Vitamin D and omega-3 are two nutrients that come up again and again in conversations about children's food. Both are hard to get from a typical child's plate, and both come mainly from a small number of sources: the sun and a few foods for vitamin D, oily fish for omega-3. This article explains what each one does, how much children need, and what a daily dose of D-Omega Drops gives.
Vitamin D: why children need it
Vitamin D is needed for normal growth and development of bone in children. It helps the body absorb calcium, contributes to the maintenance of normal bones and teeth, and contributes to the normal function of the immune system.
The skin makes vitamin D when bare skin is in the sun, but clothing, sunscreen, time indoors and darker skin all reduce how much it makes. Few foods contain much of it: oily fish, egg yolks and fortified milk or cereals are the main ones.
The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements recommends 15 µg (600 IU) of vitamin D a day for children aged 1 to 13, from all sources together: food, sunlight and supplements. In the UK, the NHS advises a daily supplement of 10 µg for children aged 1 to 4 all year round.
Omega-3: DHA and EPA
Omega-3s are a family of fats. Two of them, DHA and EPA, are found mainly in oily fish such as salmon, sardines and mackerel. DHA is one of the building blocks of the brain and the eyes, where it is found in high levels. Plant foods such as walnuts, chia and flaxseed give a different omega-3, ALA, which the body turns into DHA and EPA only in small amounts.
There is no official daily amount for DHA and EPA in children, so most advice is about eating fish: two portions a week of low-mercury fish. Many children rarely eat fish at all.
What one daily dose of D-Omega Drops gives
D-Omega Drops puts both nutrients in one bottle. Each daily dose of 20 drops contains, as printed on the pack:
| In 20 drops | Amount |
|---|---|
| Vitamin D3 | 10 µg (400 IU) |
| Fish oil | 167 mg |
| of which EPA | 25 mg |
| of which DHA | 25 mg |
The fish oil is from Iceland. The other ingredients are sunflower oil and a natural citrus flavour, and a 30 ml bottle holds 50 daily servings.
The 400 IU of vitamin D3 counts towards your child's daily total, alongside what they get from food and sunlight. If your child already takes another product with vitamin D, ask the doctor before giving both.
How to give it
D-Omega Drops is for children over 1 year. Give 20 drops once a day, directly or in milk or juice, and do not exceed the recommended daily dose. Ask your child's doctor before you start, especially if your child has a fish allergy, a health condition or takes any medicine. The how to use page has the step-by-step directions and all the cautions from the pack.
Food supplements should not replace a varied, balanced diet. Oily fish twice a week, eggs, and time playing outdoors all still count.
Sources
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin D: Fact Sheet for Consumers
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Fact Sheet for Consumers
- NHS. Vitamin D