Too many vitamins and minerals??

[Pearls18]

When DS was starting weaning and I was BF I asked my HV about giving vitamin drops, she mentioned that so long as he was getting a balanced diet even with BF vitamin drops weren't necessary but you can't overdose on vitamins so it didn't do any harm either way. So while weaning I gave him the drops just while he wasn't eating 3 meals and I know BF is different nutritionally to formula. Anyways he's obviously fully weaned now, and we have stopped BF, in fact he only has one lot of milk a day at night time (he's not fussed on milk so I have to get it in his diet with lots of yoghurt and milk in food!). I know I am supposed to be giving him a good enough diet that he doesn't need anything extra, and I hope that most days we do achieve this, however I give the abidec syrup with omega 3 just for my piece of mind to top him up, I also take vitamins myself. Anyways I have just read that there is such a thing as too much if people who don't need supplements are taking them, this has got me worried and wondered if anyone here knows anymore (I am deliberately avoiding google lol!!)

 

[RachA]

I don't know about any of the research but when Esther had her 2 year check my HV advised me to carry on giving the vitamin drops over the winter. She said that once we get into late spring that we should be ok to stop them.

 

[Dimples81]

as far as im aware anything other than vitamin A just comes out in your wee if there is too much of it in the body.

 

[freckleonear]

A recent study suggested a link between well-nourished people taking vitamin supplements and earlier mortality. I don't think the research is conclusive either way at the moment so it's something to make up your own mind about. I don't give my children any supplements at all but that's just a personal decision.

 

[rosyfeathers]

I agree with freckleonear- its a personal decision for you to make -
i also dont give my girls any supplementary vitamin drops - i feel their meals are well balanced, and they are good eaters.
In the winter months like now,or when they have their colds, i simply increase their intake of oranges and natural orange juice to naturally boost their vitamin C intake, personally i feel thats enough for my brood..

 

[lepaskilf]

I've never taken vitamins, and have never given any to Tom. Don't plan to! I don't understand the whole supplement thing.

 

[RachA]

I've never taken vitamins, and have never given any to Tom. Don't plan to! I don't understand the whole supplement thing.

We were advised to with Esther because, until recently she basically didn't eat anything apart from her breakfast plus a very small amount of milk.

 

[Scally]

I take vitamins particularly in the winter and we give wellkid ones to Izzy, we do offer her a varied diet, but she is going through a not eating much phase so its peace of mind that she is getting the vitamins she needs.

 

[QTPie]

I am belt and braces, but the NHS seem to agree - https://www.nhs.uk/Planners/birthtofive/Pages/Vitamins.aspx

 

[OmarsMum]

I only give Omar a multi vit when he goes through phases of not eating. I give him Vit D everyday as it's difficult to get it from food alone. I expose him to direct morning sunlight when the weather is good, but it's too hot here, so I cant always expose him to the sun. Once we're out of his Vit D, I'm planning to give him PediaVit A, C & D instead as vit C enhances iron absorption. Omar is not a fan of fruits so he doesnt get a good amount of vit C from food. xx

 

[tu123]

I give LO a dose of Abidec everyday as she doesnt eat much at present. If she was eating well, i wouldnt as she doesnt have any pre existing problems. In some illnesses it is advantageous to take vitamins (gastro intestinal disease, hepatic disease, etc).

I think that apart from Vitamin A (which your body can store) most gets excreted by the body via the kidney filtration system. I am not a dietician though! But that is why it is crazy when people take mega doses of vitamins. The body takes what it needs for that hour and then it is all excreted.

 

[summer rain]

as far as im aware anything other than vitamin A just comes out in your wee if there is too much of it in the body.

actually vitamin D, K and E are also fat soluble, meaning it is not easily excreted by the body and is stored in body fat and tissues. Although water soluble; its possible to overdose on some of the B vitamins as well. However most supplements for babies and young children in the UK contain only 1/4 to 1/2 of the overall RDA of any given vitamin so overdosing would be pretty hard xx