Kids' Supplements: Gummies, Dyes, and Upper Limits
28.4% of the 1,758 on-market supplements made only for children are gummies, 1.6% list a synthetic FD&C dye, and some declare a per-serving dose above children's tolerable upper intake levels.
Doses above children's upper intake levels
Each product's per-serving label dose, compared with the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for the youngest age band it targets.
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| Nutrient | Ages 1–3: UL | Over UL | Ages 4–8: UL | Over UL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niacin (Vitamin B3) Applies to synthetic niacin forms from supplements and fortified foods | 10 mg NE | 64 / 138 (46.4%) | 15 mg NE | 53 / 153 (34.6%) |
| Vitamin A Preformed vitamin A only | 600 mcg RAE | 31 / 166 (18.7%) | 900 mcg RAE | 5 / 45 (11.1%) |
| Magnesium Supplemental magnesium only (food and water not counted) | 65 elemental mg | 15 / 128 (11.7%) | 110 elemental mg | 20 / 126 (15.9%) |
| Zinc | 7 elemental mg | 34 / 323 (10.5%) | 12 elemental mg | 26 / 199 (13.1%) |
| Selenium | 90 elemental mcg | 2 / 69 (2.9%) | 150 elemental mcg | 1 / 77 (1.3%) |
| Vitamin D | 63 mcg | 3 / 370 (0.8%) | 75 mcg | 6 / 249 (2.4%) |
| Vitamin C | 400 mg | 0 / 388 (0%) | 650 mg | 4 / 271 (1.5%) |
| Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) | 30 mg | 1 / 269 (0.4%) | 40 mg | 2 / 195 (1%) |
| Iodine | 200 elemental mcg | 2 / 232 (0.9%) | 300 elemental mcg | 0 / 111 (0%) |
| Iron | 40 elemental mg | 0 / 81 (0%) | 40 elemental mg | 0 / 62 (0%) |
| Calcium | 2,500 elemental mg | 0 / 138 (0%) | 2,500 elemental mg | 0 / 125 (0%) |
ULs from the National Academies Dietary Reference Intakes (vitamins, elements).
Niacin (Vitamin B3): examples above the UL
- Prolyn For Kids (Laboratorios ALFA) — 25 mg NE per serving vs. 10 UL for ages 1–3
- Kid Natural Absolutely Delicious Natural Fruit Flavor (Healthy 'N Fit) — 24 mg NE per serving vs. 10 UL for ages 1–3
- Kid Natural Fruit Flavor (Healthy 'N Fit) — 24 mg NE per serving vs. 10 UL for ages 1–3
- Kid's Stuff Complete With Probiotics Cherry Flavor (Vitabase) — 20 mg NE per serving vs. 10 UL for ages 1–3
- Power Teen (NaturesPlus) — 50 mg NE per serving vs. 15 UL for ages 4–8
- ChildEssence (Integrative Therapeutics) — 40 mg NE per serving vs. 15 UL for ages 4–8
- Added Attention (Buried Treasure Liquid Nutrients) — 40 mg NE per serving vs. 15 UL for ages 4–8
- Added Attention (Buried Treasure Liquid Nutrients) — 40 mg NE per serving vs. 15 UL for ages 4–8
Vitamin A: examples above the UL
- Kid's Stuff (Vitabase) — 1,500 mcg RAE per serving vs. 600 UL for ages 1–3
- Gummy Swirls (CVS Pharmacy) — 780 mcg RAE per serving vs. 600 UL for ages 1–3
- Gummi Vites (Trader Joe's) — 780 mcg RAE per serving vs. 600 UL for ages 1–3
- Kid's Gummy Multi-Vitamin (365 Everyday Value) — 780 mcg RAE per serving vs. 600 UL for ages 1–3
- Tall Tree Natural Orange & Pineapple Flavor (Country Life) — 1,500 mcg RAE per serving vs. 900 UL for ages 4–8
- Kids' Multi-Vitamin (Tropical Oasis) — 1,500 mcg RAE per serving vs. 900 UL for ages 4–8
- Chewable Perfect Kids Wild Berry (Super Nutrition SimplyOne) — 1,350 mcg RAE per serving vs. 900 UL for ages 4–8
- Kinder Well (Natural Cherry Flavor) (Priority One Nutritional Supplements) — 975 mcg RAE per serving vs. 900 UL for ages 4–8
Magnesium: examples above the UL
- Bonez Play (KidzPlay) — 201 elemental mg per serving vs. 65 UL for ages 1–3
- Kids' Magnesium Citrate (LifeTIME) — 200 elemental mg per serving vs. 65 UL for ages 1–3
- Kids' Calcium Magnesium Citrate Natural Cherry Flavor (LifeTIME) — 200 elemental mg per serving vs. 65 UL for ages 1–3
- Kids' Calcium Magnesium Citrate Natural Mixed Fruit Flavor (LifeTIME) — 200 elemental mg per serving vs. 65 UL for ages 1–3
- Fizzy Mag Tasty Lemon Lime Flavor (Little DaVinci) — 420 elemental mg per serving vs. 110 UL for ages 4–8
- KidsActive Fruit Punch Flavor (Advanced Nutrition by Zahler) — 300 elemental mg per serving vs. 110 UL for ages 4–8
- KidsActive Fruit Punch Flavor (Advanced Nutrition by Zahler) — 300 elemental mg per serving vs. 110 UL for ages 4–8
- Kids Mineral Formula Mixed Berry (SmartyPants) — 250 elemental mg per serving vs. 110 UL for ages 4–8
Synthetic dyes
| Dye | Kids' products |
|---|---|
| FD&C Blue #2 | 17 |
| FD&C Red #40 | 15 |
| FD&C Yellow #6 | 11 |
| FD&C Blue #1 | 7 |
| FD&C Yellow #5 | 3 |
See Restricted Elsewhere for where each dye faces warning labels, phase-outs, or revocation.
By age band and format
| Ages 1–3 | 785 |
| Ages 4+ | 538 |
| Infants | 248 |
| Children (age unspecified) | 187 |
| Liquid | 530 |
| Gummy or Jelly | 499 |
| Tablet or Pill | 371 |
| Powder | 162 |
| Other (e.g. tea bag) | 95 |
Method
“Kids-only” products are on-market labels whose DSLD target groups name children or infants and no adult group; products labeled for both are excluded because their serving size is usually an adult serving. Infant products are excluded from UL checks. Preformed vitamin A counts only rows naming retinyl palmitate or acetate (the UL excludes beta-carotene, and labels saying only “Vitamin A” can't be split). Folate and vitamin E are not checked because their ULs use units that don't map cleanly onto label declarations.
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