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Poor Kids Missing Out on Multivitamins

Well-heeled kids take them, poor need them

By Kristina Loew, Newser User

Posted Feb 5, 2009 6:45 AM CST

(Newser) – Vitamin supplements can combat kids' dietary deficiencies, but tend to be taken by those who least need them, reports Time. A five-year study found that a third of US children take supplements—but those kids are much more likely to be white, with higher incomes, healthier diets, and better health insurance than children who don't take them.

More than half of infants born in the US are eligible for national feeding programs, but only for food—vitamins are not included. Health experts are re-thinking that approach, hoping to get more supplements to lower-income kids. Despite costs, “children who face poverty, food insecurity, and lack regular balanced meals have a high likelihood of benefiting from supplements," said one doctor.

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Centrum vitamins are offered for sale at a pharmacy in Chicago. (Getty Images)

Multi-vitamins tend to be taken by the healthiest kids, a study has found. (http://www.shutterstock.com/results.mhtml#photo_id=7646524)

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We did find that vitamin and mineral supplements were used with more frequency in children who were underweight. But the rest was somewhat surprising.
- Dr. Ulfat Shaikh, lead author of the study

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Poor Kids Missing Out on Multivitamins