From Vitamin Bottles to the Emergency Room.. The "Silent Trap" in Safe Children’s Supplements

SadaNews - A recent American study indicates a significant increase in families giving their children dietary supplements and alternative medicine products, despite limited scientific evidence of their benefits for children, some of which are associated with health complications that may lead to emergency rooms.

The study was conducted by a team of researchers from the universities of California, Southern California, and Berkeley, relying on the analysis of data from three national surveys on children’s nutrition in the United States between 2015 and 2023.

Doubling Supplements.. Alarming Figures

The results showed that 35% of children consume some form of dietary supplements, and the use of certain products has doubled in recent years, such as:

Melatonin (used to aid sleep).

Dietary fiber.

Probiotics (beneficial bacteria for the body).

The study also indicated that:

Boys in childhood consume more supplements than girls.

In contrast, the rates of supplement consumption among girls increase during adolescence compared to boys.

The study, published in the journal (Pediatrics Open Science), which specializes in pediatric medicine, also pointed out that one in five children takes multivitamin tablets, and the most common supplements contain:

Zinc.

Vitamin D.

Iron.

From Vitamins to the Emergency Room.. Where is the Danger?

Researchers warn that some of these supplements may be linked to cases of poisoning or health complications in children and adolescents if used without medical supervision or in doses inappropriate for their ages.

The study particularly focused on melatonin, finding that this substance is associated with a significant proportion of cases where children are taken to emergency departments due to gastrointestinal problems, such as indigestion and other troubling symptoms.

Greater Awareness Before the "Extra Pill"

In statements to the "Health Day" website, which specializes in medical research, the research team called for increasing awareness among parents regarding the potential risks of dietary supplements, especially in children and adolescents, treating them as medicines that should only be used when needed and with specialist consultation, rather than as "automatically safe" products simply because they are classified under vitamins or alternative medicine.

Source: Al Jazeera + German