[Effects of the use of a multivitamin preparation "Pikovit" (KRKA, Yugoslavia) on providing nursery children with vitamins].

Providing of children aged 3-5 years with vitamins C, B1, B2, B6 and PP was studied before and after intake (during 3 months) of multivitamin "Pikovit" (KRKA, Yugoslavia) by the excretion with urine of ascorbic acid, thiamine, riboflavin, 4-pyridoxic acid and N-methylnicotinamide. Before "Pikovit" intake the mean level of thiamine excretion was close to the lower border of the normal level, while ascorbic acid and N-methylnicotinamide levels were lower than the normal in 73 and 69% of the children studied, respectively. "Pikovit" induced an increase in the mean values of excretion of all vitamins studied except for ascorbic acid. The multivitamin prevented the impairment of children providing with vitamins C and B6, and improved their provision with vitamins B1, B2 and PP. However, the doses of vitamins used proved to be insufficient for complete normalization of the vitamin status in children, therefore it is necessary to use "Pikovit" in higher doses as it is recommended by the firm-manufacturer.