Vitamin A C & D Drops For Children

Created to give parents the option for children from 6 months (whenever they are offering less than 500mls of formula milk) to have the government recommended levels of Vitamin A, C and D – all in one easy drop. You can see all the details of the ingredients and why they were included below.

Ingredients

• Vegetable glycerine
• Purified water
• Vitamin C (calcium ascorbate)
• Emulsifier (sunflower lecithin)
• Vitamin A (as retinyl acetate)
• Preservative (citric acid)
• Vitamin D3 (as cholecalciferol) 

Vegetable Glycerine is a naturally occurring, sugar-like molecule used to create a smooth liquid base, gently sweeten, and help preserve liquid supplements, like these Vitamin A, C & D drops. This is important for maintaining product stability over time as they can grow yeasts and bacteria if this is not included. The amount used in our formula is tiny and well within extremely safe limits. Vegetable glycerine, such as this form of vegetable glycerine, is used in children’s supplements and medicines and has a strong safety record, and allows us to avoid less desirable alternatives like sorbitol. 

Used as a natural, plain tasting base to dilute the nutrients, making them easier to dose and neutralising the taste. 

Vitamin C – Amount included: 20mg. 66% of a child’s RNI. Form: Calcium Ascorbate 
Vitamin C is another nutrient recommended for babies and toddlers from 6months of age (or when children are having less than 500mls of formula). Vitamin C is a natural acid and can irritate the gut in certain supplemented forms. In this supplement it is provided as calcium ascorbate, a buffered (lower pH), gentle form of vitamin C that is very well tolerated. Sodium ascorbate is a cheaper form that can be used in some children’s supplement products, but is less preferred due to it’s sodium content.   

Sunflower lecithin – This is a natural food product that acts as an ‘emulsifier’. It helps with the absorption of the fat-soluble nutrients such as vitamin A and D, as it is very similar chemically to our digestive system’s own bile which we make to break up fats and make them easier to absorb. Sunflower lecithin is also a natural source of choline. The sunflower lecithin used in this Children’s A, C & D Vitamin Drop  is from sunflowers, not soya as it often is, which helps to make it suitable for anyone with allergens to soya.

Vitamin A – Amount included: 233mcg. 66% child’s RNI. Form: retinyl acetate 
An appropriate but safe dose for supporting levels of vitamin A in everyday use, in case there are dietary shortfalls of this Government recommended nutrient for young children. Also, is a perfectly safe level to take even if dietary intakes are adequate. The retinyl acetate form is a simple, well-absorbed vegan form of preformed vitamin A, enabling the product to be suitable for vegetarians and vegans (who may struggle to get enough vitamin A in their diet).  Another vegan form – Beta carotene – can also be converted into vitamin A in the body, but the conversion process can vary in efficiency between individuals, so preformed vitamin A provides a more certain source, making this an excellent vegan, bio-effective source of this nutrient.  

Citric Acid – Citric acid is a natural acid present in fruits, that helps to preserve ingredients as a whole, keeping them natural, unspoiled and effective. 

Vitamin D – Amount included: 10mcg. 100% child’s RNI. Form: Cholecalciferol 
10mcg is the NHS recommended dose for babies and toddlers. Vitamin D can be difficult to get from food, as most is synthesised in the skin on exposure to the sun. It can also be difficult to get enough from food and the levels in breast milk can vary, depending on maternal levels.  

Therefore, due to babies lack of exposure to the sun and the limited amount of vitamin D in foods, it’s important that a supplement for adults and children provides the FULL amount of Vitamin D needed, which is 10mcg.  

Importantly, babies fed infant formula do not require a vitamin D supplement if they’re having more than 500ml (about a pint) of infant formula a day. This is because infant formula is already fortified with the correct dose of vitamin D, as well as other nutrients.  

Vitamin D3 is known to be a much more ‘bio-effective’ form of Vitamin D, meaning it is available and readily used by the body. This is much more readily used than the vitamin D2 form.  

Vitamin D3 is usually not vegan as it is sourced from lanolin, which is extracted from the wool of sheep, but our D3 is sourced from algae, with a neutral taste, making this an excellent vegan, bio-effective source of this essential nutrient, in the right dose.