This is a question I’m often asked, particularly by mothers of fussy toddlers and children who refuse tablets or liquid supplements. And I completely understand the attraction- a strawberry-flavoured gummy that looks and tastes like a sweet is considerably easier to persuade a child to take than a spoonful of something they have already decided they don’t like.
As a nutritional therapist, I always encourage people to look beyond the colourful packaging and ask a more important question: What are you actually getting in that gummy?
Gummy supplements can absolutely provide vitamins and minerals. So I wouldn’t say that vitamins in gummy form are simply “not absorbed”. The bigger issue is what the manufacturer can realistically fit into a small, pleasant-tasting gummy. Gummies have to be made palatable, stable and pleasant to chew, which means a formulation contains sweeteners, sugars, syrups, pectin or gelatin, flavourings, acids, oils, colours and other excipients. And because there is limited space within the gummy, some products contain relatively modest amounts of certain nutrients or omit minerals altogether.
For me, the ideal supplement is one that provides the right nutrient, in an appropriate dose, in a well-designed formulation, with as few unnecessary extras as practical. But if your child will happily take drops, a liquid or another suitable formulation, I’d encourage you to compare the labels rather than automatically reaching for the gummy.
Another reason I am cautious about children’s gummies is that they can look and taste remarkably similar to sweets and the way they are over marketed. That can make it very easy for a child to see them as something they can have whenever they want. But supplements are concentrated sources of nutrients. More is not necessarily better, and some vitamins and minerals have upper intake limits.
For example, the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database contains children’s gummy products providing anything from around 1–5g of sugar per serving, alongside varying amounts of vitamins and minerals. In other words, “gummy vitamin” doesn’t tell you very much about the nutritional quality of the product — you have to read the label. The NHS recommends keeping added sugar to a minimum in young children, particularly because of the risk of tooth decay. There is also wider nutritional research showing an association between higher added-sugar intake and poorer overall diet quality and, in several studies, lower micronutrient intake. This doesn’t mean that the small amount of sugar in one gummy will cause a nutritional problem — but it does reinforce the principle of not adding unnecessary sugar where it isn’t needed.
Research examining children’s multivitamin and mineral supplements has found that some products can provide quite high levels of individual nutrients, highlighting the importance of choosing an appropriate product and dose rather than simply assuming that a children’s supplement is harmless because it is marketed towards children. For some children, a gummy may be a practical solution — particularly if they genuinely won’t take another form of an essential supplement. But I wouldn’t choose a gummy simply because it is colourful, tastes nice or has a picture of fruit on the packet.
It’s important to look at the following:
? The actual dose of each nutrient. Don’t be distracted by a long list of ingredients. Look at how much of the vitamin or mineral you’re actually getting per daily serving.
? The number of nutrients. Some gummies are essentially one or two vitamins with lots of flavouring around them. Others provide a broader range.
? Added sugar. Check the label. “Gummy” does not automatically mean sugar-free.
? The other ingredients. Look at sweeteners, syrups, flavourings, colours, acids and preservatives. There is nothing inherently dangerous about these ingredients in the tiny amounts used in supplements, but I prefer a simpler formulation where possible.
? The age and dose. A supplement suitable for a 4-year-old is not necessarily appropriate for a toddler..
If you’re unsure which supplements are appropriate for your child, speak to a qualified nutrition professional like myself, particularly if your child has a restricted diet or specific nutritional needs.