Parents, leave the multivitamins in the bottle

By Carolyn Sax, MD, a primary care physician with the Pediatric Physicians’ Organization at Boston Children’s and practices at Hyde Park Pediatrics in Hyde Park and Milton, Mass. Parents often ask me whether I recommend multivitamins for their children, and in most situations I say no. This takes a lot of people by surprise. Vitamins sound like such a good thing, right? The answer is actually somewhat complicated.  Foods that are naturally rich in vitamins are definitely a good thing, and many scientific studies have shown the benefits of eating a diet rich in nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, lean meats and milk. But the vitamins themselves, when taken in pill form, can actually be harmful. Our body is most effective at using nutrients when they enter us directly from their natural food source. The healthful advantages of these nutrients depend on their food “packaging” to give their full healthful benefits, like iron found in spinach or all the vitamin E packed into an avocado. But researchers have yet to find any benefit from most vitamins taken in pill form. None of the major medical associations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, The American Medical Association, The American Institute of Nutrition, The American Society for Nutrition, or The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommend routine use of multivitamins. Too much of a good thing Many vitamins are actually harmful if taken in too large a quantity. Too much vit...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: All posts Carolyn Sax healthy eating healthy eating for kids healthy eating for the whole family vitamins Source Type: news