Download Vitamins for Children

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
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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
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Recom nts
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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
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