Why is it important to supplement Lysine for babies?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Doan Ngoc Quynh Tram - Pediatrician - Neonatologist - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital
Lysine is one of the 12 essential amino acids of the body, but our bodies cannot synthesize lysine on its own. Therefore, in order for children to be able to develop comprehensively, especially in terms of height growth, lysine should be added to the daily nutritional menu.

1. Why do you need to supplement Lysine for your baby?

Lysine is an essential amino acid that makes up protein for the body, that is, our body cannot synthesize Lysine on its own, but needs to supplement Lysine from food or supplements.
Lysine is essential for the development of children, especially the growth in height and weight. Children from birth to 6 years old are 99mg/kg body weight and 44mg/kg for children 7 to 15 years old.
However, for many reasons, children do not meet their Lysine needs. This may be due to a poor diet (Vietnamese people's diet is mainly starchy), the process of food processing and cooking destroys Lysine, anorexia, and physiological changes in children. .. Therefore, Lysine supplementation for babies is necessary.
For children, Lysine works and plays the following roles:
Absorbs calcium, creates collagen and participates in the process of creating connective tissue of tendons, cartilage, bones and skin, perfecting bone structure, helping children develop height development. Promote the production of digestive enzymes to stimulate children to eat better and digest easily and efficiently, increase food metabolism, and absorb maximum nutrients from food. Boosting Lysine for babies helps the body create antibodies and develop resistance. Stimulate growth hormone to help children grow and develop. Promotes the production of nutrients needed to convert fats into energy to function and thereby help lower blood cholesterol levels. If the baby is not supplemented with Lysine, the child may have anorexia, the protein synthesis process will be affected, causing the child to grow slowly, thin and weak, and atrophy. In addition, children lack digestive enzymes, hormones for development, weak immune systems and often get sick.

2. Lysine deficiency symptoms

Parents need to pay attention to the following symptoms to supplement Lysine for their baby:
Hair loss, red eye whites Loss of appetite, anorexia, or vomiting Fatigue, decreased concentration, or agitation high, anemia

3. Lysine-containing foods for babies

Lysine is abundant in the following foods (in order from most to least):
Fish (cod, sardines), shrimp, oysters. Lean meat (pork, beef, chicken). Milk and dairy products such as yogurt, cheese, eggs. Legumes, especially soybeans, lentils, peas and nuts like almonds, cashews, walnuts, etc. Vegetables and fruits like carrots, tomatoes, pumpkins, radishes , cauliflower, apple, mango, banana, orange. If not providing enough Lysine for babies with a diet rich in Lysine foods, parents should consider supplementing Lysine for their children from supplements so as not to affect the development and health of children.
Lysine supplementation for anorexia children in particular and for children in general is necessary because children often do not get enough Lysine needed through their daily diet.