New data from the Office of Dietary Supplements suggests that over 33 percent of American children, despite regular supplementation, may not be getting enough calcium and Vitamin D. Data from this report, featured in The Journal of Pediatrics, can help owners of dietary supplement companies formulate pediatric supplements that would help children adequately meet their dietary recommendations for Vitamin D and calcium. Both these micro-nutrients play a crucial in bone development and growth and inadequate levels of either can adversely impact bone health during childhood and in later life.1
Of the 7,250 children (aged 2 to 18) surveyed by the Office of Dietary Supplements, 42 percent were taking supplements. Dietary intakes of Vitamin D and calcium were low for all the children, and alarmingly, even those who took supplements showed signs of inadequacy. In addition, the data below reveals some interesting facts that a business owner should consider before partnering with a supplement manufacturer to formulate supplements that can help children achieve a balance between nutrient adequacy and excess (UL intake) of nutrients:
Children who were not given supplements were found to have a higher prevalence of nutrient inadequacies, specifically calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, Vitamins A and C.
Children who supplemented their diet and were found to receive adequate intakes of both Vitamin D and calcium, showed higher incidence of above upper limit (UL) intakes of iron, zinc, folic acid and Vitamins A and C.
The Importance of Vitamin Strategic Stakes Meaning D in Childhood
In response to a decade of research and findings showing Vitamin D’s strategic role in several important functions of the body, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) re-visited Vitamin D’s Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA). The IOM is a government body that sets up the nutrition recommendations in the United States for all age groups. Based on their review of the studies, new RDAs were released in November 2010.
For children between the ages of 1 and 18, the RDA is currently 600 IUs.
Both calcium and Vitamin D complement each other’s functions. Without Vitamin D, calcium cannot be absorbed and synthesized in the body.
Calcium is needed for bone growth and strength.
When children do not get enough Vitamin D in their diets, it leads to softening of the bones, putting them at risk to a disease called rickets.2
However, many medical experts still believe that the RDAs for vitamin D are still far below those needed to attain optimal, health-promoting Vitamin D status. It is apparent that Vitamin D’s role goes far beyond that of bone health. Many cells have Vitamin D receptors (VDRs) including those of the brain, heart, skin, gonads, prostate, and breast. Several white blood cells have VDRs which means the immune system is affected by Vitamin D. Vitamin D is involved in cell proliferation and differentiation. There are 229 genes that are affected by Vitamin D and 2776 genomic positions have been identified as being occupied by Vitamin D Receptors (VDRs).3-4The IOM has raised the Upper Limit Intake of Vitamin D is 4,000 IU/day for children over 9, adults, pregnant and breast-feeding women.5
The Importance of Calcium in Childhood
Calcium is needed for the healthy growth of bones. It also helps out in other functions such as blood clotting, heart rhythm and muscle function. If children don’t get enough calcium in their diets to perform these and other functions that require calcium, the body starts taking it from the bones. The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination findings revealed that 71 percent of girls and 62 percent of boys aged 6 to 11 do not meet the RDA of calcium for their age group. Statistics show that children with low bone density are more likely to break a bone during their childhood years.6
Studies have also suggested that inadequate intake of calcium during the crucial growing years may have a negative impact on bone health later on in life. About 90 percent of bone mass is achieved by the age of 19. It is vital that children Importance Of Service Sector receive adequate calcium intake during childhood to achieve peak bone mass. Scientists believe that if peak bone mass in childhood is increased by 10 percent, the onset of osteoporosis may be delayed by 13 years later in life.7-8
Children who achieve peak bone mass during childhood have a lower risk of fracture during childhood and may be able to prevent or delay the onset of osteoporosis later in life.
Children Supplements – Balanced Formulations are Key to Success
Supplement business owners should contact a reputable vitamin contract manufacturing company to create supplements that adequately meet the nutritional needs of growing children. Partner with an organization that completes its manufacturing a facility that has received GMP certification by NSF and can offer you in house label design, packaging, and fulfillment services. Finding a supplement manufacturing firm that meets these qualifications will ensure that you receive a high-quality finished product in a timely fashion.
References:
Do Dietary Supplements Improve Micronutrient Sufficiency in Children and Adolescents?,The Journal of Pediatrics,Volume 161, Issue 5, Pages 837-842.e3, November 2012.
Vitamin D: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet, National Institutes of Health, )
Why the IOM recommendations for vitamin D are deficient, J Bone Miner Res. 2011 Mar;26(3):455-7. doi: 10.1002/jbmr.328. ).
A ChIP-seq defined genome-wide map of vitamin D receptor binding: associations with disease and evolution, Genome Res. 2010 Oct;20(10):1352-60. doi: 10.1101/gr.107920.110. Epub 2010 Aug 24. PMID: 20736230.
Vitamin D, MedlinePlus, National Institutes of Health.
Alaimo K, McDowell MA, BriefelRR:”Dietary Intake of Vitamins, Minerals and Fiber of Persons Ages 2 Months and Over in the United States: Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, Phase 1, 1988-91.” Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics,1994.
Diet, Nutrition and Bone Health, J. Nutr. November 2007 vol. 137 no. 11 2507S-2512S.
Optimizing Bone Health in Children and Adolescents: Implications for Current and Future Health, Dairy Council of California.