The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has issued a health warning to parents about children’s supplements containing zinc picolinate and seleniumn – neither of which is permitted in health supplements for under-18s.
The regulator said the ingredients have been flagged in its official guidance on complementary medicines and health supplements as unsuitable for children, due to safety concerns, reports the Cape Argus.
Zinc picolinate, regardless of dose, may cause a range of side effects in children, including indigestion, diarrhoea, headaches, nausea and vomiting.
“As the bio-availability of zinc from zinc picolinate is variable due to multiple factors, the risk of side effects may be higher and unpredictable.”
Selenium, meanwhile, poses different risks. While it is a trace mineral that may be required in certain circumstances, SAHPRA warned that supplementation in children can easily lead to excessive intake, “and is a safety concern, considering the potential differences in selenium daily intake between different population groups”.
The sale and distribution of medicines containing ingredients, zinc picolinate and selenium, which are intended for use in children, must be withdrawn from the shelves within six months from January, according to Yuven Gounden from SAHPRA.
The alert comes amid growing scrutiny of baby and children’s products in South Africa.
Consumer safety experts say the latest warning highlights a broader issue around the regulation of supplements and nutrition products marketed for children, particularly those sold over the counter or online.
Parents are advised not to assume that “natural” or “supplement” labels automatically mean a product is safe for children.
Cape Argus PressReader article – SAHPRA urges parents to check safety of supplements (Open access)
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