Identification of micronutrient deficiencies and failure to gain weight in children
Micronutrient deficiency leads to decreased secretion of digestive enzymes, reduces nutrient absorption, and causes weight loss in children. Adding micronutrients to meals helps children eat more deliciously, healthier, and comprehensively develop physically and mentally.
1. What are micronutrients?
Micronutrients play a vital role even though the body only needs a minimal amount, measured in mcg to mg. Micronutrients include mineral elements (Calcium, phosphorus, zinc, iron, iodine, copper, selenium, …) and vitamin groups (A, B, C, D, E…).
Micronutrients help build and repair damaged cells and tissues and participate in cellular respiration, metabolism, and excretion. At the same time, micronutrients also join in the operation of many organs in the body, build the immune system, maintain the balance of the homeostasis system, and are the main components to create healthy cells: Hormones and digestive juices. Micronutrients are essential for the physical and mental development of children.
Lack of vitamins and minerals seriously affects the development of the body, especially children. A deficiency of micronutrients causes a decrease in the secretion of food digestive enzymes, causing children to lose appetite, anorexia, digestive disorders, and slow digestion of food; Decreased nutrient absorption causes malabsorption, slow weight gain, stunting, and weakness.
2. Causes of micronutrient deficiency in children
Children with micronutrient deficiencies can have many causes, but the most common reasons are anorexia, nutritional deficiencies, and malabsorption syndromes.
Anorexia baby
Children with anorexia may be caused by food that is not suitable for children, unappealing, unappetizing processing, or children being obsessed with each meal because their parents force them to overeat. In children anorexia, anorexia leads to a decrease in the number of nutrients loaded in the body, slowing the development of children. The diet lacks nutrients.
Micronutrient deficiency in children’s diet is the lack of essential nutrient groups found in meat, fish, eggs, milk, vegetables, and fats. The mother’s lack of milk is the most common cause of micronutrient deficiencies in infants. In addition, mistakes such as incorrect breastfeeding position, improper sucking of the baby, and inadequate breast milk also cause children to lack micronutrients even though the mother has enough milk.
Malabsorption syndrome
Malabsorption syndrome is when the body does not fully absorb vitamins, minerals, and nutrients during digestion. This leads to a deficiency of proteins, carbohydrates, essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and other vital nutrients needed for the body’s regulation and growth.
Malabsorption syndrome occurs in children due to many causes, such as:
- Malnutrition diet
- Excess mucous membrane covering the intestinal mucosa interferes with absorption
- Imbalance of gastrointestinal flora
- Enteritis, intestinal infection
3. Supplementing micronutrients for children
To avoid micronutrient deficiency, parents should apply the following measures:
- Newborns should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months and solids by the time they are six months old.
- During the development period, the child’s diet must ensure enough nutrients and energy, including protein, lysine, vitamins A, D, E, and B vitamins, calcium, zinc, iron, and iodine. In addition, the way to prepare food also needs to be diverse; the menu rotates so that children are excited to eat, not bored when eating.
- Because the body cannot synthesize micronutrients, they must be provided from food, but sometimes the diet is not full of nutrients, causing children to lack nutrients even if they eat a lot. In addition to a regular diet, parents should consult a doctor or nutritionist about appropriate micronutrient supplements for each age. To help children absorb nutrients better.
- Besides adequate nutrition, enough sleep also helps the digestive system of children to work better.
- Increase movement for children by participating in physical activities to help children eat better, increase intestinal contractions and increase the digestion process and food absorption process.
4. Supplements with micronutrients
Micronutrient supplements will help children eat better, eat more and stimulate the digestive system to produce enzymes. From there, children will better absorb essential nutrients for the body, actively support height and weight growth, and increase resistance.
In short, micronutrients are essential for the body’s survival, helping to increase resistance. Micronutrient deficiency reduces digestive enzyme secretion and nutrient absorption, causing severe consequences for the body’s development. Therefore, preventing micronutrient deficiency is essential so children can develop comprehensively and optimally.
In addition to dietary supplements, parents can give their children support foods containing essential vitamins and micro-minerals such as zinc, lysine, chromium, selenium, and vitamin B1… to help fully meet their needs. Nutritional needs in children. At the same time, these essential vitamins also support digestion, enhance nutrient absorption, help improve anorexia, and help children eat well.
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