Gummies offer a convenient and accessible way to take vitamins and minerals, especially for children who dislike swallowing pills or tablets, though they may be less potency than traditional supplements.
Gummies contain added sugars that may contribute to weight gain, tooth decay, and other long-term health problems – some even list sugar as their first ingredient!
Sugar
As the gummy supplement industry expands, manufacturers are adding increasingly more nutrients to candy-like supplements made out of gelatin. This has increased gummies’ popularity with children and those who find pills hard to swallow; however, this added sugar may pose problems for people trying to control calorie consumption or prevent obesity and tooth decay.
On average, a single gummy typically contains two to eight grams of sugar – enough for 30% of the American Heart Association’s recommended daily sugar intake. To lower their sugar content further, many gummies use malitol or another form of sugar substitute as part of the formula; however, overconsumption of such products may cause digestive upset in certain people.
Gummy vitamins come in various shapes and forms, from multivitamins and prenatal vitamins to probiotics and even those designed to boost libido and relieve menopausal symptoms. Although many consumers enjoy the convenience of chewable vitamins, it’s essential that they understand any additional sugar or stickiness they contain before making their decision.
Minerals
Gummies are typically composed of gelatin and sugar, adding sweetness to dietary supplements. Each gummy may contain up to 3 to 5 grams of sugar – an excessive amount for children (experts suggest keeping their daily sugar consumption below 25 grams) and adults.
Gummies provide a range of vitamins and minerals depending on their intended use; for instance, multivitamin gummies often feature multiple different vitamins while single nutrient ones contain concentrated amounts of specific vitamins like Vitamin C or Omega-3s.
The supplements industry offers an increasing variety of products targeting specific populations, such as children. Many gummy or chewable vitamins designed for children in Canada feature child-friendly packaging with child-appeal flavors; however, some contain high amounts of sugar or ingredients that could disrupt gut microbiomes. [1] A content analysis conducted on 58 such vitamins, mineral and fish oil products sold within this market compared their nutrient levels against Health Canada recommendations using Estimated Average Requirements (EAR) and Adequate Intakes (AI). [1] A content analysis on 58 Canadian gummy and chewable vitamins designed specifically designed for children in Canada found that most met these standards using estimates of Estimated Average Requirements (EAR) or Adequate Intakes percentages (AI). [1] A content analysis conducted on 58 such vitamins, mineral and fish oil products designed specifically targeted toward this population revealed significant discrepancies regarding Health Canada recommendations with respect to sugar or ingredients potentially disrupting gut microbiome disruption [1. [1. 58 Canada-made for Children [1] A content analysis of these Canadian marketplace products designed specifically targeted towards children used the Estimated Average Requirements (EAR) or Adequate Intakes percentages as provided by Health Canada using Estimated Average Requirements (AI).[1] This analysis provided compared nutrient Levels with Health Canada-recommended average Requirements (EAR) levels within Health Canada recommendations using Estimated Average Requirements (EAR) as measured against Health Canada recommendations using Estimate] A content Analysis]. [1]. [1.
Vitamins
Gummy vitamins owe their sweet taste to sugar or sugar-like substitutes such as sucralose. Servings may contain two to eight grams of added sugar per day; although this might not seem excessive at first glance, over time this could become problematic if taken repeatedly over an extended period. People with chronic illnesses should select vitamin supplements with either no additional added sugars or at levels they can tolerate better.
Some brands of gummy vitamins utilize pectin, an ingredient naturally present in fruit and vegetable cells that helps them bond together. Tapioca syrup derived from cassava can also help make the gummies less sticky and easier to swallow. Gummies often feature artificial dyes and fillers for texture and color enhancement – however these additives may not be ideal for people following specific dietary restrictions such as veganism and kosher diets.
Ingredients
Gummy vitamins are considered food and not drugs by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Therefore, they may contain ingredients such as sugars, colorants, and filler compounds which could interact with certain medications.
Gummies contain sugar as their main ingredient, making them unsuitable choices for children who should consume no more than 25 grams a day; for adults this limit should be reduced to 37.5 grams and one gummy can provide approximately 20% of this daily requirement.
Gummies contain several key ingredients, including corn syrup, water, sugar, gelatin, citric acid and purple carrot juice concentrate as a coloring agent, natural flavors and pectin – an additive used as a gelling compound that keeps their shape while serving as a preservative. Some gummies also include artificial flavorings which have been known to cause behavioral issues in some children as well as allergic reactions. Some also contain sugar alcohols which provide sweetness without additional calories but digest more slowly into the body.
