Supplements for children & teenagers

While dietary supplements for children and young people are already firmly established in other parts of the world, they are now also becoming increasingly visible in this country - whether at major food fairs or in online stores. This is a clear trend that is prompting us to take a closer look: What really matters when developing and marketing such products?

What to consider during product development?

Target group children & young people

Taste plays an even greater role in foods for children and adolescents than for adults, which is why powder, lozenges or gummies are popular dosage forms. Particular attention must be paid to the dosage of active ingredients in food supplements for such a vulnerable target group, as the doses required to cover the daily requirement of vitamins and minerals are usually lower than for adults. For example, the EFSA specifies a PRI ("Population Reference Intake") of 45 mg/day for vitamin C for the age group of 7-10 year olds, whereas the PRI for adults is 95 mg/day.

True to the motto "a lot does not always help a lot", overdosed products should be avoided. In addition, some raw materials are generally not suitable for use in products for children and adolescents. For example, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment recommends the warning "Not suitable for children and adolescents" on the packaging of food supplements containing copper, as children already absorb enough copper through their normal diet and the excess amounts can accumulate in the liver.

What is actually lacking?

From 2015-2017, the Robert Koch Institute conducted the EsKiMo II nutrition study, which looked at the diet of children and young people in Germany. According to this study, children and young people eat too little plant-based food and too much meat, sweets and snacks instead. The intake of fiber, vitamin D and iodine was not considered optimal for some children and adolescents. In the case of girls in particular, the supply of iron is also rated as too low in some cases. Furthermore, according to the study, 33% of young people do not consume enough calcium and potassium.

Promotion of dietary supplements for children & adolescents

When advertising food supplements for children and adolescents, it is important to know that the health claims permitted in Regulation No. 432/2012 only apply to adults and may not be used for children's products! There is a separate, more restricted selection of permitted health claims for children.

Children's health claims for food supplements

alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid
Essential fatty acids are needed for healthy growth and development in children.

Protein
Protein is needed for healthy growth and bone development in children.

Calcium
Calcium is needed for healthy growth and bone development in children.

Calcium and vitamin D
Calcium and vitamin D are needed for healthy bone growth and development in children.

Vitamin D
Vitamin D is needed for healthy bone growth and development in children.

Vitamin D contributes to the normal function of the immune system in children.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
The intake of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) contributes to the normal development of vision in infants up to the age of 12 months.

The intake of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) by the mother contributes to normal eye development in the fetus and breastfed infant.

The mother's intake of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) contributes to normal brain development in the fetus and breastfed infant.

Iodine
Iodine contributes to the normal growth of children.

Iron
Iron contributes to the normal cognitive development of children.

Phosphorus
Phosphorus is needed for healthy growth and bone development in children.

Vitamin D for the child's immune system

Immune products are particularly popular in the children's and young people's range of food supplements. For children's immune products, it makes sense to use vitamin D in the formulation, as only this has a children's health claim relating to the immune system and may be advertised accordingly.

Our children's drink powder "Immunino" with multivitamin flavor contains vitamin D as well as other important vitamins and minerals such as calcium, vitamin C and B vitamins.

We would be happy to develop your individual product together with you!

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When do children build up an immune system?

The development of the immune system begins in the womb - from the 10th week of pregnancy - but it is not fully mature until years later. Newborns are born with an innate immune system that protects them from many germs in the first few weeks of life. They also receive valuable antibodies through their mother's milk, which strengthen the immune system.

During the first few years of life, the child's immune system is constantly learning: Every contact with new viruses or bacteria trains the body's own defenses. From around school age, the immune system functions in a similar way to that of adults, even if it continues to develop and stabilize until puberty.

Nutrients that go into the bones

Bone growth is also very important in children and adolescents. This process can continue until the age of 20 and is positively influenced in particular by the intake of sufficient calcium and vitamin D, regular exercise and sufficient sunlight (to boost the body's own vitamin D production).

One conceivable product concept would be a lozenge with calcium, magnesium, iodine and vitamin D in a raspberry-cream flavor. Feel free to contact us if you are missing a bone growth product in your range!

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Discover our product world

Are you interested in children's health and nutritional supplements for children? Take a look at our product world on the subject of "Children and young people" and let yourself be inspired. Of course, we are also available to help you personally - simply send us your inquiry using our inquiry form!

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