A Supplement Facts panel contains several numbers, but they do not all answer the same question. The most useful place to begin is the serving size and the age group for which the product is intended.
Start with serving size
The nutrient amount shown on the panel is the amount provided by the labeled serving—not necessarily by one drop, tablet or teaspoon. A bottle may also give different serving directions for different ages. Read the panel and directions together.
% Daily Value is a labeling reference
The percent Daily Value (%DV) helps place the amount of a nutrient in the context of a reference daily intake. It is useful for comparing labels, but it is not an individualized prescription and does not mean that every child needs a supplement providing 100% of each listed nutrient.
Age categories change the comparison
FDA labeling references differ for infants, children ages 1–3, and adults and children age 4 and older. That is why the same nutrient amount can represent a different %DV for a toddler than for an older child.
Look beyond the percentage
Consider the child’s diet, fortified foods, other supplements and any clinician-recommended treatment. Also note ingredients that display a symbol indicating that a Daily Value has not been established; this does not by itself prove that the ingredient is necessary, effective or unsafe.
A practical label check
- Is the product intended for the child’s age?
- What is the exact serving size?
- How much of each nutrient is in that serving?
- Are any nutrients duplicated elsewhere?
- Do the directions and measuring device match?
FDA: Daily Value on Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels
FDA: Dietary Supplement Nutrition Labeling
FDA: Daily Values for Infants and Children Under 4
Educational information only. This article is not individualized medical advice. Follow the finished product label and discuss questions about a child’s diet or supplement use with the child’s pediatrician.