[IMG]http://simplefeed.consumerreports.org/rsrc/i/1/_/do_children_need_vitamins__882140520/4.gif?f=3dcb3160-01dc-11dc-32a2-0019bbc55f7f&s=AewyNia7NTvDvhaDemju5DEsbnVsbCwwLDA *[/IMG] Do children need vitamins?
New research shows that most children who take vitamins probably don't need them, and that kids who could benefit most from these supplements are least likely to take them.
The research comes from a national study of more than 10,800 children ages 2 to 17. In questionnaires and interviews, parents were asked about their child's health and nutrition, including questions about their use of vitamin and mineral supplements.
Researchers found that one third of children and teenagers had taken supplements recently, and that almost half of these youngsters took supplements daily. But, contrary to what researchers expected, kids with poorer diets and less active lifestyles were among the least likely to take vitamins, even though they were at greater risk of deficiencies.
On the flipside, kids who were healthy and active and had good diets were most likely to take vitamins, even though they were least likely to need them.
Read the rest of this post on our Health blog, and see our children's health section for more information.

Subscribe now!
Subscribe to ConsumerReports.org for expert Ratings, buying advice and reliability on hundreds of products. Update your feed preferences