We often hear about supplements in relation to the health and diet of our children. But what are they? These are the so-called
food supplements , an expression which generally refers to all those products that are taken to complete the diet and which constitute a
concentrated source of nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals above all. In fact, during the first years of childhood there are supplements that it is good practice to administer regularly and others that, on the other hand, could only be useful in certain circumstances. It is also important to carefully follow the
pediatrician's instructions , since there is a basic distinction based on
age , and the same increase in a specific active ingredient may be necessary in the first year of life and inappropriate thereafter, or vice versa.
VITAMIN D
Indispensable for the body of the infant and child, vitamin D is useful for
ossification , as well as performing other related functions: by facilitating the absorption of calcium, it contributes to good
teething and the closure of the fontanel. It is also crucial for the
immune system and
the respiratory system , and its positive effects in the prevention of asthma and atopic dermatitis are being studied.
90% of it derives from exposure to
sunlight (vitamin D3), which stimulates the skin to produce it: for this reason it is somewhat deficient in the winter months, and its contribution becomes all the more essential. Supplementation may not be necessary if the child is adequately exposed to the sun for several hours each day. But, since various factors tend to prevent these optimal conditions (climate, latitude, alternation of seasons, lifestyle...), vitamin D is normally recommended to all infants, fed both breast and bottle,
from the first days of life up to the completion of the first year : in term newborns the dosage is 400 IU/day, in preterms it varies according to birth weight and type of diet. Only in special cases could the pediatrician recommend prolonging the intake, detecting deficits or any risk factors. If the child is obese, vitamin D intakes 2 or 3 times higher than the average are recommended.
As for
pregnant and breastfeeding women, in industrialized socio-economic contexts supplementation is recommended
only in the presence of vitamin D deficiency.
IRON AND ZINC
Iron and zinc are also key elements for the good development of the newborn and the child. The function of iron, in particular, is central in the production of
red blood cells (haemoglobin) but also for the correct functioning of the
immune system and for the development of
nervous and cognitive structures .
Supplementation is generally not necessary (unless otherwise indicated by the pediatrician): excess iron can in fact cause more harm than good. A lack of it, on the other hand, can be responsible for
iron deficiency anemia, a disease defined as systemic as it involves multiple organs and systems.
In the
first six months of life , breastfeeding (especially breastfeeding, but also artificial) guarantees the correct supply of iron; in low birth weight infants, supplementation can instead prevent the onset of iron deficiency anemia and improve neurological development. In the
second semester , adequate complementary feeding and the parallel continuation of breastfeeding (with the exclusion of whole cow's milk) prevent the onset of anemia. The same applies
from 12 to 36 months , subject to a varied, complete and correct diet in terms of iron intake and a limited supply of whole cow's milk (within 300-350 ml per day).
In advanced socio-economic contexts, such as in our country,
pregnant women generally do not need it .
VITAMIN K
Necessary for
blood clotting , it is used by children to prevent two serious bleeding disorders, one which can occur at birth and the other around the 2nd or 3rd month of life. In both cases we speak of
deficit bleeding of vitamin K , which leads to bleeding of the skin, stomach and intestines and, in the late form, also of the brain. These are potentially fatal conditions, but preventable and effectively treatable by administering vitamin K.
Italy is the only country to have routinely adopted
intramuscular prophylaxis immediately after birth (a single dose of 1 mg), a practice of proven efficacy to avoid early bleeding disease. However,
daily oral administration in the following months is still the subject of
discussion within the scientific community . The incidence of the disease, although rare, is higher in breastfed infants. In general, vitamin K supplementation is strongly recommended only to
expectant mothers who follow pharmacological treatments against epilepsy or tuberculosis during pregnancy, or who take the so-called vitamin K antagonist anticoagulants.
LUTEIN
With
antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties – essential in particular for the eye and the protection of the retina from damage due to exposure to blue light – lutein is a
carotenoid of vegetable origin , responsible for the typical colors of fruit and vegetables. Man is not able to synthesize it, therefore he introduces it
with the diet : for the breastfed newborn, the main source is therefore mother's milk, in which the concentrations of lutein vary according to the amount of fruit and vegetables eaten by the mother , while formula milk already contains sufficient dosages.
Studies are underway to verify the effectiveness of
supplementation in preterm infants , particularly in relation to problems related to prematurity, such as retinopathy.
DHA – DOCOSAHEXANOIC ACID
In adults
, omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids prevent
cardiovascular disease by lowering blood triglyceride levels and blood pressure, protect against
type 2 diabetes and reduce the risk of dementia and
Alzheimer's. In children their role has been studied less, but the beneficial action of fatty acids for the
regulation of insulin and blood pressure is strongly probable. They are mainly ingested through food – oily fish is very rich in them – and they accumulate in the tissues especially during the third trimester of pregnancy and the first two years of the child's life: in these periods they are therefore particularly important for mother and newborn. Fortunately
, breast milk naturally contains good quantities of it (and so does formula milk).
Supplementation is therefore indicated
only in specific risk conditions : cardiovascular pathologies, high levels of fat in the blood, nutrient assimilation problems or exclusion diets.
Some natural methods to fill up on vitamins in these articles:
https://www.iperbimbo.it/blog/frutta-verdura-stagione/
https://www.iperbimbo.it/blog/un-kiwi-al-giorno/
By Sara Lanfranchini | Taken from Being Born a Mom
