* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download Vitamins for Children
Survey
Document related concepts
Food and drink prohibitions wikipedia , lookup
Food choice wikipedia , lookup
Gastric bypass surgery wikipedia , lookup
Malnutrition in South Africa wikipedia , lookup
Vegetarianism wikipedia , lookup
Alcoholic polyneuropathy wikipedia , lookup
Human nutrition wikipedia , lookup
Vitamin D deficiency wikipedia , lookup
Transcript
Family Focus Fae Farrer BPharm Vitamins for Children Table I: Examples of food servings Children who eat a balanced diet should get all the vitamins and minerals that they require from the foods they eat. However, children who have food intolerances or who are picky eaters or have a poor diet may require extra vitamins. What is a balanced diet? Table I lists some examples of food servings. Examples Grains 1 slice of bread 1 small roll, biscuit or muffin ½ cup cooked rice, pasta or couscous 30 g cold cereal Vegetables and fruits ½ -1 cup cooked or raw vegetables 1-2 cups raw leafy vegetables ½ - 1 cup vegetable or fruit juice 1 whole fruit (banana, apple, orange) ½ cup dried fruit Milk 1 cup milk or fortified soy beverage 175 g yoghurt 50 g cheese Meat and alternatives 75 g lean meat, fish or poultry ½ cup beans 1 egg 1 tbsp peanut butter What are vitamins? Vitamins are chemical substances that cannot be made in the body, and must be ingested in food. Why are vitamins important? Vitamins, together with other essential nutrients, including minerals, water, protein, carbohydrates and fats, keep the body healthy and help prevent disease. Where are vitamins found? Vitamins are found in a variety of foods, most importantly fruits and vegetables. Vitamins are classified as fat-soluble (vitamins A, D, E and K) or watersoluble (vitamins B and C). Table II lists vitamins, their source and why each vitamin is important. What does RDA mean? RDA means “recommended daily allowance.” This is defined as the dietary intake needed to meet the daily nutrient requirements of 97 per cent of the individuals in a specific life stage group. If an RDA cannot be determined for a specific nutrient, requirements may be expressed as an Adequate intake (AI), the estimation of the nutrient intake necessary to remain healthy. The RDA of certain substances differs according to the life stage of the individual, e.g. smokers require more vitamin C, pregnant women require increased amounts of the vitamin B group, children require larger amounts of certain minerals such as calcium. In many cases the RDA of vitamins is decreased for children, and children should not be given adult supplements, but rather products manufactured for their specific age. What happens if a child does not get enough vitamins? Many people are familiar with the image of children who are severely malnourished and have poor skin, distended bellies and bow legs. However, picky eaters, children with poor diets or those who are extremely active, may be marginally deficient in certain vitamins and minerals. Vitamin SA Pharmacist’s Assistant [ Autumn 2011 ] In order to describe a balanced diet, nutrition scientists group foods by the nutrients they contain. The major groups are grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, meats and beans. A diet containing food from all groups each day will provide the protein, fats and oils, vitamins, minerals, starch and dietary fibre needed. The amount of food required depends on age, gender, physical condition and activity level. Young children need 4-5 servings of vegetables or fruit, 3-4 grain servings (this group includes pasta), 2 servings of milk and 1 serving of meat or a meat alternative (fish, beans or peanut butter). Because young children have small stomachs, they need to eat small amounts of food more often during the day, i.e. 3 meals and 2 snacks may be ideal. Food servings may be divided between 2 different meals to provide variety. Food Group 27 Family Focus SA Pharmacist’s Assistant [ Autumn 2011 ] Table II: Source and function of vitamins. 28 Vitamin Source Function Vitamin A (retinol) Fish liver oils, liver, egg yolk, butter, and cream, green leafy or yellow vegetables. Skin function Visual function, assists in night vision Vitamin D (calciferol) Ultraviolet light (i.e. sunlight) Fish liver oils, egg yolk, butter, avocado Calcium absorption Bone structure Vitamin E (tocopherol) Vegetable oil, wheat germ, egg yolk Antioxidant Supports the immune system Cellular function Vitamin K Eggs, green vegetables, pork, vegetable oils Normal blood clotting Vitamin B1 (thiamine) Whole grains, meat (especially pork), peas, legumes, cereals Carbohydrate metabolism Nerve function Heart function Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) Milk and milk products, cheese, eggs, liver, meat, sea-fish Fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism. Energy production Skin and mucous membrane integrity Vitamin B3 (niacin, niacinamide, nicotinic acid) Yeast, liver, meat, fish, poultry, legumes Building and degradation of fat, protein and carbohydrates. Sleep Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) Liver, meat, vegetables, wheat germ Fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism Hair and mucous membrane integrity Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) Yeast, whole grains, organ meats, liver, fish, bananas, potatoes Digestion of protein Nerve function Vitamin B7 (biotin, vitamin H) Liver, cauliflower, kidney, egg yolk, yeast, nuts, legumes Amino acid and fatty acid metabolism Skin function Folic acid (vitamin B9, vitamin M) Fresh green leafy vegetables, organ meats, liver, yeast Red blood cell function Growth of muscles and cells Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) Liver, meat, eggs, milk and milk products Red blood cell function Nerve function DNA synthesis Nerve, skin and mucous membrane function Vitamin C Citrus fruits, tomatoes, potatoes, green peppers Vascular function Tissue respiration Wound healing Connective tissue formation deficiencies may manifest in different ways. Table III lists some symptoms of vitamin deficiencies. Vitamin supplements Children who eat the right amount and type of food should satisfy all their daily nutrient requirements. Certain foods, including bread, milk, orange juice and breakfast cereals have also been fortified with extra vitamins and minerals. However, some children may be lacking in certain nutrients and supplementation may be considered. Children’s dietary supplements may be considered to be safe in general, but should not be used as a substitute for healthy eating. Care should be taken when choosing a product to ensure that it is formulated for children and contains suitable amounts of ingredients. Large amounts of vitamins A and D and iron can be detrimental to a child’s health, although it is unlikely to occur if parents are careful not to exceed the RDA for each of those. Conclusion Energy and nutrient requirements for children depend on age, gender and activity level. Provision of healthy food choices should ensure that all daily nutrient requirements are met. Vitamin supplements may be useful in helping certain children meet these requirements. References available on request Family Focus Table III: Vitamin deficiencies . Vitamin Deficiency symptoms Vitamin Deficiency symptoms Vitamin A Night blindness Dry eyes Increased susceptibility to infection Growth retardation Vitamin B3 Pellagra Dermatitis with sensitivity to sun Diarrhoea Dementia Vitamin D Rickets Defective bone growth Delayed eruption of teeth Vitamin B5 “Burning feet syndrome” Gastrointestinal problems Vitamin E Neuromuscular disorders Haemolytic anaemia Vitamin B6 Irritability Confusion Depression Vitamin K Easy bruising Bleeding disorders Bone malformation Biotin Metabolic problems Muscle pain Nausea Vitamin B1 Beriberi Cardiac problems Neuropathy Movement disorders Confusion Folic Acid Anaemia Bone and cartilage disorders Vitamin B12 Sore throat Skin problems Megaloblastic anaemia Neuropathy Central nervous system disorders Vitamin C Scurvy Bleeding gums Small patches of bleeding in the skin Impaired wound healing Joint swelling Vitamin B2 d mende Recom nts fa in r fo onth from 1 m Don’t start their day without Vi-Daylin. The multivitamin most recommended by paediatricians .* *In private practice in South Africa Source: MASA, Medpages, VBH data (290) March 2008. S0 Vi-Daylin® Drops - Ref No.: H 2088 (Act 101 of 1965); Each 0,6 ml contains: Vitamin A 5 000 IU, Vitamin D (viosterol) 400 IU, Vitamin B1 (thiamine) 1,5 mg, Vitamin B (riboflavin) 1,2 mg, Vitamin B (pyridoxine) 0,5 mg, Nicotinamide 10 mg, Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) 50 mg. S0 Vi-Daylin® Plus Iron (Drops) - Registration No.: X/22.1/0040; Each dropperful (1,0 ml) contains: Vitamin A 1 500 IU, Vitamin D 400 IU, Vitamin E 5 IU, Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) 35 mg, Vitamin B (thiamine) 0,5 mg, Vitamin B (riboflavin) 0,6 mg, Vitamin B (niacin) 8 mg, Vitamin B (pyridoxine) 0,4 mg, Vitamin B (cyanocobalamin) 1,50 µg, Iron 10 mg. Adcock Ingram Limited. Co. Reg. No. 1949/034385/06. Private Bag X69, Bryanston, 2021. Tel: (011) 635-0000. Further information available on request. ZA.09.OTH.079 2 1 2 6 3 6 12