Abstract
Objective: To calculate the proportion of pediatric multivitamin supplements marketed by three retail pharmacies that exceed the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for fat-soluble vitamins for toddlers and children. Design, Setting and Participants: Online websites of the three largest retail chain pharmacies in the United States were accessed to obtain product descriptions of the pediatric multivitamin supplements marketed. Nutritional information was obtained from the manufacturers’ websites. Outcome Measures and Analysis: Percent daily value (per serving size) for vitamins A, D, E and K were calculated. The proportions of the marketed supplements that contained these vitamins in amounts exceeding the RDA for toddlers and children were calculated. Results: More than two-thirds and almost 85 percent of the 52 analyzed multi-vitamins contained vitamin A in amounts exceeding the RDA for toddlers and children respectively. Corresponding proportions for vitamin D were 4% and 15% respectively. More than half the samples exceeded the RDA for vitamin E and almost 2% exceeded the RDA for vitamin E for children. Conclusions and Implications: The high prevalence of pediatric supplements that have vitamin A levels exceeding the RDA poses a risk for toxicity, even when consumed at the recommended serving sizes. Pediatric health care providers and parents should be made aware of possible risks related to toxicity due to over-consumption of multi-vitamin supplements and encouraged to use a balanced diet as the main source of micro-nutrients. Funding: None.
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