ABSTRACT
The formulation of pediatric nutritional supplements is a challenging task for food and drug industries and regulatory authorities worldwide. Various programs and nutrition policies to reduce and prevent micronutrient deficiencies have been implemented. These include subsidies, fortified food distribution, and micronutrient supplementation. Pediatric supplements have shown the highest efficacy to prevent and control micronutrient deficiencies during childhood. However, the success of such intervention depends on compliance with supplement consumption, acceptability, and intake of oral nutritional supplements. Such compliance is often suboptimal, partly because children may dislike flavor, texture, or smell. Most nutritional supplements intended for pediatric use vitamins A, D, E and B, all of which have very strong, bitter, and even offensive taste. Common mineral supplements, such as iron and zinc, are very metallic in the mouth, while calcium is chalky in taste. To make these supplements acceptable to the pediatric population, various flavoring agents are used to mask and conceal the odor, texture, and taste. Consequently, it is vital to consider the effectiveness of different ways of managing these issues in formulation development without sacrificing quality and efficacy.
