While 60.2% of US adults reported taking a dietary supplement in CDC's most recent NHANES-based data brief (published May 2026, survey period August 2021–August 2023), the number for children and teenagers is notably lower: 35.7% of youth ages 0–19 used a supplement in the same 30-day window.
The age pattern within childhood is itself uneven
Supplement use isn't flat across childhood — it actually peaks in early childhood and dips in the teen years:
- Ages 0–1: 28.6%
- Ages 2–11: 41.9% (the highest rate in any youth bracket)
- Ages 12–19: 30.1%
The dip back down in the teenage years is worth noting — it roughly coincides with less parental oversight of daily routines (a young child's supplement is usually parent-administered; a teenager's is not) and, for some, the point where pediatric multivitamin gummies stop feeling age-appropriate.
What actually predicts whether a child needs a supplement
Unlike the broad population-level statistic, the actual clinical answer for any individual child depends on specific, checkable factors rather than age alone:
- Diet restrictions — a child on a vegan or dairy-free diet has genuinely higher, checkable risk for B12, calcium, iron and vitamin D specifically, not a vague "kids need vitamins" risk.
- Picky eating patterns — selective eaters who avoid entire food groups (all vegetables, all proteins) for extended periods are a recognized pediatric risk group, distinct from typical toddler food refusal phases.
- Sun exposure and geography — children in northern latitudes or who spend most time indoors face the same vitamin D risk factors as adults.
- Growth spurts and appetite — rapid growth periods increase iron and calcium demand relative to a child's typical intake.
What doesn't predict it: a "just in case" instinct
Pediatric guidance generally does not support giving a healthy child eating a varied diet a daily multivitamin as blanket insurance — the doses in most children's gummy vitamins are too low to correct an actual deficiency, and a genuinely varied diet already covers most nutrient needs without supplementation. The decision is more useful when it's targeted: does this specific child have an identifiable diet gap or risk factor, not "supplements are generally good so more is better."
How the decision differs from an adult's
Deciding whether a child needs a supplement isn't simply a smaller version of the adult decision — dosing matters more acutely (children's upper limits for fat-soluble vitamins are considerably lower than adult limits, making over-supplementation a real risk with gummy vitamins that taste like candy), and the evidence base for pediatric supplementation is generally thinner than adult research, since large-scale trials in children are harder to conduct for ethical and practical reasons. This is part of why pediatric guidance tends to be more conservative and more targeted than general adult supplement advice.
A practical note for parents of picky eaters
Selective or restrictive eating is one of the more common reasons parents consider a supplement, and it's worth distinguishing between a typical developmental phase (many toddlers go through periods of rejecting entire food categories, which usually resolves) and a more persistent, extreme pattern that genuinely limits nutrient variety over months. The latter is worth discussing with a pediatrician specifically, since it may warrant either a targeted supplement or professional feeding support, rather than a general multivitamin used as a blanket fix.
The honest bottom line
A lower supplement-use rate among children isn't inherently a problem to fix — for many kids eating a reasonably varied diet, it may simply reflect that supplementation isn't needed. The number worth paying attention to isn't the population percentage, it's whether your specific child has one of the concrete risk factors above.
Source: CDC/NCHS Data Brief No. 561, "Dietary Supplement Use: United States, August 2021–August 2023," published May 2026.