How long should zinc supplements be given to children?

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The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Ngo Thi Oanh - Pediatrician - Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Ha Long International Hospital
Meeting the children's zinc needs can help improve anorexia, help them grow up quickly and develop comprehensively. So how long does it take for parents to supplement zinc for their children and what should they pay attention to?

1. When to add zinc to children?

Usually, children get zinc daily through their diet, for example, breast milk helps to supplement zinc for children 6 months and younger, for older children, through food intake. Sometimes, due to some physical or health reasons, a child has a zinc deficiency. At that time, children often have symptoms such as:
Anorexia Abnormal vomiting Sleep disturbances such as inability to sleep, toss and turn, constantly waking, little sleep Physical development retardation Ease of allergies Decreased memory Ease suffering from infectious diseases including diarrhea, respiratory infections... Commonly unexplained skin lesions, mucous membranes, wounds, slow-healing burns, ulcers, glossitis, hair loss, hair loss hair... When noticing the above signs, parents should take the baby to a medical facility to perform serum zinc tests. The test results show whether the child is zinc deficient and to what extent. From there, the doctor will tell the mother how long to supplement zinc for the child.

2. How much zinc is enough for children?

The need for zinc supplementation of the child's body in each stage is different. According to recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO), the need for zinc supplementation for children by age is as follows:
Zinc supplementation for children 6 months of age and younger: 2mg/day Children from 7 to 12 months old: 3mg/day Zinc supplement for children from 4 to 8 years old: 5mg/day Breast milk is the best source of zinc and is most easily absorbed for children under 6 months of age. . Zinc supplements for children 6 months and older can choose foods rich in zinc according to the doctor's instructions.
Accordingly, foods rich in zinc include: Prawns, milk, eel, oysters, scallops, pork liver, beef... To enhance the absorption of zinc, vitamin C should be added to children from foods. fresh fruits such as oranges, lemons, tangerines, grapefruit... Although vitamin C and zinc have their own composition, structure and function, when combined, they will improve each other's absorption efficiency. That is, vitamin C has the effect of promoting the absorption of zinc and vice versa. From there, the child's body will better absorb this mineral, helping to promote the growth and development of the body, enhancing the baby's resistance.

3. How long should zinc supplements be given to children?

To determine when to supplement zinc for children and for how long, parents should take the child to a medical facility or nutrition center to have the doctor assess the condition and perform tests. At that time, the doctor will check whether the child is meeting the zinc needs or not, supplementing zinc for how long and in what dose. Depending on the actual condition of each child, most of the time zinc supplementation for children is usually 2-3 months.
For example, for children with persistent diarrhea, it is very important to increase zinc during treatment. According to the recommendation, the diarrhea treatment regimen for children under 6 months of age should be supplemented with 10mg of zinc/day, and for children aged 6-60 months, it should be fortified with 20mg of zinc/day. At this time, zinc is supplemented in the form of oral tablets, the use time is usually 14 days in a row.

4. Note when supplementing with zinc for children

If you are taking zinc-containing medicines (in the form of zinc gluconate or zinc sulfate tablets), give them 30 minutes after eating. Zinc has the ability to reduce iron absorption when taken together, so give these two minerals at least 2 hours apart. Similarly, zinc and calcium also interact if used at the same time. Calcium increases zinc excretion and leads to decreased absorption of zinc in the body. In addition, according to nutrition experts, children's zinc needs are often not fully met if only supplemented through daily meals. Therefore, parents can give their children more zinc supplements under the guidance of a doctor.
In short, zinc deficiency in children is a common problem that affects children's development and is a concern of many parents. Understand information about how long to supplement zinc for children, along with scientific care, adequate nutrition and the addition of necessary vitamins, minerals and nutrients to help increase children's resistance. grow steadily, comprehensively and optimally.
Zinc deficiency can cause dangerous complications for children's health and mental health, so parents need to observe and timely supplement this important source of vitamin.
In addition to dietary supplements, parents can give their children supportive foods containing zinc and essential micro-minerals such as Lysine, chromium, selenium, vitamin B1... to help fully meet their needs. nutritional requirements in children. At the same time, these essential vitamins also support digestion, enhance nutrient absorption, help improve anorexia, and help children eat well.
>> Parents can learn more: What disease does zinc deficiency cause? When to take a zinc supplement? , The article was professionally consulted with Master, Doctor Vu Quoc Anh - Pediatrician - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.
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