Child’s Play

by Lisa Schofield | July 1, 2024

Parents will bring their kids to you for guidance to keep their little ones healthy, happy and feeling their rightful place post-COVID.

Kids for the most part are really cute and fun, especially when they are lively and healthy. And back in the day, Gen X-ers and older Millennials were given Flintstones chewable multivitamins and went about their days.

Today, parents are looking to give their children more precise nutritional supplements, and also to use natural remedies for common kid maladies instead of the usual OTC (over-the-counter) products.

In their 2020 review published in MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), Stierman et al noted that, based on the NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) data, between 2017 and 2018 approximately 34 percent of American children and adolescents consumed a dietary supplement in the past 30 days. Up to 7.1 percent of kids and teens took two or more supplements daily during this time, and multivitamin-mineral supplements were, unsurprisingly, the most common. The authors wrote, “Because dietary supplement use is common, surveillance of dietary supplement use, combined with nutrient intake from diet, will remain an important component of monitoring nutritional intake in children and adolescents to inform clinical practice and dietary recommendations.”

COVID and Social Media: Dysfunctional Duo

There are several issues parents are grappling with that may get in the way of their kids’ health and well-being. And the elephant in the room with the sad face represents higher rates of anxiety and depression and feeling misfit. These mushroomed during and post COVID and have also impacted other areas of children’s well-being.

“The world was turned upside down in the years following the emergence of COVID-19,” declared Emily Hernandez ND, clinical educator, Biocidin Botanicals, California. Being sequestered at home for months on end created a virtual world for connection to friends. She noted that this situation was more isolating for children, who, when having to learn remotely, missed out on learning from field trips, integrating with others through team sports and extracurricular activities and also for teens, dances and graduation ceremonies.

Christophe Merville, director of pharmacy education and development, Boiron USA, Pennsylvania, agreed that living through the confines and fear of the seemingly endless COVID months had a direct effect on the mental well-being on children. “The pandemic increased more negative stress-related behaviors in children as they dealt with social isolation, worry and apprehension. While life has seemingly returned to normal, there have been some lingering after-effects.”

Further complicating childhood development are the social pressures children are exposed to daily on social media. Children and teens are inundated with messages about how they should look, dress, act and think. And this exposure comes not just from TV, as in previous generations, but from a constant stream of online media sources, all within easy reach on their phones. Such exposures are complex for parents to manage, leaving kids vulnerable to inappropriate, even damaging, messages.

Brian Keenan, ND, DOM, LAc, education manager, Washington-based Ayush Herbs Inc., said that the key concerns parents have for their otherwise healthy children are mental health, online safety and obesity. Depression and anxiety, however, didn’t start for kids in the COVID era. He noted that they have steadily been on the rise in pediatric populations for decades and that trend is continuing.

A key driver is the ubiquitous digital connection, notably social media. As a result of social media use for hours, children are able to—and do—compare themselves with increasingly impossible standards. He explained, “While the online space does offer a chance for community for certain young adults who otherwise may have difficulty relating to peers or finding friends, it does not seem to outweigh the detriment of mental health issues that have, at least in part, some root in being online.”

Dr. Keenan pointed out that excessive screen time has created an increase in sedentary lifestyle, which packs on the pounds and can slow metabolism. Childhood obesity will have undeniable “significant impacts on the child’s entire health trajectory throughout life.” Many of these issues were present in 2019, but with the advent of the pandemic, he emphasized, “it has now exacerbated these issues into truly massive proportions.”

An increasing number of children are experiencing sleep problems, Merville pointed out. “Sleep issues go hand in hand with stress and sadly, children are beginning to experience sleep deprivation just like adults,” he observed. Children need restorative sleep, about eight to 11 hours per night; insufficient sleep will impact their schoolwork, affect their moods, cause accidents, and exacerbate any health problems. “A well-rested child can deal with stressors of daily life more successfully,” he said.

Merville also warned about using melatonin, citing a New York Times survey that found nearly half the parents surveyed had given melatonin to their children who had sleep problems. However, he said, there has not been enough research to say definitively whether supplemental melatonin is safe for kids and adolescents, which is concerning for some parents. While generally thought to be safe when used for short-term sleep disturbances, long-term usage of melatonin has not been thoroughly studied nor is available data reliable. Many parents are growing concerned about potential side effects for their children, and any effects it may have on their development or puberty.

Protecting the Future

Children today may be at risk for future bone and cardiovascular issues stemming from insufficient vitamin K2 intake.

Without adequate vitamin K2 to activate undercarboxylated osteocalcin, consumed calcium cannot be properly used to fortify healthy bones. Population-based studies and clinical trials have clearly associated better K2 status in children (meaning higher levels of K vitamins found in blood serum) to healthy bone mass development. However, according to Kate Quackenbush, communications director for Gnosis by Lesaffre (France), which makes MenaQ7 vitamin K2 as menaquinone-7, a 2014 study of 42 children and 68 adults showed that concentrations of osteocalcin are eight to 10 times higher in children than adults, which means that their requirements of vitamin K2 is correspondingly higher.

Further, recent research found that most children are vitamin K2 deficient, which is believed to be caused by a diet devoid of the vitamin; children tend to consume more processed foods and not the foods containing K2, such as fermented products like kimchi, for example. This decline in children’s K2 status as compared to 50 years ago is evidenced by a population-based Minnesota study showing an increase in forearm fractures in children over a 30-year period.

A 2008 study published in the British Journal of Nutrition revealed that daily supplementation with 45-50 mcg of Vitamin K2 as MK-7 (as MenaQ7) may support bone needs from early childhood through the lifespan. Healthy children aged 6 to 10 who supplemented with 45-50 mcg of MenaQ7 for two years exhibited both improved vitamin K status and stronger, denser bones.

Furthermore, Quackenbush explained, clinical findings demonstrate that Matrix Gla Protein (MGP), which is also vitamin K2-dependent, helps inhibit arterial calcification. Certain medical cases show that calcification may begin in childhood. Hence, early supplementation with vitamin K2 may contribute to the development of healthy cardiovascular function.

Those aforementioned processed foods also can have other nefarious impacts on children’s health. According to information from California-based ChildLife Essentials, a dramatic increase in artificial chemicals and additives in foods as well as in pollutants and toxins in the environment, combined with reduced minerals in soils in several decades have had significant effects on children. Umbilical cord blood from 12 mothers at birth showed 287 toxic pollutants of which 180 were identified as potentially carcinogenic and responsible for generating brain and nervous system issues. Compared to children born 50 years ago, there were astounding increases in cases of asthma (200 percent), allergies (300 percent), ear infections (135 percent), and ADD (attention deficit disorder)/ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivitydisorder) (400 percent).

Supplement Considerations

There is a bounty of natural products that you can recommend to parents for their children, both daily supplements and as-needed remedies.

Canada-based VitaAid’s Pediatric Multi is, according to the company a “comprehensive multi-vitamin/mineral formula to support healthy development of kids.” It contains active forms of B vitamins (5-MTHF, methylcobalamin, P5P and R5P), certified organic elderberry extract and juice concentrate, zinc and vitamin A for immune support, and amino acid mineral chelates for optimal absorption.

For parents concerned about erratic attention span and behavior, VitaAid’s Modism is described as “a comprehensive formula designed to support multiple biochemical pathways of neurotransmitters and metabolic intermediates, enhance antioxidant capacity and help restore healthy microbiota; all of which have been implicated in the clinical presentations of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and ADHD.”

According to the company, this supplement supports the collateral metabolic pathways of the methylation cycle and reduce the symptoms of metabolic overload from methylation enhancement. The inclusion of S. boulardii helps to support the gut flora in cases of opportunistic bacteria overgrowth, particularly Clostridium spp. and Candida albicans.

And speaking of beneficial bacteria, Biocidin Liquid is described by Dr. Hernandez as “a potent, clinically researched herbal formulation that helps restore microbial balance in the gut.” Certified organic Biocidin Liquid blends 18 botanical extracts and essential oils in a liquid glycerin formulation to support a healthy microbiome, healthy digestion and a healthy immune response.

“A liquid glycerin formula is a perfect choice for children, as glycerin is a natural plant sweetener that also helps extract some of the medicinal constituents of the plants,” she said. “It tastes good, and dosing via drops is easy to adjust according to a child’s weight.”

Biocidin’s Proflora 4R is another gut and immune health-supporting formula that Dr. Hernandez stated is effective for children. This spore-based probiotic combines levels of three spore-forming Bacillus bacteria with herbs to help restore microbial diversity in the gut. Proflora 4R also contains quercetin, a plant-based component that supports healthy inflammation and histamine levels, as well as marshmallow root and aloe vera, which act to soothe the gut lining.

Ayush Herbs offers several children’s supplements in its For Kids liquid drops, which are herbal extracts delivered in a glycerin emulsion that are “easy use that also taste great,” Dr. Keenan commented. “We offer children’s ashwagandha drops which help children with healthy cognitive focus, sleep schedules (though it is not a sedative directly), and immune function.”

For short-term use to resolve issues that crop up, Ayush Herbs’ children’s Trifal is a combination of three herbs to promote comfortable digestion and easy elimination, and children’s Bacopa Plus drops, a blend of botanicals specifically used to help with focus, attention and memory. “We also carry family-friendly KuffSoothe which can be used for immune support and for tired or dry throats for children over the age of 2,” he added.

Beekeeper’s Naturals (Canada) offers a bundle of immune-support supplements for children who are feeling under the weather and coughing. The company’s lineup includes Kid’s Propolis Cough Syrup (daytime formula and nighttime formula) featuring buckwheat honey, elderberry and propolis with melatonin added to the night formula. Parents can give their children Propolis Throat Soothing Lollipops or Kid’s Propolis Immune Support daily throat spray. Propolis is a powerhouse for immune-boosting as it contains zinc, antioxidants, flavonoids, polyphenols and vitamins B, C and D.

“Homeopathy is a largely untapped resource for sleep issues in children,” Merville stated. Boiron offers SleepCalm Kids as a plant-based homeopathic option for occasional sleeplessness. It is formulated without melatonin to restore the balance of nighttime and daytime states in the body, rather than just masking symptoms. He explained that SleepCalm Kids “targets a symptom associated with a different sleep disorder, so the formula works well for more than one kind of occasional sleeplessness. SleepCalm Kids does not only address occasional sleeplessness or difficulty to fall asleep, but also restless sleep with sleep-talking, fidgeting or sleeping states when the child is deeply asleep, but with eyes wide open and unresponsive, or under the spell of a nightmare.”

And as children are spending more time gazing at blue light-emitting screens, eye health and vision protection are more important to address than for children of previous generations. OmniActive Health Technologies of New Jersey, the manufacturer and supplier of LuteMax 2020 announced the results of a new study in late 2023 that included 60 children aged 5 to 12 who supplemented with a Lutemax gummy containing 10 mg lutein and 2 mg zeaxanthin isomers and who engaged in blue-light screen use for at least four hours per day. Results showed that they reported less eye strain and fatigue following blue light exposure, and they exhibited more lutein and zeaxanthin in the macular pigment optical density.

Lutemax 2020 was additionally shown to positively impact children’s brain function, according to Deshanie Rai, PhD, OmniActive’s vice president of global scientific and regulatory affairs. First, visual processing speed increased in supplemented subjects. Visual processing speed indicates how quickly “the optic nerve works with your photoreceptors to perceive information, translate that into an image, and help the individual respond to that image,” Dr. Rai explained. The fact that Lutemax 2020 supplement was associated with this improvement “makes perfect sense given the fact that the retina is so closely located to the optic nerve; hence, there’s this tight eye-brain connection. They’re constantly talking to each other. So, we were able to demonstrate the phenomenon even in kids.”

She added that this is the first study “we are aware of” investigating lutein and zeaxanthin supplementation in children.

As we all know, children are the future – and ensuring their health and well-being as they grow into adulthood is critical to ensure their futures are successful.

Healthy Take Aways

• Based on NHANES data, between 2017 and 2018 approximately 34 percent of American children and adolescents consumed a dietary supplement in the past 30 days.
• Children need restorative sleep, about eight to 11 hours per night.
• A 2014 study of 42 children and 68 adults showed that concentrations of osteocalcin are eight to 10 times higher in children than adults.
• Umbilical cord blood from 12 mothers at birth showed 287 toxic pollutants of which 180 were identified as potentially carcinogenic.
• Compared to children born 50 years ago, there were astounding increases in cases of asthma (200 percent), allergies (300 percent), ear infections (135 percent), and ADD/ADHD (400 percent).