A chewable multivitamin mineral supplement provides the recommended daily allowance of vitamins and minerals needed. Children often enjoy these supplements, and parents like the ease and convenience.
Chewable Multivitamin Mineral Supplement
Bayer Healthcare claims to have invented the chewable multivitamin and mineral supplement back in 1960, but some evidence suggests that the concept was around as early as the 1930's. Originally invented for children, chewable multivitamin mineral supplements are available now in a variety of formulas.
Childrens Multivitamin Supplements
Children sometimes have trouble swallowing pills, and thus a chewable vitamin makes sense. Some childrens' supplements are shaped like fun cartoon characters, such as Bugs Bunny, or flavored. Familiar names and brands like Flintstones Chewable Vitamins and major vitamin manufacturers like Centrum produce chewable tablets for children.
For parents seeking additional nutritional support for their children, Nordic_Naturals offers chewable gummy-bear like omega-3 supplements in a variety of fruit flavors. Derived from fish oils, these supplements are said to enhance brain and heart health and development. Ask your pediatrician if he or she thinks it's okay to supplement with fish oil tablets.
Adult Chewable Supplements
Chewable multivitamin mineral supplements aren't just for children these days. Many adults also dislike pills and liquids, and several formulas are available for adults who prefer a chewable vitamin. You can find multivitamins as well as vitamin C and various other nutritional supplements in chewable tablets.
Guidelines for Taking Chewable Supplements
Both children and adults should follow package directions for multivitamin mineral supplements. It's important to chew the tablet or allow it to dissolve in the mouth rather than swallowing it. Chewable formulas are made differently from pills, and need the breakdown in the mouth to be most effective.
Avoid taking supplements with milk, since the excess calcium can block absorption of certain vitamins and minerals from the supplement. If you feel you need to wash down the taste of the tablet, a plain glass of water should suffice.
Pros and Cons of Chewable Multivitamin Supplements
For both children and adults, there are several pros and cons to chewable multivitamin and mineral supplements.
Pros of Taking a Chewable Supplement
The major positives of chewable tablets are for children. Because children dislike pills and may equate them with medicine, they often shy away from vitamin supplements in pill form. Chewable tablets, with their cartoon shapes and fun flavors, make taking a vitamin pill like enjoying a piece of candy. Parents are assured that their little ones are receiving the recommended daily allowance of all important vitamins and minerals.
For adults, using chewable tablets provides similar advantages. Adults who take numerous supplements may find swallowing many pills uncomfortable. Chewable tablets can be staggered out throughout the day, taken with meals, or eaten on the go without water to wash them down.
Disadvantages of Chewable Supplements
There are several disadvantages to chewable multivitamin mineral supplements. Because the vitamin supplements taste good to children, children have a tendency to want more. Unless vitamin supplements are kept on the top shelf or locked up with the medicines, parents run the risk of children sneaking back into the cabinet and taking additional doses. This can lead to serious consequences. Vitamins are not entirely harmless. Their concentrated nature, particularly for fat-soluble or stored vitamins like vitamin K, makes an overdose dangerous. Parents who discover that their children have taken many vitamins pills should call their pediatrician, poison control, or emergency services if the child appears to be ill. Overdoes symptoms include stomach pain, severe vomiting or diarrhea. One little-known disadvantage of chewable supplements is that they may damage tooth enamel. There is some evidence that chewable vitamin C tablets can stain teeth. Mineral supplements may be especially problematic. Consult a dentist and discontinue use if you notice any staining or discoloration of teeth after taking chewable tablets.
