Are gummy vitamins good?

This is an automatically translated article.

Article by Pharmacist Duong Thanh Hai - Clinical Pharmacist - Faculty of Pharmacy - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.

Vitamin gummies are currently a product that is trusted by many parents and loved by children, because of their eye-catching colors and delicious taste. So what exactly is this marshmallow and are vitamin gummies good?

1. What is a gummy vitamin?

Gummies vitamins are chewable vitamins that have a texture and taste similar to marshmallows. They are produced in many different flavors, colors and shapes on the market (such as gummy bears, gummy worms...). Usually, vitamin gummies are made from gelatin, corn starch, water, sugar, and added colorants. Popular flavors include lemon, raspberry, cherry, and orange. They are often made up of certain vitamins and minerals or only certain substances such as vitamin D and calcium. This is the most common vitamin given to both children and adults. But are vitamin gummies any good?

2. Concerns about the quality of marshmallow vitamins

All vitamins sold as dietary supplements do not have to go through the same rigorous testing for safety and effectiveness as drugs and pharmaceuticals. This means that manufacturers are responsible for making sure their products are safe. Therefore, users should choose products that have been certified according to trusted 3rd party standards (for example, USP standard, BSCG control group...), in order to ensure they have been voluntarily tested for purity and safety.
Due to not being strictly regulated by the drug regulatory agency, the nutrients contained in the supplement may not match the information listed on the label. One report found that 80% of the gummy vitamins tested did not have the same amount of vitamins and minerals as listed on their labels. Compared to other multivitamins, gummy vitamins tend to have fewer nutrients overall.

3. Please check the road information before using

Marshmallows are made with gelatin, tasteless so sugar is added to make marshmallows sweet. Consuming too much sugar can lead to obesity, heart disease, and tooth decay. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends no more than 9 teaspoons (37.5 grams) of added sugar per day for men, and less than 6 teaspoons (25 grams) per day for women and children. children from 2 to 18 years old.
Normally, there are 3 - 5 grams of sugar in each marshmallow, which means it contains about 20% of the maximum daily sugar. Although this amount of sugar is not too high, if you use many types of marshmallows and combine eating other sugary foods, it will lead to adding a larger amount of sugar to the body than the recommended level. Always check the sugar content of each product by looking for the following ingredients on the label: sugar, glucose, corn syrup, sucrose or fructose.
Some manufacturers reduce the amount of sugar in gummy vitamins by using natural sugar substitutes such as (xylitol, isomalt, sorbitol, maltitol...). Even if a vitamin is labeled as sugar-free, it may still contain these natural sweeteners (listed under total carbohydrates on the label). However, eating too much of this type of sweetener can also experience some unwanted effects such as diarrhea, nausea, bloating and other digestive symptoms.

4. Beware of Poisoning Risks

Eating too many vitamins can put you at risk of absorbing too much of certain nutrients, especially if you also eat foods that have been fortified with vitamins and minerals. This can lead to vitamin or mineral poisoning which in turn harms your body. In particular, it is necessary to pay attention to the amount of fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamins A, D, E and K which can be dangerous because they are stored in body fat and tissues causing chronic poisoning.
In particular, pay attention to young children, because children need lower amounts of nutrients than adults. Vitamin gummies are produced in a variety of shapes, colors and flavors that are as appealing and delicious as candy. This leads to young children who may eat more than the recommended dosage. In fact, some studies have reported cases of vitamin A toxicity from eating too much gummy vitamins in children.

5. So are gummy vites good?

For most people with a balanced diet, a multivitamin supplement is not necessary. However, some people may experience health benefits from taking vitamin supplements because they are on a diet of certain foods, have difficulty absorbing certain nutrients, or are in need. nutritional requirements increase. Specifically, these groups are vegetarians, the elderly, and pregnant women.
The Pediatric Associations do not recommend routine supplementation of multivitamins for children. Vitamin gummies may be beneficial for children who are picky eaters and do not have a well-rounded diet, or who have difficulty swallowing pills. However, it is important to protect children from overeating, preferably out of the reach of small children.
Finally, remember that vitamin supplements are not a substitute for a balanced diet. The best thing for your body is getting vitamins and minerals from a healthy diet with fruits and vegetables.
Hopefully with the above sharing, parents have answered the question of whether vitamin gummies are good? and how to feed the child is appropriate. In short, maintaining a healthy diet will help your child develop holistically and reduce the risk of health problems.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.