Vitamins in Children: Their Role, Deficiency, and a Paediatrician’s Recommendations

MUDr. Paula Jackaninová is a paediatrician and mother of two. We asked her why vitamin supplementation can make sense for children, as well as about her observations from both medical practice and personal experience.

How would you assess children’s eating habits compared to what is recommended? Do children get enough vitamins from a normal diet?

As both a paediatrician and a mother, I see every day that children’s diets are not always ideal. A varied and balanced diet is recommended, with children ideally consuming at least one portion of fruit and two portions of vegetables daily (with one portion roughly corresponding to the size of a child’s palm without the fingers). The reality, however, is often quite different.

In practice, I very frequently encounter anaemia caused by insufficient iron intake, although vitamins also play a key role in the process of blood formation. Overall, food selectiveness and picky eating are very common among children, and when this becomes a long-term pattern, it may negatively affect a child’s development.

What role do vitamins play in the body, and what are the consequences of deficiency?

Simply put, vitamins are essential and their role is complex — they influence the body and overall health as a whole. Likewise, vitamin deficiencies can manifest in many different ways, ranging from impaired psychomotor development to frequent illness in children.

The functions of vitamins in children can be summarised as follows:

• Vitamin A: vision, skin health, immunity
• B vitamins: energy production, nervous system function, blood formation
• Vitamin C: immunity, wound healing, iron absorption, blood formation
• Vitamin D: immunity, bone and tooth growth, supports calcium absorption
• Vitamin E: protects cells as an antioxidant

Lerni Gummies are additionally enriched with trace elements such as zinc (important for immunity, wound healing, cell growth, and nervous system function) and iodine (essential for thyroid function).

When is vitamin supplementation recommended?

We always aim to support healthy eating habits and therefore encourage a varied and balanced diet. However, taking multivitamins can also help — particularly by improving appetite when a deficiency is contributing to poor appetite.

Food supplements should serve as support rather than a replacement for a healthy diet. Supplementation itself is recommended in certain specific situations, such as picky eating or a highly restrictive diet, increased physical strain on the body (for example during illness or stressful periods), during growth phases, or throughout recovery after illness.

When should parents become concerned about their child’s eating habits?

Picky eating can appear in many different forms. A child may eat very small amounts, prefer only certain methods of food preparation, reject specific foods (especially vegetables), or refuse to try new meals.

In most cases, this is only a temporary phase that requires patience. It is also important to understand that after the first year of life, children naturally experience a decrease in appetite, as the rapid growth typical of infancy begins to slow down.

A positive relationship with food should be nurtured from an early age. Constant criticism, pressure, or forcing a child to eat can create negative associations with food.

Picky eating itself is very common. What matters most is whether the child is thriving overall and whether they are developing anaemia. It is always advisable to discuss the situation with your child’s paediatrician.

How can parents encourage picky eaters to enjoy a more varied diet, and what changes would you recommend?

Encouraging a child requires patience, creativity, and a positive approach. The following general principles are commonly recommended:

• No pressure: Pressure, threats, or forcing children to eat usually make the situation worse. Mealtimes should never become a battleground. Respect your child’s hunger and fullness cues. Praise even small successes instead of constantly criticising.
• Create a positive atmosphere: Try to make mealtimes pleasant and stress-free. Talk about enjoyable topics rather than focusing on how much the child has eaten. During family meals, it is also best to avoid discussing stressful situations, family or work problems, or school “failures”.
• Maintain a regular routine: Offer food and drinks at consistent intervals (for example, three main meals and two to three smaller snacks a day). This helps regulate feelings of hunger and thirst.
• Involve the child: Let children participate in grocery shopping, choosing meals, or preparing food. Children are often more willing to eat meals they have “cooked” themselves.
• Be the role model: Let children follow your example rather than the television or mobile phone. Eat together as a family, allow younger children to taste food from your plate, and serve food directly into their hands when appropriate.

How should parents choose from the many products available?

I consider Lerni Gummies multivitamins to be an interesting choice, particularly because their composition differs from many other products. They contain no added sugar or artificial ingredients, are gluten- and lactose-free, and provide a balanced combination of vitamins tailored to the needs of children aged 3 and above. They also taste great and, unlike many other forms of vitamins, children genuinely enjoy taking them.