Children can also suffer from a micronutrient deficiency. The nutritional habits of children can often be unbalanced, as many things do not appeal to them and unhealthy foods often tend to taste good to them. But it is not only the eating habits that can cause a deficiency. A study has found that children and adolescents usually suffer from several deficiencies. The status of zinc, potassium, selenium, iron, vitamin D and folic acid is often critical.
These are the most important vitamins for children:
Zinc
Especially in older people, the zinc status is checked more often, as it is considered a critical nutrient in old age. However, one study found that 65% of the children examined had a too low zinc status.
Inadequate zinc status can result in increased susceptibility to infections and immunity deficiencies, as well as dermatological disorders such as acne. In addition, adolescents may experience growth disorders and delayed sexual maturation.
Folic acid
Folic acid supplementation is essential, especially during pregnancy. It is important for the production of genetic material and thus for the growth and multiplication of cells. It is also important for the production of white and red blood cells and for the development of nerve tissue.
However, it is not only during pregnancy that care should be taken to ensure adequate folic acid status. According to one study, boys in particular suffer from a folic acid deficiency, which can lead to many symptoms. A folic acid deficiency can lead to blood anemia, which can manifest itself in fatigue, for example.
It can also lead to difficulty breathing, inflammation of the mucous membranes, cardiovascular disease, loss of appetite, increased tendency to bleed, irritability and even depression.
Vitamin D – the sun vitamin
The maternal vitamin D status has a great influence on the child’s immune system. Already during pregnancy and lactation, vitamin D supplementation is of enormous importance for the development of the child. A vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy is associated with various short-term and long-term health risks for the infant and the child. It can lead to typical deficiency symptoms such as bone mineralization and growth disorders and rickets. Furthermore, vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy increases the risk of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis in children.
Vitamin D is particularly important for the healthy development of the nervous system and brain. If the mother is undersupplied during pregnancy, psychological disorders such as schizophrenia and autism may occur more frequently in children and adults. Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and in the first year of life also supports the healthy development of the respiratory tract in children. It reduces the risk of developing respiratory diseases such as asthma or hay fever in later years of life.
Especially in autumn and winter, small children should supplement 400-1000 IU vitamin D daily in the form of a supplement due to insufficient exposure to sunlight. Many people are not aware that the body cannot produce vitamin D if a sun protection factor above 15 is applied. Furthermore, only in the summer months from April to September from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. is the sun’s UVA radiation strong enough to allow the body to produce vitamin D.
The infant’s breastfeeding mother should supplement 4,000-6,000 IU of vitamin D daily so that the infant is sufficiently supplied with vitamin D through breast milk.
Omega-3 during pregnancy
A daily intake of omega-3 fatty acids can reduce an infant’s allergic response to certain allergens. Even during pregnancy, regular fish oil supplementation by the mother can have an immunomodulatory effect on the expectant child. A study has shown that a reduced intake of omega-6 fatty acids and an increased intake of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids play a protective role against allergic diseases in children. Omega-3 fatty acids are particularly important for prevention if both parents are allergy sufferers.
