When is the right time to give children vitamin supplements – what is enough?

Vitamins and minerals are important fuels for the body’s organs to develop and function properly. Although these micronutrients do not provide energy, their deficiency will inhibit both physical and intellectual development, make children less resistant, susceptible to acute and chronic diseases, malnutrition, and stunting.

Especially premature babies, twins, children growing up too fast, poor quality of meals, not breastfed, malnourished, prolonged diarrhea, malabsorption, liver and gallbladder diseases … are often deficient in vitamins and minerals.

Micronutrient deficiency is likened to a “hidden hunger” because the signs are difficult to recognize, only when it is severe will it reveal itself. However, parents can pay attention to some signs when the child’s body begins to “show” such as slow or no weight gain, loss of appetite, digestive disorders, night fussiness, restless sleep, easy startling. , sweating, slow teething…

The types of vitamins babies need to supplement

There are about 90 different micronutrients, however one of the vitamins and minerals The most essential for a child’s development are

1/ Vitamin A

Vitamin A needed for growth, good eyesight, strengthens the immune system by protecting the integrity of the epithelial lining, helps to prevent infections. According to the National Institute of Nutrition, the need for vitamin A depends on each stage of the child. Generally, children under 6 months need 375mcg daily, children 6 months to 3 years need 400mcg/day, 4-6 year olds need 450mcg/day, 7-9 year olds need 500mcg/day and when 10-18 year olds need it 600 mcg/day.

B group vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B6, B12) make an important contribution to energy metabolism and production, and support the proper functioning of the circulatory and nervous systems. Different B vitamins have different recommendations. In which, the need for vitamin B1 to meet the body must reach 0.40mg/1,000kcal, vitamin B2 from newborn to 6 months old is 0.4mg, from 6-12 months is 0.5mg, 4-6 years old 1.1 mg, 15-18 years old 1.8 mg.

3/ Vitamin C

Vitamin C participates in many important life activities of the body such as collagen formation, and at the same time vitamin C is a strong antioxidant that helps protect the body against oxidizing agents, strengthens the immune system for children. In addition, it is also a connecting wire, helping to absorb and use iron, calcium and folic acid – essential micronutrients for children to develop height and intelligence. The need for vitamin C of children under 6 months is 25mg/day, children 6 months-6 years old 30mg/day, children 7-9 years old 35mg/day and children 10-18 years old 65mg/day

4/ Vitamin D and Calcium

Vitamin D and calcium: In order for your child to grow tall, healthy, and have a strong skeleton, this perfect pair of nutrients is indispensable. While calcium helps bones and teeth develop, vitamin D is responsible for helping the body absorb calcium better. According to the recommendations of the American Institute of Medical Research in 2011, in Vietnam, children under 1 year old need 400 IU/day, children 1 year old and older is 600 IU/day.

For calcium, children aged 6-11 months need 400 mg/day, children 1-2 years old is 500 mg/day, 3-5 years old is 600 mg/day, 6-7 years old is 650 mg/day, 8-9 years old is 700 mg/day, 10-19 years old is 1000 mg/day.

5/ Zinc

Zinc Helps the body increase the ability to absorb and synthesize protein, thereby supporting immune system function, supporting calcium absorption, protecting taste and smell cells, so having it young will have cravings. have better appetizer. The need for zinc in children under 1 year old is about 5mg/day, in children 1-10 years old about 10mg/day, adolescents about 15mg/day for boys and 12mg/day for girls.

6/ Iron

Iron is an essential micronutrient for hematopoietic function and the growth and development of cells in the immune and nervous systems, and for healthy muscles. But children are very susceptible to iron deficiency because of the high demand that the daily diet is difficult to meet. According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), children from 6 months to 1 year old need to ensure enough 11mg of elemental iron/day, from 1-3 years old 7mg/day, from 3 years old on need 10mg/day , children from 9-13 years old about 8 mg/day, children from 14-18 years old about 15mg/day for women and 11mg/day for men.

7/ Iodine

Iodine: is a micronutrient necessary for the synthesis of thyroid hormone, which helps in the growth of the body, the formation and development of the brain. Daily iodine requirements vary by age group. Breastfed babies from birth to 6 months need 40mcg, 6-12 months need 50mcg, 1-3 years old need 70mcg, 4-9 years old need 120mcg and 10-12 years old need 140mcg.

How to provide enough vitamins and minerals for children

1/ Supplementing vitamins for children through daily food

Micronutrients are not produced in the body by themselves. Therefore, in order for children not to lack micronutrients, the best way is for parents to provide them with food. However, in some cases, children need to supplement vitamins and minerals with special drugs or functional foods.

For example, children with anorexia, growth retardation, malnutrition; children who are not regularly exposed to the sun and/or are not getting enough vitamin D; children with chronic diseases of the liver, bile, hemolytic anemia affecting the absorption of nutrients; Children who are trying to lose weight or have a strict diet… Even healthy children with an unbalanced diet should take vitamin and mineral supplements.

2/ Supplementing vitamins for children through functional foods

Although dietary supplements are highly valued in supplementing vitamins and minerals for children, parents also need to be careful as they use any medicine. In particular, the first and most important thing is to use the right dose, exactly as prescribed by the doctor.

In addition, if the child is taking other medicines, including supplements, the mother should discuss and list them with the doctor before being instructed to supplement vitamins and minerals, to avoid interactions or increase – reduce the effect of TPCN

Finally, parents need to remember that vitamin and mineral supplements do not replace food, but children still need to eat a full, balanced food group.