Do they, don't they?
A recent survey has revealed that many parents have confusion when it comes to multivitamins.
Not only do they perceive this area as a complete minefield, but it seems that more often than not, marketing wins over merit.
With the colder weather nipping at our doorsteps now, parents begin to worry about their children's immunity and health.
A recent poll of 500 Irish parents was carried out by
health podcaster and pharmacist Sheena Mitchell of
Wondercare.ie,has shown that when it comes to multivitamins, mums and dads don't know what to believe.
It found that 64% of these parents think their child needs a multivitamin, while 22% are unsure if their child needs one.
85% of parents think it is hard to know which multivitamin is the best for their child, which is no surprise given how many options are available now.
The poll also recorded that 84% of parents don’t know how to identify if their child might have a vitamin deficiency.
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In a bid to demystify the multivitamin market, the mum-of-three has started by stripping it all back to the facts by creating a simple chart of what’s actually in each of the leading multivitamin brands and what your child might actually need, depending on their diet.
Because of the tiny text on the labels of many multivitamins, it can make it harder for parents to make quick but informed decisions, and some multivitamin brands may even require you to peel off the sticker to read the information fully.
That, coupled with attractive marketing that makes vitamins look like sweets, can mean buying the wrong multivitamins for the wrong reasons.
"If you stick a cartoon character on a jar with vitamin jellies inside, your kid is going to want to take them. But before you buy, how do you know if this is a marketing win or if they actually need a multivitamin?
"Parents regularly ask me in the pharmacy if their child really needs a multivitamin, and if so which one? There’s no straightforward answer however, as it all depends on each child’s diet. The content of each multivitamin designed for children varies widely, even within the same range," Sheena advises.
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Identifying a deficiency
When it comes to figuring out if your child actually needs a multivitamin, Sheena shares a number of signs you can look out for, as well as what symptoms usually require what vitamin.
"Signs that your child has moderate deficiency might be a constantly tired child, lacking energy or concentration. Here, it's worth considering a supplement with B vitamins, which support the release of energy from food.
"Tiredness as well as poor sleep quality, headaches, and some restlessness can be linked to a magnesium deficiency.
"If your child is a bit run down, then vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc can help a little bit with immune support. If your child is deficient in iron, you may see symptoms like paleness, irritable behaviour, or a lack of energy."
She advises that a GP will be able to do a full blood panel to identify any vitamin or mineral deficiencies if you have concerns.
In the podcast episode, she breaks down the different brands of multivitamin that can be found in Irish pharmacies in the hopes of helping parents make an informed decision based on their child’s needs.
Sheena hopes that by publishing a free fact-based chart that compares the leading brands of children’s vitamins found in pharmacies nationwide, she can take the hard work out of this for parents.
"No bias, no brand advocacy, just facts."
The
WonderCare.ie multivitamin charts are available on the
wondercare.ie website and social media platforms.
The recently released podcast episodes demystifying multivitamins for children can be found
here and on all listening platforms.
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