Micronutrient deficiency and failure to gain weight in children

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Phan Ngoc Hai - Pediatrician - Neonatologist - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital
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 develop comprehensively both physically and mentally.

1. What are micronutrients?

Micronutrients are substances that play a very important role even though the body only needs a very small 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, participate in cellular respiration, metabolism, and excretion. At the same time, micronutrients also participate in the operation mechanism 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, digestive juices. Micronutrients are essential for the physical and intellectual development of children.
Lack of vitamins and minerals seriously affects the development of the body, especially children. Lack of micronutrients causes a decrease in the secretion of food digestive enzymes, causing children to lose appetite, anorexia, digestive disorders, 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 causes are anorexia, nutritional deficiencies and malabsorption syndromes.
Children anorexia Children with anorexia can be caused by food that is not suitable for children, unattractive, unappetizing processing or children are obsessed with each meal because their parents force them to eat too much. Children with anorexia, anorexia lead to a decrease in the amount of nutrients loaded in the body, slowing the development of children.
Poor diet Micronutrient deficiency in a child's diet is a lack of essential nutrient groups found in meat, fish, eggs, milk, vegetables, and fats. For infants, the most common cause of micronutrient deficiencies is low milk supply. In addition, mistakes such as incorrect breastfeeding position, improper breastfeeding, inadequate breast milk also cause children to lack micronutrients even though the mother has enough milk.
Malabsorption syndrome Malabsorption syndrome is a condition in which the body does not fully absorb vitamins, minerals and nutrients during the digestive process. This leads to a deficiency of proteins, carbohydrates, essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals as well as other important nutrients required 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 with micronutrients for children

To avoid micronutrient deficiency, parents should apply the following measures:
Infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months and solids when they are 6 months old. During the developmental period, the child's diet must ensure enough nutrients and energy including protein, lysine, vitamins A, D, E, 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, it must be provided from food, but sometimes When the diet is not full of nutrients, children still lack nutrients even though they eat a lot. In addition to a normal 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. Enhancing children's movement by participating in physical activities helps children eat better, increases intestinal contractions and increases digestion and absorption of food.

4. Supplements with micronutrients

Micronutrient supplements will help children eat more deliciously, eat more and stimulate the digestive system to produce enzymes. From there, children will better absorb essential nutrients for the body, actively support in height and weight growth, increase resistance.
In short, micronutrients are substances that are essential for the survival of the body, helping to increase resistance. Micronutrient deficiency g reduces the secretion of digestive enzymes and reduces nutrient absorption, causing serious consequences for the body's development. Therefore, prevention of micronutrient deficiency is very necessary, so that children can develop comprehensively and optimally.
In addition to dietary supplements, parents can give children support foods containing essential vitamins and micro-minerals such as zinc, lysine, chromium, selenium, vitamin B1... meet the nutritional needs of 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: Harm when children lack micronutrients - The article is expertly consulted by Master, Doctor Ngo Thi Oanh - Pediatrician - Pediatrics - Neonatology - Hospital Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital.
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