The Sticky Problems with Gummy Vitamins

By Caitlyn Vanderhaeghe, B.A., B.Ed.

Chewable multivitamins come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. And we know that vitamin and mineral supplements are important especially if you have a picky eater or an athlete in the family.  However, not all nutritional supplements are created equal. Gummy vitamins, for example, are not like other vitamin supplements. They taste like a treat but can’t provide the benefits you’d expect.  

Let’s explore why we don’t have gummy vitamins in our line of nutritional supplements at KidStar Nutrients.

Gummy Vitamins are No Treat for Your Teeth

Gummy vitamins make taking your supplement as easy as popping a piece of candy — which is bad news for your teeth. Many nutritionists and dentists we work with have concerns about children and adults getting accustomed to taking nutrients in a sticky and sugary candy format. The sticky gummy can coat your teeth with sugars that, over time, contribute to cavities and gum inflammation. Although some manufacturers have lowered the sugar content, regular brushing and flossing are not enough to fully remove the gummy material that adheres to teeth.

And it’s not just the sugar. Do we want our children to think something that looks and tastes like candy is good for us? Sugar-sweetened gummy vitamins typically have 2 to 8 grams of sugar per serving.

Mostly Gummy, Very Little Vitamin

Gummy vitamins are often made with gelatin, corn starch, sugar, lots of fillers and artificial colours, and other chemical additives to make them soft and chewy.  Besides the base ingredients there’s simply not much room left to add enough of the nutrients, so chances are you’re not receiving a therapeutic amount of nutrients when you take a gummy vitamin. The nutrients just won’t fit, especially if you require a multi-nutrient daily support formula or a special multi-nutrient to treat a deficiency or pregnancy.  You have to take handfuls of gummies to get the same dosage as a chewable tablet!

Gummy vitamins have a bad reputation for tested nutrient levels not matching what the label says. How bad is this problem? According to a 2023 JAMA study, a test of 25 different brands of gummy vitamins containing the sleep hormone melatonin found that 22 brands (88%) were inaccurately labeled. Incredibly, only three brands of melatonin gummies contained within 10% of the amount indicated on the label. Amounts of the sleep hormone in the other 22 samples ranged from 74% to 347% of what the label listed.  Some gummy suppliers have trouble ensuring the correct amount of ingredients are in the product, so they spray it on the outside like a coating, creating stability problems.

In Canada, a very well-known gummy manufacturer has had their license to sell revoked due to several Health Canada violations.  Always look for a Natural Product Number (NPN) on the label of the nutritional supplements you are buying as this number shows the product has gone through Health Canada regulatory approvals.

Artificial Food Colours and Behaviour Problems

The KidStar Difference

At KidStar, we avoid the sticky, sugary gummy issues:

• KidStar supplements are always formulated to be sugar-free. We use stevia and teeth-friendly xylitol to sweeten our supplements.
• KidStar provides chewable tablets, softgels, and other non-gummy formats for our supplements.
• KidStar does not use any artificial food dyes. Our products include only natural colours from fruit and vegetables.
• KidStar wants your family to get the full value of your vitamin and mineral supplement so we third-party test all products for potency.

When we created our line of nutritional supplements, we made a commitment to families that our nutritional supplements will always be free of sugar and artificial flavours and colours.  It takes more research and development to do this and the ingredients can cost more but the end result is better health for our families.

Find Non-Gummy Kids’ Vitamins Here