Natural Vitamins for Children

All foods contain vitamins and minerals, substances that are essential for life and good health. The body requires these micronutrients in smaller amounts than nutrients like protein, carbohydrates and fats. Vitamin deficiencies lead to conditions such as dry hair, slow wound healing and rickets. A person deficient in the mineral calcium may suffer from eczema, muscle cramps and tooth decay. Because children are notoriously picky eaters, a daily multivitamin helps to fill nutritional gaps.

Synthetic and Natural Vitamins

Though vitamins and minerals are naturally present in foods, scientists manufacture synthetic versions of these substances. Synthetic vitamins are cheaper to obtain; therefore, a multivitamin based on synthetic vitamins and minerals is cheaper to purchase.

Unfortunately, in most cases, the body does not absorb or utilize synthetic nutrients as well as natural forms. The most common drugstore form of vitamin E, dl-alpha-tocopherol, contains approximately 50 percent natural vitamin E and 50 percent synthetic vitamin E. The body excretes all of the synthetic form. This means that the body uses only half the stated amount of dl-alpha-tocopherol.

Synthetic vitamin A, if taken in high dosages over a period of time, causes liver toxicity, hair loss, nausea, vomiting and other physical problems. On the other hand, natural vitamin A--called beta carotene--carries no risk of overdose. However, taking very large doses of beta carotene or eating huge amounts of orange foods like carrots can make skin look yellow-orange.

Natural Vitamin Sources

When reading multivitamin labels, look for the names of these natural vitamin forms.
Vitamin A--beta carotene
Vitamin C--ascorbic acid
Vitamin D3--cholecalciferol
Vitamin E--d-alpha-tocopherol (The synthetic form is "dl-alpha-tocopherol.")
Vitamin K--phylloquinone or phytonactone
Iron--ferrous gluconate or ferrous fumarate
For calcium, do not choose a brand that contains D1-calcium-phosphate. This synthetic calcium is insoluble and will lower the body's ability to absorb other nutrients.

Types

Natural vitamins come in a variety of textures, shapes and flavors. You and your child may choose a chewable pill, a "gummy" pill or a liquid. All three varieties are comparable in their nutritional quality. Some companies suggest that the body absorbs liquid vitamins more readily, but no scientific research backs up this theory. Infants and toddlers will likely be able to take a liquid vitamin more easily than a chewable vitamin. Older children will normally prefer one of the three types over the others.

How to Choose a Multivitamin

When choosing a multivitamin for your child, use the list above to find a brand that contains natural forms of vitamins and minerals. Read labels carefully and avoid multivitamins with fillers, artificial colors and artificial flavors. One common brand of children's vitamin contains three artificial dyes, sugar and aspartame. Choose a multivitamin that does not contain iron. Since iron and calcium bind together and prevent each other's absorption, they should never be taken at the same time. A child needs an iron supplement only if he has iron-deficient anemia. If an iron supplement is needed, give it at a different time of day than the multivitamin.

Where to Buy Natural Vitamins

Local drugstores often carry low-priced, synthetic vitamins, and natural multivitamins may not be available in these stores. Health food stores usually stock natural vitamins from many brands. These reputable websites also sell natural children's multivitamins: iHerb (www.iHerb.com), Puritan's Pride Vitamins (www.puritan.com), Swanson Vitamins (www.SwansonVitamins.com), Vitamin Life (www.VitaminLife.com), Vitamin Shoppe (www.VitaminShoppe.com)
Wherever you decide to purchase, read labels carefully. Ingredients differ from brand to brand.