent and comprehensive as trials on medications like aspirin,' says family physician Dr Melvin Tan.
This gives rise to problems when people buy everything over the counter and mix and match.
'Always read the label and know what you are buying,' advises Dr Tan.
Different products may contain the same ingredients, so even if you are consuming the recommended amounts, you are still in excess of the amount needed daily.
Also, if you are on medication, always check with your doctor before taking supplements because there might be side-effects stemming from interaction between the two.
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Where vitamins are found
Vitamin C
» Fresh fruit or pure juice from fruit such as orange, kiwi and honeydew.
Vitamins A, E, K and folic acid
» Dark green leafy vegetables or red/orange vegetables, or fruit such as spinach, broccoli, carrots, tomato, papaya and mango.
Thiamine and riboflavin
» Cereal or grain products (preferably containing unrefined riboflavin) such as brown rice, oats, barley, breakfast cereals, muesli and wholemeal bread or biscuits.
Vitamin B
» Meat, fish, chicken, liver, egg, milk or cheese. Beans and bean products such as tauhu, taukwa, tempeh, baked beans, chickpeas or dahl.
Vitamins A, D and riboflavin
» Milk and dairy products.
Vitamin E
» Oil, margarine, nuts and seeds.
Source: Department of Nutrition & Dietetics at KK Women's and Children's Hospital
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Whether the reasons are linked to a rising standard of living or parents' protective tendencies, the trend has been growing in the last five years, say industry sources.
Ms Eunice Gan, a manager at medical and healthcare group Raffles Health, says the demand has increased because 'parents want the best - they want everything'.
She says sales for its range of Kidds supplements have risen 15 per cent from last year.
Raffles stocks at least four types of kids products, which cost from $10 to $20 per bottle.
Ms Gan says parents perceive that supplements can bridge the nutritional gap from the consumption of more fast foods as their kids grow older.
Mr Allen Yeo, business development manager of health retail chain Nature's Farm, says sales of supplements for kids have increased a robust 20 per cent in the past few years.
Products on sale range from multivitamins to probiotics and fish oil emulsions or capsules containing Omega 3 essential fatty acids. The latter are reputed to aid in children's brain and visual development.
Other types offer minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc.
Mr James Ong, managing director of local health retail chain VitaKids, says liquid supplements target children from four months.
Gummies and chewable tablets are mostly meant for children above three and, by age 14, they can start consuming supplements at adult dosages.
Most companies say multivitamins are the bestsellers.
Optimum intakes of such nutrients vary. For example, 210mg of calcium daily is enough for kids below six months while those from nine to 13 years require about 1,300mg daily.
But the need for vitamins does not always increase with age.
According to the Department of Nutrition & Dietetics at KK Women's and Children's Hospital, younger children may require larger amounts of certain vitamins like Vitamin D.
As a child gets older and plays outdoors more often, his body is able to make Vitamin D in the presence of sunlight.
The requirement for Vitamin C is constant from birth to adolescence.
Hence, it is always best to check with a doctor or dietitian on the exact requirements for your child.
Dr Cheng Tai Kin of Children's Kinder Clinic says vitamin poisoning does exist although it is very rare.
Parents should always follow the recommended daily allowances (RDAs) stated on the label.
Overdosage usually occurs if a child accidentally swallows too many tablets at a go 'as kids may think they are sweets'', says Dr Irene Chan, a paediatrician at the iKids Paediatric Practice, a member of Pacific Healthcare Group.
Too much vitamin A can harm bones and skin while too much Vitamin D can cause excessive calcium metabolism with muscle and bone aches, nausea and constipation.
Not a must-have
ARE supplements necessary for kids?
Dr Chan's view is that if a child is taking a well-balanced diet with good physical activity and adequate exposure to sunlight, supplements are not a must-have.
Some doctors also say that most processed milk formulas contain the necessary nutrients.
But ask parents and you get a view like the one from Ms Margaret Chee, a civil servant in her 30s and a mother of two daughters, who feels that 'everyone is entitled to his or her own beliefs'.
'We're a lot more knowledgeable than in our parents' time. We are also more product-savvy, being exposed to the media and the types of health supplements available,' says Ms Chee who gives her kids - Danyelle, five, and Donna, four - Vitamin C and multivitamins.
Asked if she has noticed any benefits, she says Vitamin C reduces the occurrence of mouth ulcers in her children.
Administrative manager Carol Lee, 46, guardian of 10-year-old niece Christal Ong, gives her multivitamins and fish oil because 'fresh fruit and vegetables do not appeal to her'.
She feels that many parents resort to supplements to be 'better safe than sorry'.
But if you are shopping for supplements, beware that higher costs do not always equate to better quality.
Ms Sumita Achuthan, a pharmacist at Raffles Hospital, says: 'Generally, the more expensive the vitamins are, the more likely it is that you are being charged for packaging and advertising.'
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