Does this supplement replace fruit and a full diet? — Food supplement. Vitamin C with apple flavor.- FARMGROUP

No. Vitamin C in tablets is a convenient way to add a familiar nutrient to a child's diet, but it does not replace fruit, berries and other varied food, which provide not only ascorbic acid but also fibre, water and many other substances.

Vitamin C takes part in a number of processes in the body: it helps cope with oxidative stress, is needed for the formation of collagen (a protein important for skin, gums, blood vessels and other tissues) and takes part in the work of the immune system. A growing body needs to get it regularly — from food or, where necessary, from supplements.

That is why such tablets are sensibly regarded as an addition to a balanced diet, not as its basis. If a child eats well and varied food, extra vitamin C is not always needed, and the question of whether a course is worthwhile is best discussed with a specialist.