I would never have thought that I could make my child sick from giving them too many vitamins. However, the Environmental Working Group is warning parents that we may be harming our children by feeding them too many vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin A, zinc, and niacin. These are commonly added to “fortified” cereals and other foods.
Vitamins and minerals were originally added to everyday foods to protect children’s health, but the Food and Drug Administration’s percentage of daily values shown on food nutrition labels are for adults and exceed maximum safe levels for children. The group states that the agency’s guidelines on what food companies should show on the nutrition facts label — the percentage of daily values — are inadequate. Furthermore, those calculated on products made for children still show the values for adults, not children.
Does it really matter if children “overdose” on vitamins and minerals? The answer is yes. Too much vitamin A can result in short-term health problems, such as brittle nails and hair loss. In the long term, over consumption of vitamin A can lead to liver damage and skeletal abnormalities. If pregnant women consume too much vitamin A, it can cause developmental abnormalities in the fetus.
Too much zinc can result in anemia and can, impair immune function.
Excess niacin or vitamin B3 leads to rashes and skin reactions, nausea and toxicity in the liver.
Children are much more at risk of overdosing on vitamins than adults.
Where are the biggest sources of these excess vitamins? The Environmental Working Group’s report states: “Fortified breakfast cereals are the No. 1 source of added vitamin A, zinc, and niacin in children’s diets.” In 23 of the cereals with the highest added doses, just a single serving would exceed the daily safe level of a child age 8 or younger. Most of those cereals in the highest ranges are not marketed toward children, but there are also high levels in snack bars (consumed by children) as well.
To be safe, make sure you know about these vitamins and minerals, and limit your children’s intake of foods fortified with vitamin A, zinc, and niacin to only 20-25 percent of the adult daily value.
Alexa Bigwarfe is the mother to three young children. She is a strong advocate for all things related to children’s safety and health issues.
