Can You Give Your Kids Liquid Kid’s Vitamins with Vitamin C

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, greater than six percent of American children over the age of six years old are deficient in vitamin C. Obtaining sufficient vitamin C requires getting a balanced diet that contains ample fresh fruits and vegetables. While this seems simple, not all children can or want to eat balanced diets. For many, over-the-counter liquid kid’s vitamins are an alternative to ensure that vitamin C levels are being met.

Understanding Recommendations for Vitamin C
The common vitamin C recommendation for children between the ages of four and eight years old is 25 milligrams each day. For those between the ages of 9 and 13 years, the recommendation increases to 45 milligrams. Teenage boys require 65 milligrams, and adolescent girls should get 75 milligrams.

Vitamin C toxicity is possible, but not common since the upper intake levels are substantial. For most, taking liquid kid’s vitamins that contain vitamin C along with providing balanced meals is safe and healthy.

As opposed to multivitamin formulas, vitamin C supplements can often contain higher dosages than what can be tolerated, leading to side effects that include nausea, gas and diarrhea. Over time, an excess of vitamin C can lead to stomach inflammation and kidney stones. Large amounts of vitamin C can also interfere with the function of certain medications, including aspirin, acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and warfarin, and chemotherapy drugs.

How Vitamin C in Liquid Kid’s Vitamins Can Help
Many consider vitamin C to be beneficial for fighting off common colds and flu. There is certainly evidence pointing to the ability for the vitamin to boost the immune system. However, vitamin C also offers antioxidant benefits to help prevent the following:

• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• High blood pressure
• Cardiovascular disease
• Glaucoma

What Are the Best Sources of Vitamin C?
Of course, the best way for children to obtain vitamin C is from eating a balanced diet that contains foods like citrus, berries, tomatoes, peppers, leafy greens and melons. For those who cannot obtain sufficient amounts of the vitamin in the diet, liquid vitamins for kids can be a safe and convenient alternative. A good place to start when determining whether or not your child requires additional vitamin C through supplementation is with your pediatrician. By evaluating your child’s diet and current health issues, the need for supplementation with liquid kid’s vitamins can be determined.

Liquid Kid’s Vitamins Helping Children with ADHD Get Necessary Nutrients

With three to five percent of all children diagnosed with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), many researchers are looking for effective ways to treat this little understood condition. An increasing amount of research is being conducted in the efficacy of nutritional supplements in combating symptoms of the behavioral disorder.

Currently, many children diagnosed with ADHD are given a combination of prescriptions and behavioral therapy. However, many are trying alternatives such as supplementing the diet with multivitamins. Unfortunately, it can be difficult for some children with the condition to swallow large multivitamin supplements in the form of capsules or tablets. Because of this, liquid kid’s vitamins are often recommended by pediatricians and others who treat children with ADHD.

Zinc
A well-formulated liquid vitamin for kids will contain a variety of essential vitamins and minerals that support good health. This includes zinc which has shown significant promise in the management of ADHD symptoms. Ongoing research in the connection between zinc and ADHD continues, and some pediatricians are now even testing children with ADHD symptoms for zinc deficiency.

Magnesium
In a 2010 study, magnesium deficiency was found in a notable amount of children displaying symptoms of ADHD. Adding a formula of liquid kid’s vitamins that contains magnesium is now often recommended by pediatricians who recommend trying natural options for treating the condition prior to prescribing ADHD prescription medications.

Vitamin B-12 
B vitamins are necessary for supporting the health of the brain and central nervous system. Thus, it makes sense that ensuring sufficient B-12 levels would be important for treating any child with ADHD. While researchers continue to study the link between vitamin B-12 and ADHD, there is plenty of research to show that the vitamin is essential for the nervous system to function properly and to prevent neurological issues from developing.

Avoiding the Battle of Administering Multivitamins
Getting children with ADHD to take multivitamin supplements can be particularly challenging. For some, it becomes a daily battle. Because supplements need to be taken consistently, it only makes sense to provide them in a form that is easy to administer. Liquid kid’s vitamins are often prescribed to children with ADHD for this specific reason.

Do Liquid Kid’s Vitamins Provide Better Absorption?

Vitamin absorption is something that many parents wonder about when they give their children supplements in the form of gummies and chewable tablets. This makes sense when you consider that absorption is essential for the usefulness of the vitamins being consumed. Without absorption, there is no benefit. For some children, the best absorption rates can be found in liquid kid’s vitamins.

For most children, the rate of absorption for gummies and tablets is comparable to liquid kid’s vitamins. However, for those who have difficulty swallowing or who have particular digestive disorders, liquid vitamins for kids are often a better choice.

Facilitating Effective Absorption
Regardless of the delivery system of the supplement you choose for your child, there are ways to improve absorption rates. These include:

• Taking vitamins with food – Digestion stimulated when eating can help in nutrient absorption.
• A small amount of apple cider vinegar - Taken before a meal, it can further stimulate production of digestive juices.
• Use acidophilus supplements when taking antibiotics – To build up good bacteria in the digestive tract destroyed by antibiotics.
• Avoid iced drinks when taking supplements

Finally, the best tip is to choose the type of supplement that your child prefers. Whether they prefer gummies, chewable tablets, or liquid vitamins for kids, the type that your child is comfortable taking is the one that will be the easiest to administer, and ultimately the one that is most likely to be absorbed.

Before choosing liquid kid’s vitamins or any supplement for your child, it’s always a smart idea to consult with your pediatrician. Together, you can determine whether or not supplementation is needed and the best delivery system to meet your child’s specific nutritional needs.