Vitamin supplements for children, are they necessary?

The vitamin supplements for children and for adults, are a medicine that must be prescribed by the family doctor or pediatrician. Starting from this base, supplementing the infant diet with vitamin complexes without a medical reason that supports it does not suppose any benefit for your health, but

The vitamin supplements for children and for adults, are a medicine that must be prescribed by the family doctor or pediatrician. Starting from this base, supplementing the infant diet with vitamin complexes without a medical reason that supports it does not suppose any benefit for your health, but it can become counterproductive. We tell you why.

Do children need vitamin supplements?

Once the complementary feeding has been introduced, the child obtains its micronutrients not only from the milk, but also from the rest of the foods that make up his diet, hence the importance of introducing foods rich in iron, since breast milk is something poor in this mineral.

Vitamin supplements provide vitamins, minerals and trace elements, as well as omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids that may be lacking in the diet. Ideally, and if your child's diet contains, in general, fruits and vegetables that provide vitamins and minerals, rice and pasta-preferably whole-of those who obtain energy, meat and eggs from which to obtain amino acids and fish and / or nuts that provide essential fatty acids, is quite likely to have everything you need.

However, sometimes inadequate eating habits have an impact on the health of the child, making external intake of some micronutrients necessary, although it is necessary to evaluate each case individually and follow the recommendation of the pediatrician.

Exclusively breastfed babies, as well as those who are exclusively fed formula milk, meet their needs for vitamins and minerals from milk, so el the external intake of vitamins is not justified.Only in cases of premature babies or with any medical condition

it is advisable to supplement your diet, although it will be the pediatrician or the neonatologist who recommends it. Beware of vitamin supplements for children

Vitamin complexes can be problematic for several reasons: El - The excess of some vitamins, especially liposoluble, and minerals, accumulates in the body, and may reach

endanger health

. Vitamins A and D in particular, consumed in excess, are very toxic to the brain, bones, kidneys and liver among other organs. A - Contributing externally these compounds can encourage the consumption of a less healthy diet,since with the excuse that enough vitamins are already consumed, fruits and vegetables, necessary in the diet for other reasons besides their contribution of micronutrients, as their fiber contribution. El - The harmonic functioning of the organism is not only achieved with the contribution of macro and micronutrients from the diet, but also with the maintenance of a stable intestinal flora that collaborates with the immune system when it comes to fighting infections. Using vitamin supplements can

compromise this bacterial contribution and destabilize the balance of the microflora , making the organism more susceptible to external agents.