{"id":184251,"date":"2025-06-14T17:03:14","date_gmt":"2025-06-14T17:03:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/184251\/"},"modified":"2025-06-14T17:03:14","modified_gmt":"2025-06-14T17:03:14","slug":"do-vitamin-gummies-actually-work-and-should-you-give-them-to-your-kids-we-grilled-experts-and-tested-them-to-find-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/184251\/","title":{"rendered":"Do vitamin gummies actually work and should you give them to your kids? We grilled experts and tested them to find out"},"content":{"rendered":"

THEY\u2019RE sweet, brightly-coloured and come in every shape going – from teddy bears to stars and berries.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But do vitamin gummies<\/a> really do anything? Or are they just another gimmicky wellness<\/a> product?<\/p>\n

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Two thirds of people in the UK take some kind of daily supplement – but are they a waste of time?Credit: Getty\"Kourtney<\/a><\/p>\n

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Celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian have released their own lines of vitamin gummiesCredit: Lemme\"Gwyneth<\/a><\/p>\n

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Wellness queen Gwyneth Paltrow also sells supplements through GoopCredit: Getty<\/p>\n

Vitamin supplements have been around for decades, and the chewable kinds have been on pharmacy and supermarket shelves since the 1990s.<\/p>\n

They promise to give us more energy<\/a>, better sleep<\/a>, thicker hair<\/a>, healthier skin<\/a>, stronger nails<\/a>, improved digestion<\/a> and boosted immunity<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Thanks to TikTok<\/a> trends and influencer shoutouts, these daily chews have become must-have accessories.<\/p>\n

And brands are seriously cashing in – the UK vitamins and supplements market is said to be worth \u00a3520million.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Celebs<\/a> are also jumping on the gummy train, with many coming out with their own lines.<\/p>\n

Kourtney Kardashian<\/a>, for example, created lemme gummies, which are advertised as doing everything from reducing stress<\/a> to promoting vaginal freshness.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And obviously you can\u2019t talk about supplements<\/a> without naming wellness queen Gwyneth Paltrow<\/a>, who has her own gummies through Goop<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With such big-name backing, it\u2019s easy to forget boring old pills and assume gummies are the glam way to stay healthy – but is this backed by science<\/a>?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Do we really need to take vitamin supplements?<\/strong><\/p>\n

TWO thirds of people in the UK take some kind of vitamin, mineral or supplement every day, according to Mintel.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut a lot of people take these, especially multivitamins, when they don\u2019t actually need to,\u201d Bahee Van de Bor, registered paediatric dietitian, tells Sun Health.\u00a0<\/p>\n

To supplement or not- The top 10 vitamins and minerals that are vital for health – and the best sources for each one<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only exception is vitamin D, which is recommended for most people in the UK.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re concerned there might be gaps in you or your child\u2019s diet, it\u2019s always worth looking at how your food choices could be improved first, ideally with the support of a registered dietitian.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dr Rachel Ward, NHS<\/a> GP (@drrachelwardGP), adds: \u201cThe best way to get the vitamins we need is through a healthy, balanced diet and this would always be the way I would advise people to stay well.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, if you feel this is not possible – if you\u2019re excluding certain foods, for example – then supplements can be helpful.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAn exception is vitamin D. We get very little of it in our diets and we produce most of it in our skin when it is exposed to sunlight.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know that, especially in winter, many people in the UK become deficient in vitamin D and the NHS recommends that everyone takes supplements during autumn and winter and those at risk take them all year round.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Kourtney<\/a><\/p>\n

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Kourtney’s products claim to reduce stress and promote to vaginal freshnessCredit: Instagram\/@kourtneykardash\"Close-up<\/a><\/p>\n

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Experts say pills are better than gummies as they don’t contain sugar or sweetenersCredit: GettyDo vitamin gummies work?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAS long as the gummies provide the correct dose and the manufacturer routinely tests their levels, they can be just as effective as a vitamin or mineral supplement in powder, spray or liquid form,\u201d Bahee says. <\/p>\n

\u201cGummies are often developed for children with sensory feeding difficulties or picky eaters, who may be more likely to accept them over other formats.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf a supplement is genuinely needed, tablets or capsules are often preferable as they tend to contain fewer flavourings and other extras. <\/p>\n

\u201cGummies, by design, usually require more ingredients like sugars, flavourings, gelling agents, and sometimes emulsifiers to achieve their chewy texture and appealing taste.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t take gummies myself \u2014 I prefer a tablet or spray that I can swallow. <\/p>\n

\u201cThese formats often contain fewer added ingredients, though checking the label for specifics is always important.\u201d<\/p>\n

How to choose a healthy supplement\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

ONE of the biggest questions you might have is about sugar<\/a> and artificial sweeteners.\u00a0<\/p>\n

These gummies must contain more sugar than a pill, but is it something to be worried about?<\/p>\n

According to Bahee, context is everything. It\u2019s not just about what\u2019s in the gummy, but how often you\u2019re taking it and what your overall diet<\/a> looks like.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThat said, if a gummy is the only form you or your child will consistently take, the good news is that the amount of additives, like emulsifiers, is generally very small,\u201d she says.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThere have been some studies in animals suggesting that high, repeated intake of certain emulsifiers, such as polysorbate 80 and carboxymethylcellulose, may alter gut bacteria or trigger inflammation in the gut.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cBut these were at much higher doses than you\u2019d find in a typical supplement, and we don\u2019t yet have strong evidence that this is a concern for humans at normal intake levels.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

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I did notice some health benefits. I slept like a baby and definitely had more energy!<\/p>\n

Lily Ruaah<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Dr Ward adds: \u201cVitamin gummies are very varied in the supplements they contain and the added sugar and colourings and so on.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cTherefore buy them from a reputable pharmacy, who can advise which is best for your needs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAlways opt for the low sugar version, especially for children.\u201d<\/p>\n

The top 10 vitamins and minerals<\/p>\n

Vitamin A<\/strong>\u00a0– for vision and immune\u00a0health<\/a>\u00a0in children and adults over 50+.<\/p>\n

B vitamins<\/strong>\u00a0– for red blood cell formation, neurological function, and\u00a0DNA<\/a>\u00a0synthesis.<\/p>\n

Vitamin C<\/strong>\u00a0– for the immune system, collagen production, and antioxidant function.<\/p>\n

Vitamin D<\/strong>\u00a0– for bone health, immune function, and calcium absorption.<\/p>\n

Vitamin E<\/strong>\u00a0– to protect cells from damage and support immune function.<\/p>\n

Calcium<\/strong>\u00a0– for bone health and muscle contraction.<\/p>\n

Zinc<\/strong>\u00a0– for immune function, supports wound healing and DNA synthesis.<\/p>\n

Iron<\/strong>\u00a0– for red blood cells and oxygen\u00a0transport\u00a0in the body.<\/p>\n

Magnesium<\/strong>\u00a0– for muscle function, bone health, and\u00a0energy\u00a0production.<\/p>\n

Potassium<\/strong>\u00a0– to regulate fluid balance, nerve signals, and muscle contractions.<\/p>\n

My test<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019VE always been a die hard vitamin pill taker.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Even when I was a kid, my parents would give me the edible teddy bear vitamins which, let’s be honest, tasted like chalk.\u00a0<\/p>\n

So I was keen to try something a bit tastier \u2014 enter gummies.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Vitamin gummies are all over my \u2018for you\u2019 page, as I\u2019m sure they are for everyone on #WellnessTok, and I\u2019ve been dying to try them.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When I was thinking about what vitamin gummies to choose from, there were a number of key factors. I wanted something that would:<\/p>\n