By Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kid’s Nutrition Specialist
A walk through the supplement department of any health food store or pharmacy can be a 
bit overwhelming. While the majority of the vitamins we need come from the foods we eat, over the past year doctors and health experts alike have suggested supplementing certain nutrients that vulnerable populations like expecting women and children might not get enough of from diet alone like vitamin D and omega 3 fatty acids.
Utilizing a survey of parents of nearly
11,000 children aged 2-17; a new study found that approximately one-third of US children are taking vitamins. The study, conducted from 1999-2004, attempted to answer a question pediatricians often hear: Does my child need to take vitamins?
Although the amount of children taking vitamins may seem high, it has decreased since the 1970’s when almost 50% of American children took vitamins. Ironically, as the study points out, the children who are taking vitamins or supplements are healthy active kids who probably don’t need them. Conversely, picky eaters or those with limited food intake that would benefit the most from a multivitamin do not take them.
The study authors explain that giving a child the recommended dosage of an age appropriate vitamin is probably not harmful just not truly necessary for a child with a well-balanced diet including one with adequate fiber and lower in saturated fat and cholesterol. Published in the 
February issue of the Journal of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, the study found that vitamin/mineral use was highest for 2-4 year olds and lowest for adolescents aged 12-17.
It is a common misconception that a multivitamin can make up for a nutrient deficient diet, and experts agree this is not the case. The best way to get vitamins is from food directly like fresh fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains. Many pediatricians, however, concur the increased daily requirements of certain nutrients can be difficult to obtain from diet alone as in the case of vitamin D. While the majority of the children taking vitamins in the study were the healthiest, researchers are at a loss as to whether the vitamins were the source of the improved health or if they take vitamins because they are part of a health conscious family.
译文:
儿童营养-研究发现1/3的小孩吃维他命保健品
作者 儿童营养专家 赫尔利·科琳
当步行经过一个保健品专卖店或者是药店时，想要进去买保健品的诱惑力是巨大的。我们人体所需的维生素大量来源于我们所吃的食物，然而在过去几年时间里，医生和健康专家都建议那些敏感人群例如准妈妈和小孩都应该摄取足够的营养，但是他们又不可能从日常饮食中摄取到足够的维生素D和脂肪酸omega 3。
对将近11000名2岁到17岁之间的小孩的父母展开了一项调查。一项新的研究发现大约1/3的美国儿童在食用维生素保健品。从1999年--2004年，这项研究一直在试图回答一个儿科医生经常听到的问题：我的孩子需要补充维生素吗？
虽然似乎有很多的孩子食用维生素保健品，但是自1970年以来，在美国，服用维生素保健品的小孩已经减少了50%。可笑的是，正如研究所指出的，那些额外补充维生素的小孩都是健康的小孩，他们根本没有必要额外补充维生素。相反地，那些挑食的人或者是那些食物摄取受限制的人，本来最需要额外补充维生素的，但是他们却没有。
研究者还解释说，给一个小孩服用一定剂量的维生素对那些饮食均衡的孩子来说并没有害处，但是这样做是没有必要的，因为均衡的饮食已经包括了足够的纤维，低的饱和脂肪酸和足够的胆固醇。在2月份发行的《小儿与青少年保健期刊》上，有研究发现，2-4岁的小孩身体里的维生素或者是矿物质含量是最高的，而12-17岁的青少年身体里的维生素或者是矿物质含量是最低的。
有些人认为多种维生素剂能够弥补饮食中维生素的缺乏，这个观点是错误的。专家也不认同这个观点。最好的获取维生素的途径就是 直接从食物中获取，例如新鲜水果和蔬菜还有全谷类食品。然而，许多儿科医生一致同意日常生活中所需的维生素越来越难从饮食中直接获得，例如维生素D.尽管在研究中大部分食用维生素保健品的儿童都是最健康的，但是研究者还是疑惑是否维生素保健品能够改善健康状况，或者他们食用维生素保健品仅仅是因为他们的家庭是一个十分关注健康的家庭呢。