Vitamin C Intake for Kids

Vitamin C is a super power vitamin. It will improve health, prevent colds and make life more fun for kids. Kids typically get enough Vitamin C in their daily diet based off of popular foods. It is essential for kids to get the correct amount of Vitamin C because it will keep their bodies growing and healthy.

A girl sitting with an orange and a glass of orange juice in front of her. (Image: Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images)

Dosage

The amount of Vitamin C needed for children is different than for adults. According to the Daily Recommended Intake on the Baylor College of Medicine website, kids between the ages of two and three need 15 mg of Vitamin C a day. Children between four and eight require 25 mg a day and kids between the ages of nine and 13 need 45 mg a day.

Benefits

Vitamin C has many health benefits that are important for growing kids. According to the Health Vitamin Guide website, Vitamin C helps to protect the body from free radicals. This will help to keep your kids healthier. It also helps with the absorption of iron in the body, which will help kids to feel energized and decrease the risk of becoming anemic. Vitamin C can also help to lower the risk of getting cancer.

Foods

Several foods contain high amounts of Vitamin C. Kids often love fruit juice. Juice that is 100 percent fruit juice typically contains a high amount of Vitamin C. Strawberries, oranges, grapefruit, blueberries, carrots, tomatoes, broccoli, raspberries and cantaloupe all contain Vitamin C. By adding these foods into dishes, your kids like will help to increase the amount they are getting each day.

Deficiency

Vitamin C deficiencies can affect children. The most extreme form of Vitamin C deficiency is scurvy, which is rare in the U.S. population. However, according to the Health Vitamins Guide website, poor wound healing does occur frequently. Weak immune systems can also be a result of not getting enough Vitamin C, which can result in frequent colds and other infections. In some cases, kids may also become easily fatigued when they are lacking Vitamin C.

Considerations

It is important to consult your child's doctor before switching anything in their diet. Kids should be able to get all the Vitamin C they need from foods alone. If your child is having trouble getting enough Vitamin C, she can take supplements to increase the amounts. Also consider how much your child is consuming because it is possible to consume too much Vitamin C.