Why your kid needs vitamins
Micronutrient deficiency and supplements in schoolchildren and teenagers
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Vitamin D supplements raise blood levels but don’t improve asthma or growth — despite widespread belief they do.
Most health influencers and pediatricians promote vitamin D for immune and growth benefits — but this review says clinical outcomes don’t follow biomarker improvements.
Practical Takeaways
Get your child’s ferritin and 25(OH)D levels tested before giving supplements — don’t guess.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Vitamin D supplements raise blood levels but don’t improve asthma or growth — despite widespread belief they do.
Most health influencers and pediatricians promote vitamin D for immune and growth benefits — but this review says clinical outcomes don’t follow biomarker improvements.
Practical Takeaways
Get your child’s ferritin and 25(OH)D levels tested before giving supplements — don’t guess.
Publication
Journal
Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care
Year
2024
Authors
M. M. Berger, Alan Shenkin
Related Content
Claims (5)
If a young child doesn’t have enough iron, they might be more likely to act out or have trouble getting along with others when they grow up—but fixing the iron problem early might help prevent those issues later.
Kids and teens who are picky eaters or don’t eat a variety of foods often don’t get enough iron, zinc, or vitamin D, which are important tiny nutrients in food.
Giving vitamin D supplements to kids who don’t have enough of it can boost their vitamin D blood levels, but it doesn’t always help them grow taller, develop faster during puberty, or feel better if they have asthma.
Kids who are picky eaters often don’t get enough zinc and iron, and that might make them less active and slower to grow or learn.
Taking iron and vitamin pills can help people who don’t have enough of these nutrients in their body get back to normal, which makes them feel less tired and more energetic.