Supplements don’t just come in a pill form that you swallow; there are also available as gummies, chewable tablets and liquid supplements.
Each with their own flavours, colours and added nutrients.
These are often specifically catered to kids, although adults sometimes enjoy them too.
But does that mean that they are good for us?
We sat down with Pharmacist Nazatul Amira Hamzah from Primabumi Sdn Bhd to learn more about supplements in gummies, chewable tablets and liquids for kids.
Nazatul is a qualified pharmacist with 10 years of experience in pharmacy practice involving both hospital and community settings.
She currently holds the position of Pharmacist and Key Account Manager at a renowned pharmaceutical company in Kuala Lumpur.
Here’s her take on gummies, chewable tablets and liquids.
What are gummies, chewable tablets, and liquids?
Gummies, chewable tablets and liquids are the three main formulations available on the market for dietary supplements.
The first one, gummies are candy-like chewables that come in various colours, flavours and shapes.
They are often made from gelatin, cornstarch, water, sugar, and added colouring.
Some are infused with a cocktail of various vitamins and minerals. While others contain only a few select nutrients, such as vitamin C, vitamin D and calcium.
These formulations come in various colours, flavours, and shapes.
This appeals to children and adults who may not like, or are unable to, swallow pills.
Like chewable vitamins, liquid supplements also come in a variety of different colours and flavours.
However, they are more suitable for infants or children who have not yet learned to chew.
At what age can my child take liquid or chewable supplements?
Some liquid supplements can be given to babies as young as newborns.
However, please consult your healthcare provider before administering any supplements or medicines to your infants.
Due to their solid forms, many healthcare professionals advise against giving gummies and chewable tablets to children under the age of 2 years.
This also includes children of any age who have not developed the ability to chew solid foods properly. This is important to avoid the risk of choking.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of gummies?
Gummies are considered the most attractive form of dietary supplement.
They are tasty, flavourful, fun and visually appealing.
Moreover, their pleasant, sweet taste greatly appeal to children and even adults.
However, these types of supplements also come with downsides.
First, gummy vitamins tend to have a shorter shelf life than chewable tablets.
Their flavour, texture, and potency can all alter with age, and their nutrient content may diminish with time.
Secondly, gummies are not as nutritious as you may be led to believed. Manufacturers tend to sacrifice nutrients for taste.
That’s why if you compare them with normal supplements, gummies have the least amount of vitamins and minerals. At least when compared to chewable tablets and liquids.
The third downside is that gummies contain excessive sugar, high fructose corn syrup and other fillers. Ingredients that parents may not want their kids to consume.
Finally, gummies tend to stick together or, worse, melt when exposed to high temperatures.
Reminder: Remember to keep gummy supplements them in a cool, dry place to avoid this from happening.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of chewable tablets?
Like gummies, chewable tablets are available in a variety of shapes and flavours that appeal to children.
Moreover, they usually contain more types and higher amounts of vitamins and minerals than gummies, offering greater health benefits to your kids.
Because they are solid, chewable tablets also have a longer shelf life compared to gummies.
This makes them more long-lasting and stable against changes in humidity and temperature.
However, chewables also come with a few disadvantages.
The first one is taste: children may find the chalky texture of chewable tablets unpleasant.
Secondly, depending on the tablet formulation, certain chewable tablets might be more difficult to chew than others.
This makes them less desirable for children.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of supplements in liquid forms?
The first benefit of liquid supplements is their nutrient-density: they contain significantly more vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other nutrients. Especially when compared to chewables and gummies.
Moreover, because the nutrients are already dissolved, absorption happens almost instantly.
This means your kids require less of it to experience noticeable benefits.
Liquid vitamins also allow for flexible dosing, making them suitable for consumption by more than one person, depending on the age range.
Liquid vitamins are also often cheaper than chewables.
Liquid supplements also generally contain less sugar, sweeteners or flavouring. This is usually because of stability concerns.
This is where the disadvantages come in.
Because they are less appealing taste-wise, most children may find them less desirable than chewable supplements.
Liquid vitamins also are often stored in bottles (usually heavy amber glass).
They often need to be refrigerated as well. This makes them the less convenient option, especially when travelling.
Because nutrient stability is weaker in liquids than solid forms, liquid supplements tend to have a shorter life span compared to gummies and chewable tablets.
Reminder: Please remember to discard any remaining liquid vitamins after 3 months of opening and always check their expiration date before use.
Can I give my child more than the recommended daily intake stated on the supplement packaging?
It can be dangerous to overdose on supplements.
Taking too many vitamins and mineral may lead to symptoms of toxicity such as stomach upset, diarrhoea, headache, or vomiting.
Therefore, you have to be careful when giving any kind of dietary supplements to your little ones.
This includes giving them the appropriate dosage as and when needed. Not more, not less.
My 4-year-old child would complain of stomach discomfort after taking gummies and chewable tablets. Why is that so, and what should I do?
The high sugar content, along with other ingredients such as gelatin, fillers, artificial sweeteners, colouring, and flavouring agents.
Any of these can likely be the culprit.
Your child might not be able to digest these ingredients properly.
They may even have an intolerance to one or more of those ingredients.
Stop giving your child the supplement and try switching to a liquid version instead with the same nutrients.
The risk of digestion issues is lower with a liquid preparation.
Can I give more than one form of supplement to my kid in a day? Let’s say a liquid multivitamin in the morning and vitamin C chewable tablets in the evening.
It’s possible. As long as you are not overdosing your child with specific nutrients by doing so.
The concentration of individual vitamins and/or minerals in supplements can vary significantly across different products.
It’s important to seek advice from your healthcare provider when combining two or more dietary supplements.
Can you give some tips on how to choose the best supplement for my child?
Step one, understand the necessity. Be clear on what kinds of health benefits your child needs from dietary supplementation.
Would you like to enhance their immunity because they tend to fall sick easily?
Do you want to boost their appetite since they are not eating well?
Is your only objective to make sure your kid gets all the important nutrients they need every day?
Or are you trying to address certain health issues your child is experiencing?
Once you’ve answered those questions, do some market research.
Not all supplements are created equal, even if they come in the same type of preparation (gummies, chewable tablets, syrups, etc.) and offer the same types of nutrients.
This is where healthcare professionals, particularly pharmacists, paeditricians, and nutritionists, are your critical sources of information.
Get your child involved in the decision-making, if possible.
Once you’ve shortlisted your product options, get your little one to tell you which of those they prefer.
This can be extremely helpful in ensuring they take their supplement consistently and without hesitation.
Source: Nazatul Amira Hamzah, Pharmacist at Primabumi Sdn Bhd
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner.
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