نقص الحديد عند الأطفال: نصائح للوقاية

Iron deficiency in children can affect development and lead to anemia. Find out how much iron your child needs, the best sources of iron and more.

 

Why is iron important for children?

Iron helps move oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. It also helps muscles store and use oxygen. If the child’s diet lacks iron, he might develop an iron deficiency.

The condition is a common problem in children. It can range from mild to serious. Without treatment, it can affect a child’s growth and development.

 

How much iron do children need?

Babies are born with iron stored in their bodies. But a steady amount of iron from food or vitamin supplements is needed to fuel a child’s rapid growth and development. Here’s a guide to iron needs at various ages:

Who’s at risk of iron deficiency?

Infants at highest risk of iron deficiency include those who:

• Are born prematurely or have a low birth weight.
• Drink cow’s milk or goat’s milk before age 1.
• Aren’t given other foods that contain iron after age 6 months.
• Drink formula that isn’t fortified with iron.

Children at highest risk of iron deficiency include those who:

• Are ages 1 to 5 and drink more than 24 ounces (710 milliliters) of cow’s milk, goat’s milk or soy milk a day.
• Have certain health conditions, such as chronic infections or restricted diets.
• Have been exposed to lead.
• Don’t eat enough iron-rich foods.
• Are overweight or obese.

What are the symptoms of iron deficiency in children?

Too little iron can make it harder for your child to function well. But most symptoms of low iron in children don’t appear until iron deficiency anemia happens. If your child has risk factors for an iron deficiency, talk to a member of your child’s health care team.

Symptoms of iron deficiency anemia might include:

• Light pink color, also called pallor, to the lips, gums, edge of the eyelids or to the nail beds.
• Tiredness and low energy, also called fatigue.
• Shortness of breath during exercise.
• Cold hands and feet.
• Slowed growth and development.
• Poor appetite.
• Irregular rapid breathing.
• Behavior problems or more short-tempered than usual.
• Frequent infections.
• Unusual cravings for things that contain few or no nutrients, such as ice, dirt, paint or starch.

اشتري الآن

ما هي أسباب فقر الدم الناجم عن نقص حمض الفوليك؟

You can develop folate-deficiency anemia if:

• You don’t eat enough foods that have folic acid. These include green leafy vegetables, fresh fruits, fortified cereals, yeast, and meats (including liver).
• You drink too much alcohol
• You have certain diseases of the lower digestive tract, such as celiac disease. This type of anemia also occurs in people with cancer.
• You take certain medicines, such as some used for seizures.
• You are pregnant. This is because the developing baby needs more folic acid. Also, the mother absorbs it more slowly. A lack of folate during pregnancy is linked to major birth defects that affect the brain, spinal cord, and spine (neural tube defects).

What are the symptoms of folate-deficiency anemia?

• Pale skin
• Decreased appetite
• Being grouchy (irritable)
• Lack of energy or tiring easily
• Diarrhea
• Smooth and tender tongue

The symptoms of folate-deficiency anemia may look like other blood conditions or health problems. Always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

How is folate-deficiency anemia treated?

Your healthcare provider will figure out the best treatment based on:

• Your age, overall health, and medical history
• How sick you are
• How well you can handle certain medicines, treatments, or therapies
• How long the condition is expected to last
• Your opinion or preference

Treatment may include:

• Vitamin and mineral supplements
• Changes in your diet
• Medicine
• Treating the underlying disease

You may need to take folic acid supplements for at least 2 to 3 months. These may be pills or shots (injections). Eating foods high in folic acid and cutting your alcohol intake are also important. If a digestive tract problem causes your anemia, your provider may treat that first.

Key points about folate-deficiency anemia

• Most folate-deficiency anemia is caused by a lack of folic acid in the diet.
• Leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, beans, and whole grains are natural sources of folic acid.
• Folate-deficiency anemia in pregnancy may cause a neural tube defect. This is when the brain or spinal cord doesn’t develop normally.
• Treatment includes a well-balanced diet of foods with folic acid, folic acid supplements, medicines, and treating underlying diseases.

Buy Now

Your Guide to Vitamin D3 Benefits

Getting enough Vitamin D helps the growth and development of bones and teeth.

It may also provide improved resistance to certain diseases.

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble Vitamin in a family of compounds that includes Vitamins D1, D2, and D3.

Your body produces Vitamin D naturally when it’s directly exposed to sunlight.

You can also get Vitamin D from certain foods and supplements to ensure adequate levels of the Vitamin in your blood.

Vitamin D has several important functions. Perhaps the most vital are regulating the absorption of calcium and phosphorus and facilitating healthy immune system function.

Getting enough vitamin D is important for the typical growth and development of bones and teeth and for improving resistance to certain diseases.

Here is more information about the benefits of Vitamin D, its downsides, how much you need, and foods with Vitamin D.

• Vitamin D may fight disease
• Vitamin D regulates mood and reduce depression
• Vitamin D supports weight loss

Vitamin D deficiency

Several factors can affect your ability to get adequate Vitamin D from sunlight alone.

You may be less likely to absorb enough Vitamin D from the sun if you:

• Live in an area with high pollution
• Use sunscreen
• Spend most of your time indoors
• Live in a big city where buildings block sunlight
• Have darker skin (the higher the levels of melanin, the less Vitamin d your skin can absorb.

Is it good to take Vitamin D every day?

If you receive a diagnosis of Vitamin D deficiency, a healthcare professional will likely recommend that you take Vitamin D supplements.

If you have a severe deficiency, they may instead recommend high dose Vitamin D tablets or liquids.

You should also make sure to get Vitamin D through sunlight and the foods you eat.

https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/benefits-Vitamin-d

May 20, 2024

Written By: Shahzadi Devje, RD, CDE, MSc. Edited By:Alina Sharon. Medically Reviewed By: Jerlyn Jones, MS MPA RDN LD CLT

اشتري الآن 

فوائد فيتامين سي للبشرة

May Help Protect Against Sun Damage

The antioxidants in Vitamin C may help defend against the damage that UV light can cause. 

That doesn’t mean that you can use a Vitamin C skin serum in place of sunscreen.

It can’t replace SPF since it doesn’t absorb UVA or UVB rays. But if UV light does get into your skin, some research suggests that Vitamin C can help blunt the harm.

Might Lighten Dark Spots

Vitamin C-based skin care products may lighten patches that are darker than the rest of your skin, called hyperpigmentation.

In one study, Vitamin C applied to the skin for 16 weeks significantly cut down on these spots.

But experts say it will take more research to confirm how well Vitamin C creams work.

Helps Smooth Wrinkles

Vitamin C is a powerful ingredient in many anti-aging products.

Some studies show that it can reduce the appearance of wrinkles when you use it for at least 12 weeks.

A healthy diet that’s high in this nutrient might help, too. Research suggests that people who eat more Vitamin C have fewer wrinkles.

It’s not limited to citrus fruits. Broccoli, red peppers, and spinach are chock full of it, too.

Boosts Collagen

This protein is naturally present in your skin and helps keep it from sagging.

But your body slows down collagen production as you age.

Vitamin C applied to the skin can encourage new collagen to grow.

It also helps maintain the collagen you do have and protects the precious protein from damage.

Promotes Healing

Vitamin C  can help wounds heal more quickly.

You could take supplements, get more of the nutrient in your diet, or apply it to your skin.

All help close open sores — especially in people who don’t already get enough of the stuff.

The Vitamin helps the body produce the collagen necessary to resolve this type of injury.

Diminishes Scars

In one study, Vitamin C gel applied to the skin made surgical scars less noticeable.

In the experiment that included 80 people, half of them put the Vitamin-infused silicon gel on their wound daily for 6 months after their stitches were removed.

Afterward, their scars were less visible than those of the people who had not used the product.

https://www.webmd.com/beauty/ss/slideshow-benefits-of-vitamin-c-for-skin

اشتري الآن