How to effectively supplement zinc for children

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Zinc is one of the essential micronutrients for the health and development of children, especially its role in digestion and metabolism. Children with zinc deficiency will be at risk of stunting, so parents need to know how to effectively supplement zinc to help children grow well.

1. How important is zinc?

Zinc has a very important function for good health and development, being one of the essential micronutrients important for almost every aspect of a child's health. Zinc plays a part in many biological processes in the body, including cell growth, differentiation, and metabolism. Zinc deficiency will limit the growth of young children and reduce the ability to fight infections, contributing significantly to the reduction of morbidity and mortality in young children. In addition, some of the important roles of zinc include:
Improves immune function: Zinc acts as an antioxidant, helping to reduce inflammation and protect against chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer. and diabetes. Blood sugar control: Zinc is known for its role in blood sugar control and insulin secretion. In particular, insulin is the hormone responsible for transporting sugar from the blood to the tissues. Some studies show that zinc can help keep blood sugar stable and improve sensitivity. Improves heart health: Heart disease is a serious problem, accounting for about 33% of deaths. Especially in young children, zinc may improve some risk factors for heart disease.

2. How much zinc does your child need each day?

Zinc is an essential micronutrient, where each child's development stage is different:
0 to 6 months old: 2 milligrams per day 7 to 11 months old: 3 milligrams per day 1 to 3 years old: 3 milligrams per day 4 to 8 years old: 5 milligrams per day 9 to 13 years old: 8 milligrams per day Over 14 years old: 9 milligrams per day for girls and 11 milligrams for boys /day

3. How to effectively supplement zinc for children

There are many effective ways to supplement zinc for children, such as by eating foods rich in zinc or giving children zinc. Here's how to supplement zinc for babies and children effectively and safely.
3.1 Zinc supplementation for infants younger than 6 months The fastest and most effective infant zinc supplementation is from breast milk. In the early stages, breast milk contains not only a great source of zinc, but also many antibodies and other nutrients.
Therefore, during the first 6 months of life, parents should take advantage of the inherent source of breast milk and limit breastfeeding to help the baby develop better. Therefore, it is very important to have enough zinc as well as other nutrients for the mother during pregnancy.
Some notes that pregnant mothers need to add to their daily diet such as:
Food groups rich in zinc such as shrimp, crab, meat, eggs, fish,... Food group contains a lot of zinc. vitamin C such as guava, grapefruit, tangerine, orange, lemon, ... This food group has the effect of increasing the body's ability to absorb zinc and vice versa. In addition, zinc also has the ability to help the body absorb vitamin C more easily. Add more beans or nuts, especially soybeans,... If parents want to supplement zinc and iron at the same time, take iron 2 hours after taking zinc. Because iron has the ability to prevent the body's absorption of zinc. In particular, when supplementing with zinc for children, parents only supplement at a moderate level, avoiding abuse that causes an excess of zinc in the body.
3.2. Effective zinc supplementation for children from 6 months of age and older At the age of 6 months and older, children begin to have feelings and perceptions about food. Therefore, parents need to change the daily diet to avoid causing boredom, but still need to ensure adequate nutrition.

3.3. Malnourished children The effective way to take zinc for malnourished children is that parents should prepare meals according to a variety of foods containing many different nutrients, such as crabs, fish, shrimps, etc. oysters, meat or from green vegetables such as beans (soybeans), nuts, broccoli, broccoli, even garlic,...
3.4. For children with anorexia, forcing children to eat according to their own will will be extremely difficult. Therefore, in order to help anorexic children become more appetizing, but still fully supplement with zinc and other nutrients for the body, parents need to meet the children's preferences.
Some foods rich in zinc that most children like, for example: Dark chocolate, yogurt, buttermilk, seafood and whole grains,... With these foods, they will help stimulate the taste. sense and the child will eat more deliciously.
In addition to adding zinc through the children's daily menu, parents can supplement zinc for their children through other complementary foods such as zinc tablets. However, parents should note that children should take zinc 30 minutes after meals and take it for 2-3 months as prescribed by the doctor, then stop.
The improvement of symptoms can take place for a long time, so it is recommended that parents be calm and persistent when supplementing with nutrients for children, even through eating or functional foods. In particular, the use of functional foods should choose those of natural origin that are easily absorbed, do not allow simultaneous use of many types or continuously change the types of functional foods.
However, parents should still give priority to zinc supplementation for infants and young children with fresh and clean foods and ensure food safety every day. This way, children will absorb zinc more quickly and easily.
In addition to zinc, parents also need to supplement their children with other important vitamins and minerals such as lysine, chromium, B vitamins,... errands.
For more nutritional knowledge and child care for each age, parents should regularly visit the website vimec.com and make an appointment with the leading doctors, pediatric and nutrition experts of the National General Hospital. Vinmec when needing advice on children's health.
References: who.int, babycenter.com, healthline.com, ods.od.nih.gov