Does your child need a nutritional backup? How do you know what vitamins and minerals he needs, and what brands to buy? MADELINE LIN helps you navigate the confusing world of kids’ supplements.
ARE VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS REALLY NECESSARY?
Micronutrients – vitamins and minerals – are essential for a child’s growth. A deficiency may result in poorer mental and physical development, and a compromised immune system. In fact, a study in the British Journal of Psychiatry showed that young offenders who were given multivitamins and fatty acid supplements over nine months showed an over 25 per cent decrease in antisocial behaviour. Here are the key micronutrients your child needs:
OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS
Found in oily fish like salmon, tuna, cod and mackerel, pumpkin seeds and flaxseed, omega-3 fatty acids boost brain and eye cell development and are essential for heart and nerve
health, says Dr Dawn Lim, consultant paediatrician at Kinder Clinic.
A study in the Journal of Lipid Research showed a link between Omega-3 fatty acids and improved hand-eye coordination, and reduced learning disorder symptoms in kids.
Get it: • Nature’s Farm Smartfish, $46.90 for 28 sachets, from Nature’s Farm. For kids aged one and above. • Efamol Efalex Chewies, $26 for 60 capsules, from Guardian and Fairprice. For kids aged three and up. • Vitahealth DHA Emulsion, $24.75 (100ml), from Watson’s. For kids aged five and up. • Childlife Essential Fatty Acids, $43.50 (237ml), from GNC. For babies over six months.
MULTIVITAMINS
An all-in-one option for your child’s supplement needs, multivitamins are safe even for babies, says paediatrician Dr Cara Natterson, author of Dangerous or Safe? (Penguin, $50.24, from Kinokuniya).
Most multivitamins contain vitamins A, B, C, D and E, calcium, iron, zinc, potassium, magnesium and manganese. Some may also contain folic acid and vitamin H, which are essential for a kid’s physical and mental development, as well as his overall health. Besides offering an extra boost in times of stress, like during exam periods or flu season, multivitamins are also good for kids who are picky with their food.
Get it: • Pharmanex Jungamals Lifepak for Kids, $71 for 90 tablets. Call 6837-3363 or www.nuskin.com.sg to order. For kids aged two and up. • Bassetts Everyday Health, $15 for 30 pastilles, from Guardian and Fairprice. For kids aged six and up. • Vitahealth Multi-Vitamin Syrup, $21.40 (200ml), from Watson’s. For kids aged one and up. • Shaklee Vita-Lea for Children, $33.75 for 120 tablets, from Watson’s. For kids aged two and up.
OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS
MULTIVITAMINS
