Are Nutritional Supplements Beneficial for Child Athletes?

Active children need adequate nutrients to grow, run fast, and recover well. Sports increase their need for energy-giving carbs, muscle-building proteins, and strong-bone vitamins. When busy schedules or picky eating make regular meals short on these nutrients, PediaSure®* may offer a quick, reliable way to bridge the gap.

Children who participate in sport must fuel both physical activity and normal growth.

Adolescent athletes can have different nutritional requirements from less active children because they are managing the combined demands of training, competition, growth and development. Their diet needs to provide sufficient energy, carbohydrates, protein, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals and fluids.

When these needs are met, nutrition can help a child:

• Maintain energy during training and competition
• Recover between exercise sessions
• Support normal growth and development
• Build and maintain bones and body tissues
• Maintain concentration at school and during sport
• Support normal immune function

Good nutrition cannot replace training, rest or appropriate coaching. However, inadequate nutrition can make it more difficult for a young athlete to train, recover and develop effectively.

A young athlete’s energy intake needs to cover normal body functions, everyday activities, growth and the additional energy used during sport.

When a child consistently consumes less energy than their body requires, this is known as low energy availability. Persistent or severe low energy availability may contribute to Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport, or REDs, which can affect bone health, growth, hormones, immunity, mood and athletic performance.²

Possible signs that a child may not be eating enough include:²
● Persistent tiredness
● Reduced sporting performance
● Poor recovery between sessions
● Recurring injuries or illnesses
● Difficulty concentrating
● Unexplained weight loss
● Slower-than-expected growth
● Menstrual changes in adolescent girls
● Increased anxiety about food, weight or body shape

These signs should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional rather than managed by adding supplements without an assessment.

Young athletes need the same essential nutrients as other children, but their total requirements may be influenced by their activity level, training schedule and stage of development.

Carbohydrates are an important source of energy for exercising muscles.³

Nutritious carbohydrate sources include:
● Wholegrain bread and cereals
● Rice, pasta and potatoes
● Fruit
● Milk and yoghurt
● Beans and lentils

Children who train regularly may benefit from including carbohydrate-rich foods at meals and snacks, particularly before and after demanding activity.

Protein provides amino acids needed for normal growth and the maintenance and repair of body tissues.3³

Suitable sources include:
● Eggs
● Milk, yoghurt and cheese
● Fish and chicken
● Lean meat
● Beans and lentils
● Nuts and seeds
● Soy foods

Research involving healthy, active children has found that consuming protein after breakfast supports a positive whole-body protein balance.⁴

Dietary fats provide energy, support cell development and help the body absorb fat-soluble vitamins.³

Healthy sources include:
● Avocado
● Nuts and seeds
● Olive oil
● Oily fish
● Nut and seed spreads
● Dairy foods

Very low-fat diets may make it difficult for active children to obtain enough energy and essential fatty acids.

Childhood and adolescence are important periods for building bone mass.3 Calcium and vitamin D support normal bone development, which is particularly relevant for children involved in running, jumping and contact sports.

Calcium-rich foods include:
● Milk
● Yoghurt
● Cheese
● Calcium-fortified alternatives
● Tinned fish with edible bones
● Selected green vegetables

Children at risk of vitamin D deficiency should be assessed by a healthcare professional before supplementation.

Iron helps transport oxygen around the body and contributes to normal energy metabolism.³

Iron requirements can be particularly important for:
● Athletes who menstruate
● Endurance athletes
● Children following vegetarian or vegan diets
● Children with restricted food intake
● Athletes experiencing persistent tiredness

Iron-containing foods include lean meat, poultry, fish, legumes, iron-fortified cereals and leafy green vegetables. Iron supplements should only be used following professional assessment because excessive iron intake can be harmful.

No. Complete nutritional supplements, sports drinks and energy drinks are different product categories.

A complete nutritional supplement usually provides a combination of energy, protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals.

PediaSure® Powder contains all of the nutrients listed above. It provides complete, balanced nutrition and has been clinically shown to support^* appetite^6,7 immunity^6,7 and growth.^6,8,9

Sports drinks generally provide water, carbohydrates and electrolytes. They may have a role during prolonged, vigorous activity or sustained exercise in hot conditions, but they are usually unnecessary for everyday play or short training sessions.⁵

Energy drinks may contain caffeine, stimulants and high amounts of sugar. They are not appropriate hydration or nutrition products for children and adolescents.¹⁰

Products such as pre-workout powders, fat burners, testosterone boosters and muscle-building supplements should not be treated as routine nutrition for young athletes.¹

Products such as pre-workout powders, fat burners, testosterone boosters and muscle-building supplements should not be treated as routine nutrition for young athletes.¹

An age-appropriate nutritional supplement may be considered when a child has a genuine and persistent gap between their nutritional requirements and their normal food intake.

This may occur when a child:
● Has a very high training load
● Is a selective or picky eater5
● Regularly misses meals
● Has a poor appetite
● Has a restricted diet
● Has food allergies or intolerances
● Has difficulty eating around training
● Is not growing as expected
● Has been identified as nutritionally at risk
● Has an increased nutritional requirement due to a health condition
● Needs a practical snack when a balanced meal is unavailable.

Randomised studies in younger children who were nutritionally at risk and had picky-eating behaviours found that oral nutritional supplementation combined with dietary counselling supported improvements in growth measures compared with dietary counselling alone.⁵

For families considering an age-appropriate complete nutritional supplement such as PediaSure®, the decision should be based on the child’s overall diet, appetite, growth and nutritional needs.

It may provide a convenient source of energy, protein and micronutrients when:
● A child regularly struggles to eat enough
● Picky eating significantly limits food variety
● A meal is delayed after training
● Appetite is poor at a time when additional nutrition is needed
● A paediatrician or dietitian has recommended nutritional supplementation.

PediaSure® should complement, not routinely replace, a varied diet. Whole foods remain important because they provide dietary variety, fibre and opportunities for children to develop sustainable eating habits.

Parents should follow the product label and seek professional advice about the appropriate serving size, timing and frequency for their child.

A suitable pre-exercise meal or snack can provide energy without causing unnecessary stomach discomfort.

A balanced meal may be eaten approximately two to four hours before activity. When less time is available, a smaller carbohydrate-rich snack may be more comfortable.

Examples include:
● Cereal with milk
● Toast with cheese or nut butter
● Fruit and yoghurt
● A small sandwich
● A banana and milk
● A fruit smoothie
● Crackers with cheese
● An age-appropriate nutritional drink when normal food intake is inadequate

Children should avoid trying unfamiliar foods immediately before an important competition.

After training, children should replace fluids and consume a combination of carbohydrates and protein.

Suitable recovery options include:
● Milk and fruit
● Yoghurt with cereal
● Eggs on toast
● A chicken or cheese sandwich
● A fruit and yoghurt smoothie
● Tuna with crackers
● A balanced meal containing rice, pasta or potatoes with a protein source

An Oral Nutritional Supplement (ONS) like Pediasure® may be a practical alternative when a child has little appetite or cannot access a normal meal.

They can be beneficial when they correct an identified nutritional gap or help a child who cannot consume enough energy and nutrients through food. They are unlikely to provide additional benefit when a child is already well nourished and growing normally.

A supplement does not directly create sporting skill, speed or strength. Correcting inadequate nutritional intake may help a child maintain energy, recovery and normal growth, but supplements should not be marketed as a substitute for training, sleep or a balanced diet.

No. Most active children can obtain adequate protein from normal meals and snacks. Protein supplements should not be used simply because a child participates in sport.

It may occasionally provide a practical option when a child cannot tolerate solid food, such as before an early training session. However, it should not routinely replace balanced meals.

Parents should consult a paediatrician or registered dietitian if a child has:
● Persistent fatigue
● Poor or declining growth
● Unexplained weight loss
● Recurring illness or injury
● A very limited diet
● A diagnosed deficiency
● Menstrual changes
● Anxiety about food or weight
● Regular use of performance supplements
● A medical condition affecting nutritional needs

For active children and young athletes, proper nutrition is critical, not only for optimal sports performance but also for long-term growth and overall health. PediaSure® offers a scientifically-backed, convenient, and versatile solution that may help bridge nutritional gaps in the diets of active children.

Parents should consider their child’s entire diet, growth pattern and training schedule and consult a qualified healthcare professional before introducing regular supplementation.

This article is provided for general educational purposes and does not replace individual medical or nutritional advice.

*Food for Special Medical Purposes. Use under medical supervision.

*In children at nutritional risk.

References :
1. Barretto JR, et al. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2024;100(Suppl 1):S31-S39, Mountjoy M, et al. Br J Sports Med. 2023;57(17):1073-1097,
2. Mountjoy M, et al. Br J Sports Med. 2023;57(17):1073-1097,
3. Purcell L K; Paediatr Child Health. 2013;18(4):200-205,
4. Volterman KA, et al. J Nutr. 2017;147(5):807-815,
5. Schneider MB, et al. Pediatrics. 2011;127(6):1182-1189,
6. Huynh DTT, et al. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2015;28:623–35. 7. Ghosh AK, et al. J Int Med Res. 2018 Jun;46(6):2186–2201.
8. Huynh DTT, et al. J Nutr Sci. 2016;5:e20.
9. Alarcon, et al. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2003:42:209–17. 10. Khanna D, et al. Nutrients. 2021;13(10):3590.