Many children and adults find swallowing pills difficult, or simply prefer the taste of gummy vitamins; however, these dietary supplements may pose oral health risks.
These drinks may contain citric acid or sugar substitutes that erode teeth, as well as sorbitol which could potentially lead to digestive issues in some individuals.
Children’s Chewable Multivitamins
Provide children with essential vitamins and minerals is key to their development. Most children can obtain all their daily needs from eating well; however, some may need additional supplements like multivitamins. Multivitamins help promote bone growth, tissue development, heart health, nerve signaling and more – Walgreens offers both flavored and non-gummy multivitamins tailored for various age groups to ensure you do not exceed recommended daily dosage. Read instructions carefully as vitamin overdose should never happen!
Gummy multivitamins may provide a more palatable option that’s easier for picky eaters, with their more appealing flavor making it simpler for children to swallow and chew them down. But from a dental perspective, some contain too much sugar which could cause tooth decay.
Adult Chewable Multivitamins
Adults not receiving enough vitamins and minerals may benefit from chewable multivitamins, which may make swallowing easier than pills while appealing to kids who often mistake them for candy.
But many gummy vitamin products contain more sugar than is recommended and should be used carefully. Those concerned should select products with reduced amounts of added sugars or use the Supplement Facts label to check for potential concerns regarding added ingredients and additives.
One A Day adult gummy multivitamins provide 13 essential vitamins and minerals that support immune health, eye care and energy metabolism. One two-gummy serving provides as much Vitamin A as a cup of broccoli; three serve up Vitamin C equaling one orange; five serve up Vitamin D equaling five ounces of salmon; these tablets also don’t contain sugar and are gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and kosher for easy swallowing with an exotic tropical taste!
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is widely known to be one of the key antioxidant vitamins that fight free radicals and keep us healthy, but according to registered dietitian Devon Peart, its benefits extend far beyond just this one aspect.
As either an independent supplement or as part of a multivitamin regimen, chewables provide an effective means of increasing vitamin intake. When selecting chewables for yourself or your children, be sure that the high-quality ingredients include no added sugars or artificial flavors or additives; look for formulations designed by pediatricians and consisting of ingredients sourced from real foods sweetened naturally with monk fruit; also opt for methylated multivitamins for maximum absorption and utilization.
Gummy vitamins can contain too much sugar for good oral health, and some contain sugar substitutes like sorbitol that may not agree with people with certain digestive conditions. Chewable vitamins avoid these issues and are easier for children and toddlers to swallow than tablets.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, helping maintain proper serum calcium and phosphate concentrations to avoid childhood rickets and osteomalacia in adults, while supporting immune function and protecting against certain cancers.
Vitamin D begins its journey in the liver, where it gathers additional oxygen and hydrogen molecules to become 25-hydroxyvitamin D or 25(OH)D; this form is measured to diagnose deficiency. After travelling through kidneys it gains another pair of oxygen/hydrogen molecules to become 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D or “calcitriol”.
Vitamin D naturally occurs in many foods, but people who don’t eat enough or cover their skin when outside for extended periods may require supplementation. Most individuals will need between 30-50nmol/L (12-20ng/mL). Vitamin D toxicity is rare and typically only results from taking too many supplements at one time.
