Vitamins needed by children
Do you know what vitamins children need? Growing children need enough vitamins and minerals for their health. Most children get enough nutrients from a balanced diet, but in certain cases, children may need vitamins and minerals as supplements. This article is part of Nutrition And Child health Dr. Salam provides you with all kinds of information about vitamins needed by children.
Food and vitamins needed by children
The food needs of children depend on their age, gender, size, growth and activity level. According to experts, children between the ages of 2 and 8 years need 1000 to 1400 calories per day. Children between 9 and 13 years old should receive 1400 to 2600 calories daily, which depends on certain factors such as the child’s activity level.
In addition to getting the required calories, a child’s diet should include the following:
Foodstuff |
Required amount for ages 1 to 3 |
Required amount for ages 4 to 8 |
Calcium |
700 mg |
1000 mg |
iron |
7 mg |
10 mg |
Vitamin A |
300 mg |
400 mg |
Vitamin B12 |
0.9 mg |
1.2 mg |
Vitamin C |
15 mg |
25 mg |
While the above foods are the main ones, they are not the only ones that are sufficient for the child’s body. Children need some vitamins and minerals for proper health and growth, but the exact amount varies according to the age of the child. Older children and teenagers need different amounts of these nutrients than children.
Do children have different nutritional needs than adults?
Children have the same nutritional needs as adults, but usually less. During growth, children should receive enough nutrients for bone strength, such as calcium and vitamin D. In addition, iron, zinc, iodine, choline, vitamin A, B6, B12, and D play a vital role in their brain system. Therefore, although children need less vitamins and minerals than adults, they must consume sufficient amounts of these nutrients for proper growth.
Vitamins needed by children and their supply through supplements
In general, children with a healthy and balanced diet do not need vitamin supplements. However, infants have different nutritional needs than older children and may require specific supplements, such as vitamin D for infants. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Dietetics both disagree with excessive nutritional supplements in addition to a well-balanced, healthy diet for children over one year of age.
These organizations recommend that children consume sufficient amounts of fruits, vegetables, legumes, dairy products, and protein. These foods include essential nutrients for the proper growth of children. Overall, children who eat a well-balanced diet that includes all food groups will not usually need vitamin or mineral supplements.
Some children may need nutritional supplements.
Although most children do not need vitamins with a healthy diet, certain conditions may require these supplements. Certain mineral and vitamin supplements may be needed for children who are at risk of vitamin deficiencies or deficiencies. Like people who:
- They are vegetarians or have a vegetarian diet.
- Under conditions, they have difficulty absorbing food and need more food, such as people with abdominal diseases, cancer, fibroids, cysts or intestinal diseases.
- They have had a history of surgeries that affected their stomach or intestines.
- They are bad at eating, or so to speak, they only eat fingernails and are unable to eat different foods.
Specifically, children on a plant-based diet are at risk for calcium, iron, zinc, vitamin B12, and D deficiency, especially if they do not eat any animal meat. Vegetarian diets are dangerous for children, especially for Vitamin B12 which is in animal meat, the substitute is not selected. Not replacing such items in children’s diet will result in abnormal and low growth.
Although children on a plant-based diet may be getting enough nutrients from plant-based foods with vitamins and minerals. Children with abdominal and intestinal diseases may have difficulty absorbing various vitamins and minerals, especially iron, zinc, and vitamin D. The reason is the effect of these diseases on the nutrient absorption areas.
On the other hand, children with cysts have difficulty absorbing fat. As a result, they cannot absorb enough fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, K. In addition, children with cancer, and other diseases that increase the need for food, may need specific supplements to prevent Malnutrition find a need
A study has been conducted on 937 children between the ages of 3 and 7, which shows that children’s lack of appetite is related to iron and zinc deficiency. Until, the results showed that the blood levels of these minerals are completely different between malnourished children and normal children. However, the prolongation of this malnourishment causes a lack of nutrients in the body, which results in the child’s need for supplements.
Selection of vitamins needed by children and their amount
If your child is on a restricted diet, they may not be getting enough or if they are malnourished, they may need vitamins. When choosing a supplement, look for brands that have been tested for quality by a third party, such as an International Standard, US Pharmacopoeia, Consumerlab, or Food Control Group certification.
Be sure to choose a vitamin that is special for children and make sure that they do not have too high a dose that increases the need for food in children during the day.
Necessary precautions regarding minerals and vitamins needed by children
Mineral and vitamin supplements can be toxic to children if consumed in large quantities. This is especially true for fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, which are stored in fat. A case of vitamin D toxicity has been reported in a child who had taken a large amount of supplements.
Note that sticky or gummy vitamins, in particular, can be overdone. A study has shown the toxicity of vitamin A in children, which is also reported to be the chocolate form of this vitamin. The best way is to keep vitamins out of the reach of children. For older children, it is also possible to explain how and how much to take vitamins so that they do not overdo it.
How to make sure that the child gets enough nutrients?
In order for children to have a healthy diet and not need supplements, they should use a variety of foods. Consumables should include fruits, vegetables, legumes, protein, healthy fat, and dairy products that provide the body with the necessary vitamins and minerals for the child. To encourage the child to eat vegetables and fruits, provide them in different shapes and flavors.
Healthy diet for children It should have a limited amount of sugar and artificial ingredients and focus more on fruits instead of juices. If you think your child is not getting all the necessary substances in the diet, supplements can help you as an effective method. If you are still worried about the food intake of your child, consult a pediatrician.
last word
Children should meet their basic nutritional needs with a healthy and appropriate diet. So far, it has been determined that vitamin supplements are needed for malnourished children, children who have diseases or absorption disorders, and vegetarian children. Use quality vitamins that consider the appropriate dose for children. For a healthy diet, use varied foods and limit sweets and artificial ingredients.