Pediasure and Complan are two of the popular brands of children’s nutritional drinks. They are both designed to help children grow and develop. They are often recommended by doctors to children who are picky eaters or who have a poor appetites.
But which one is more effective?
I have put both the nutritional drinks head to head here to help you decide which is better.
In this post, We’re going to take a close look at the ingredients, nutritional value and benefits of both Pediasure and Complan to figure out which one is better in quality and more effective.
Short answer: The question of which is more effective between Pediasure and Complan rests on your preferences. Complan is better if you want a higher concentration of minerals and don’t have an issue with more sugar in your nutrition drinks. However, If you want less sugar and more vitamins with additional nutrients and the benefits of probiotics, Pediasure would be your better choice.
If you want a better overview of each drink, read on to the following sections.
Let’s begin.
Also read: Bournvita Vs Horlicks: Which One Is The Better Health Drink?
What is Pediasure?
Pediasure is a milk-based nutritional drink specifically designed for children aged 2 and above. It contains 37 nutrients that support growth, immune system development, and brain function.
The brand claims that Pediasure has been scientifically proven to help increase height and weight in 90 days when consumed daily and in the recommended amounts.
One of the most important things that set Pediasure apart from other nutritional drinks is that it contains prebiotics.
Ingredients in Pediasure
The key ingredients that you would find in Pediasure include:
- Skimmed milk powder
- Sucrose
- Edible vegetable oil (soy oil and sunflower oil)
- Maltodextrin
- FOS (a type of natural sweetener)
- Medium-chain triglyceride oil (derived from coconut oil)
- M-inositol
- Taurine
- L-carnitine
- Artificial flavors
- Mineral and vitamins
What is Complan?
Complan was developed in 1942 during World War as a means of providing nutrients to soldiers. It became so popular among individuals that it started being recommended for children and people lacking in nutrition.
It arrived in India in 1969 and quickly became a favourite as a complete nourishment drink for children. More than five decades have passed since Complan became a part of Indian households.
Complan is milk based nutrition drink with 34 vital nutrients to support your children’s growth, energy, immunity and, memory & concentration.
Ingredients in Complan
The key ingredients that you would find in Complan include:
- Milk solids
- Sugar
- Peanut oil
- Maltodextrin
- Caramel (INS 150c)
- Inositol
- Taurine
- L-carnitine
- Natural & Artificial flavor
Pediasure vs Complan – Nutritional comparison
Calories
Calories are important for your child as they are the source of energy needed to function properly.
When it comes to calories, there is not a significant difference between Pediasure and Complan.
A 30g serving of Pediasure provides 136 calories, while Complan has 123 calories.
Also read: Bournvita vs Boost: Which Is Better Option For Your Child?
Fats
Complan comes with 3.3g of fat, while Pediasure comes with 4.5g of fat.
Pediasure has better quality in terms of fat as it comes with additional fatty acids like linoleic and alpha-linoleic acid that the body cannot make itself and are required for good health.
Carbohydrates
When it comes to the carbs, both the nutrition drink contains the same amount, i.e. 19g per 30g serving.
Carbohydrates are the preferred energy source for the body, so whichever you choose, both are the same.
Sugar
The less sugar you give your child, the better it will be for them, as sugar is not only bad for their health but also for their mood and behaviour.
While both the nutrition drinks come with sugar, Complan has slightly more than Pediasure.
A single 30g of Complan comes with 6.5g of sugar, while Pediasure comes with 5.1g.
So if your child already consumes lots of sugary foods, Pediasure might be the better option for you.
Protein
Protein is what makes your child grow faster and stronger.
When it comes to protein, Complan is slightly better than Pediasure.
Complan contains 30% of the daily protein needed for your child, while Pediasure has 25% of the daily recommended.
Vitamins and minerals
Pediasure and Complan both come with a high number of vitamins and minerals.
However, which one has more?
While Pediasure claims that it comes with 37 nutrients, on the other hand, Complan claims it has 34 nutrients. The 3 extra nutrients in Pediasure are arginine, vitamin K2, and FOS.
In Pediasure, out of 37 nutrients, 14 are vitamins, and 15 are minerals. While in Complan, out of 34 nutrients, 12 are vitamins, and 15 are minerals.
While the total number of minerals are same in both the nutrition drink, the overall amount of those minerals is better in Complan.
However, the overall levels of vitamins are higher in Pediasure compared to Complan.
Pediasure vs Complan – Flavors
Pediasure comes in the following flavors:
- Complete & Balanced nutrition (premium chocolate and vanilla delight)
- Pediasure Zero sucrose (for 2-6 years of kids)
- Pediasure 7+ (for children 7 years and above)(premium chocolate and vanilla delight)
Complan comes in the following flavors:
- Royal chocolate
- Kesar badaam
- Creamy classic
- Pista badaam
Pediasure vs Complan – Benefits
For strong bones
If you are looking for a nutrition drink to help your child get stronger bones, you need to keep your eye on three key nutrients, i.e. calcium, magnesium and vitamin D.
Both Pediasure and Complan offer all three nutrients. However, Complan has high levels of calcium and magnesium, while vitamin D is more concentrated in Pediasure.
However, if I had to choose one, I would go with Pediasure, and that’s because there is not a significant difference in terms of calcium and magnesium. Also, it has pretty higher levels of vitamin D compared to Complan.
For better immunity
Kids are more susceptible to diseases and infections; therefore, providing them with nutrients that will help them boost their immunity is essential.
Both Pediasure and Complan are packed with immune nutrients like vitamin C, zinc, iron, selenium and protein.
However, the levels of these nutrients(except protein) are high in Pediasure, making it a better choice for boosting your kid’s immunity.
For brain development
Proper brain development is an essential part of a child’s growth, and both the nutrition drinks claim to support this.
While both nutrition drinks are packed with essential nutrients for brain development, Pediasure is a better option as it comes with a high concentration of monosaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids.
For weight gain
If your child is a fussy eater, your child might be struggling to gain weight.
In this case, both Pediasure and complan can be helpful as they are packed with essential nutrients to help your child gain weight.
Pediasure vs Complan – Price difference
Pediasure is available in 5 sizes 200g, 400g, 500g, 1kg and 2kg. At the same time, Complan is available in 3 sizes 500g, 750g and 1kg.
If we compare prices, Complan appears to be more price friendly.
The 200g box of Complan on amazon costs around 125rs(excluding shipping), while the same amount of Pediasure box costs 320Rs, which is a significant difference.
It is important to keep in mind that the prices of both nutrition drinks fluctuate. But if you purchase any time, Complan will always be lower-priced than Pediasure.
Final words
While the Complan is one of the most trusted nutrition drinks in the market, Pediasure is relatively new.
However, both are packed with essential nutrients that can help your child grow in many ways. But when choosing one for your child, it depends on your preferences.
In conclusion, Pediasure and Complan are both effective for your child growth. While Pediasure is low in sugar and high in vitamins, and contains probiotics, Complan is high in minerals but with more sugar. Also, Pediasure has three extra nutrients you don’t get in Complan.
However, Complan is more budget friendly as compared to Pediasure. You can literally buy two boxes of Complan at the price of one box of Pediasure.
If you have good budget, go for Pediasure has it is low in sugar, has higher level of vitamins, three extra nutrients and benefits of probiotics.
I hope that this comparison of Pediasure vs Complan was helpful to you.
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