Use of Botanical Dietary Supplements in Infants and Children and Their Effects on Health

Abstract

ÖzetBitkisel Destek Ürünleri (BDÜ), geçmişten günümüze kadar beslenmenin önemli bir parçası olmuştur. Eski zamanlarda yaşayan insanlar bebek ve çocuk hastalıklarının tedavisinde bitkilerden yararlanmışlardır. Dünya Sağlık Örgütü verilerine göre, gelişmekte olan ülkelerde yaklaşık olarak nüfusun %80'i temel sağlık ihtiyaçlarını karşılamak için bitkisel destek ürünlerinden faydalanmaktadır. Bitkisel destek ürünleri bebek ve çocuklarda üst solunum yolu enfeksiyonu, iştah eksikliği, gastrointestinal rahatsızlıklar, uyku bozuklukları, idrar yolu hastalıkları ve deri hastalıklarında kullanılmaktadır. Ayrıca Dikkat Eksikliği Hiperaktivite Bozukluğu (DEHB), depresyon, inflamatuar barsak hastalığı, kistik fibrosiz, romatoid artrit ve astım gibi kronik hastalıklarda veya kanserde tıbbi ürünlerle beraber bitkisel ürünlerin kullanımı da oldukça popülerdir. Günümüzde en yaygın olarak kullanılan bitkisel destek ürünleri ekinezya, sarı kantaron (St. John's Wort), ginseng ve ginkgo bilobadır. Ancak bebek ve çocuklarda bitkisel destek ürünlerinin kullanılmasının neden olabileceği yan etkiler, beraberinde kullanılan ilaçlarla etkileşime girebilecekleri ve kullanılan dozun yetişkinlerden farklı olacağı unutulmamalıdır. Bu derleme bebek ve çocuklarda kullanılabilecek bitkisel destek ürünlerini nedenleriyle açıklarken, sağlığı etkileyebilecek olumlu ve olumsuz yönlerini de ele almaktadır. AbstractBotanical Dietary Supplements (BDS) has an important part in the human diet throughout the history. People, who lived in ancient times, relied on the plants for the treatment of diseases of infants and children. According to World Health Organization, approximately 80 percent of the population who live in developing countries use herbal supplements in order to meet the basic health needs of relies on Botanical Dietary Supplements. These products are used for upper respiratory tract infection, lack of appetite, gastrointestinal disorders, sleep disorders, urinary tract disorders, gynecological diseases and skin diseases in infants and children. Furthermore, not only the medical products but also botanical dietary supplements are used for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), depression, inflammatory bowel disease, cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, along with chronic diseases like asthma or cancer. The most widely used botanical dietary supplements are echinacea, St. John's wort, ginseng and ginkgo biloba. On the other hand, the use of botanical dietary supplements by infants and children may cause side effects and can interact with other drugs. It should be noted that the dosage of botanical supplements for children differs from the dosage for adults. In conclusion, this paper explains which botanical dietary supplements can be used by infants and children and their positive and negative effects on health.

Rationalising Optimal Dosing of Phytotherapeutics For Use In Children: Current Status – Potential Solutions – Actions Needed

“…A recently published book chapter on the "Safety of Herbal Medicine" summarizes the two main dilemmas in this research area, overarching all categories of medicinal products containing herbs worldwide [25]: The data published here do not differentiate between herbal products of the different categories, different quality status and the different regulatory frameworks. There is only scarce information available on the benefits and risks of herbalsʼ in pediatric patients [26,27]. This lack of data creates a serious problem in the treatment of children [28].…”

Safety of Herbal Medicines in Children

“…Herbal medicine can be unconsciously used as though these products are harmless [70,71]. The use of herbal products in children is a concern, because a few information is available on their benefits and risks at these population [72,73]. This creates a serious problem in the treatment of children, and it can be occurred a serious hazard in clinical care [74].…”

Beneficial Effects of Plant Extracts and Bioactive Food Components in Childhood Supplementation

“…Dietary supplements are used in the age group ranging from birth to 18 years of age, by 31% of the population, to improve overall health (41%), maintain health (37%), supplement the diet (23%), prevent health problems (20%), and “boost immunity” (14%) [ 2 ]. From data by the World Health Organization (WHO), around 80% of the adult population in developing countries uses plant extracts for their health needs [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]. Plant extracts are also used for children, although their use must be regulated by the awareness that children differ from adults in terms of physical size, body composition, and physiology.…”

“…It is necessary to know how to regulate the use of such supplements according to a child’s body weight to avoid reaching toxic doses [ 6 ]. In a German study, 85% of children used one or more herbal supplement products [ 5 ]. Another study reported that 16% of Japanese pediatric surgical patients use herbal supplement products [ 7 ].…”