Diet Information for Teens by Kevin Hayes

Author:Kevin Hayes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Omnigraphics

Chapter 30

Rising Dietary Supplement Use in Children and Teens and Safety Concerns

About This Chapter: This chapter includes text excerpted from “10 Things to Know about Dietary Supplements for Children and Teens,” National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), May 10, 2021.

Some teens use products advertised as dietary supplements for weight loss or bodybuilding. Increasingly, products sold as dietary supplements, particularly for weight loss and bodybuilding, contain ingredients that could be harmful, including prescription drug ingredients and controlled substances. In addition, many dietary supplements have not been tested in children. Because children’s bodies are not fully developed, the side effects of these products on children and adults may differ.

10 Things to Know about Dietary Supplements for Children and Teens

Although many dietary supplements come from natural sources, “natural” does not necessarily mean “safe.”

Federal regulations for dietary supplements are less strict than those for prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

Dietary and herbal supplements may be of poor quality and contain contaminants, including drugs, chemicals, or metals. Studies of dietary supplements have found significant differences between what is on the label and what is in the bottle of some supplements.

Dietary supplements may interact with other products or medications or have unwanted side effects on their own.

About 4,600 children go to the emergency room every year because of dietary supplements. Most took a vitamin or mineral when unsupervised. Child-resistant packaging is not required for dietary supplements.

Certain homeopathic products (called “nosodes” or “homeopathic immunizations”) are promoted as substitutes for conventional immunizations, but they have not been shown to protect children against diseases. Follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) vaccination recommendations to safeguard your children against vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccinating children helps protect our community’s and our children’s health.

Here is safety information for some common supplements: St. John’s wort interacts with many medications, including antidepressants, birth control pills, and seizure and cancer treatments.

Melatonin, a hormone used as a sleep aid, appears safe for short-term use but we do not know about its long-term effects.

Giving probiotics to children does not appear to be risky, but we lack conclusive evidence, particularly for long-term use. Critically ill patients should not use probiotics.

Omega-3 supplements may cause minor stomach problems, such as belching, indigestion, or diarrhea.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend multivitamins for healthy children and teens who eat a varied diet. It is best if they can get their vitamins from foods.

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