Recently in clinic I discussed supplements with a mum. She told me that she gave her children multi-vitamin and fish oil gummies. I decided to check these out and here’s what I found: Over-the-counter, ‘cheap’ brands are often not the most economical solution.
Omega 3
Children’s Omega 3 Gummies
The recommended daily dose for children aged 2+ is 2 gummies. Two of these gummies contain nearly 1 teaspoon of sugar. The additive 330, Citric Acid is known to cause tooth erosion (consider these are chewable gummies) and aggravate Coeliac Disease.
The amount of actual EPA – 10 mg and DHA – 32mg is negligible when compared to quality supplements prescribed by qualified Naturopaths:
For children: EPA – 162.5mg; DHA – 112.5 mg
For infants: EPA – 350mg; DHA – 485mg (as well as Vitamins A & D)
The cost for the Supermarket brand: $14.50 for 60 gummies. Taking the recommended dose of 2 gummies/day = $.48c/day
To achieve the therapeutic dose, your child would need to take 16 gummies a day costing $3.84/day but also giving your child 8 teaspoons of sugar!!!
The high quality brand would cost you $0.50/day giving your child a balanced Omega 3 intake supporting healthy brain and body function.
Multivitamin gummies
The cost of the supermarket brand is $14.50 for 60 gummies @ 2/day = $0.48c daily
Comparison of quantities between the Gummies and quality supplements highlights the difference in quality:
| Gummies | Therapeutic quality |
| Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate) # 200 mcg | Betacarotene 600 mcg |
| None | Thiamine B1 2 mg |
| None | Riboflavin B2 1mg |
| Nicotinamide B3 4.5mg | Nicotinamide B3 12mg |
| None | Calcium Pantothenate B5 15mg |
| None | Pyridoxine hydrochloride B6 3mg |
| Cynocobalamin B12 0.25mcg | Cynocobalamin B12 10mcg |
| None | Folinic Acid B9 50mcg |
| Biotin 37.5mcg | Biotin 50mcg |
| Ascorbic Acid 15mg | Ascorbic Acid 80mg |
| Cholecalciferol Vit D3 ** 1.25mcg | Not included here |
| dl-alpha Tocopheryl acetate Vit E # 2.5mg | d-alpha Tocopheryl acid succinate 25mg |
| Various powders – spinach, tomato, artichoke, carrot & beetroot – each 5mg | Not included in this product |
| None | Calcium citrate 200mg |
| None | Iron amino acid chelate 6mg |
| None | Zinc amino acid chelate 15mg |
| None | Magnesium amino acid chelate 100mg |
| None | Manganese amino acid chelate 3mg |
| None | Potassium citrate 55mg |
The above product is not a balanced supplement as it is missing several of the B-vitamins which should always be taken as a complex. Furthermore, you will note the significantly lower quantities contained in the gummy brand.
A balanced ‘multi’ should include minerals to assist absorption and metabolism of all nutrients.
Interestingly, the label did not provide any information about sugar content.
The price of the supermarket gummies is $14.50 for 60 gummies @ 2/day = $0.48c daily
Supermarket gummies: taking 6/day to reach therapeutic doses on most vitamins = $1.44 a day
Quality brand: $.80c/day
Recommendation:
It is both more economical and beneficial to your child’s health to have them:
- assessed by a qualified naturopath and, should supplementation be recommended,
- to purchase quality products which provide therapeutic dosages of easily metabolised ingredients
** Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin and is best taken with other fats such as Omega 3 and Vitamin A
# The form of Vitamin A used (Retinyl Palmitate) and Vitamin E are both synthetic and not readily metabolised by the body.