What are the hazards of children taking health supplements

Long term or excessive use of health supplements by children may lead to health risks such as nutritional imbalance, increased liver and kidney burden, and precocious puberty. The hazards of improper use of health products mainly include disrupting normal dietary structure, inducing allergic reactions, affecting the endocrine system, increasing metabolic pressure, and masking potential diseases.

1. Interference with normal dietary structure

Health supplements may cause children to experience false satiety and reduce their intake of natural foods. Children's growth and development require comprehensive nutrition from diverse foods, and excessive reliance on health supplements can lead to imbalanced intake of vitamins and minerals. The lack of dietary fiber and plant active ingredients may affect the balance of gut microbiota.

2. Inducing Allergic Reactions

Excipients in health products such as lactose, wheat bran, or artificial additives may cause allergies. Children's immune systems are not yet fully developed, and they are prone to reactions such as rash and respiratory edema when exposed to certain protein components or herbal extracts. Calcium supplements or fish oil from some marine sources may pose a risk of heavy metal pollution.

3. Effects on the endocrine system

Health supplements containing ingredients such as royal jelly and ginseng may interfere with children's hormone levels. These substances have estrogen like effects and may induce signs of precocious puberty such as breast development and early bone age. Long term intake may affect the normal development process of the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis.

4. Increase metabolic pressure

Fat soluble vitamins A/D/E/K are prone to accumulation in the body, and excessive supplementation may lead to toxic symptoms. Infants and young children with incomplete renal excretion function may experience azotemia due to high-dose protein powder or amino acid supplements. Excessive iron intake can cause oxidative stress and organ damage.

5. Covering up potential diseases

Blind use of blood tonic health products may delay the diagnosis of anemia causes, and immunomodulation products may interfere with the judgment of infectious diseases. Some products claiming to improve memory contain neuroexcitatory components, which may mask developmental behavioral problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Healthy children can meet their nutritional needs through a balanced diet without the need for regular supplements. When there are special medical conditions, drug grade nutrients with national drug approval should be selected under the guidance of a pediatrician. Parents should regularly monitor their children's growth curves and avoid using health supplements as psychological placebos. Cultivating good eating habits can promote children's healthy growth more than any supplement, and the synergistic effect of bioactive substances and nutrients in natural foods is far superior to single ingredient supplementation.