Vitamins for the growth of children

Content

The processes of growth in the body of a child are not complete without the participation of vitamins, which each baby must receive in sufficient quantities either from food or from supplements. Before picking up a growth-promoting multivitamin for a child, parents should find out which vitamins are needed for growth, what food they contain, and whether the child has indications for taking complex vitamins.

What affects the growth of the child

First of all, the growth of each baby is influenced by a genetic factor, but experts note that each person has a so-called “growth range”. It is about 15-20 cm and in order for the child to attain the highest possible growth, some favorable conditions are required.

These include:

  1. Full nutrition. Without sufficient daily protein, vitamins, fats and other nutrients, the baby’s growth rate will slow down. It is important that nutrition is age appropriate and covers all needs, then there will be no problems with the health of babies and with their growth.
  2. Sufficient activity. Thanks to the movement, the child will grow more actively, so parents should walk with preschoolers more often, and school-age children are advised to write to any sports section.
  3. The correct mode of the day. For normal growth, the child should sleep well and have enough rest during the day. Overwork, stress, excessive workload with additional classes - these factors will interfere with the growth process.

Vitamins and other nutrients for growth

The most important substances for the growth of children are:

  • Vitamin A. It is called the most significant for growth. This compound is involved in the growth of bones, and is also important for the growth of all other tissues in the child’s body. Also, without adequate intake of vitamin A, the formation of growth hormone can be disrupted. However, the excess consumption of such a vitamin can cause harm to the health of children (hypervitaminosis develops), which is important for mother to remember when choosing vitamin supplements.
  • Beta-carotene. This is the compound from which vitamin A is formed in the child’s body (for this reason it is also called provitamin A). For optimum absorption, carotene should be consumed with fats. Unlike vitamin A, carotene overdose is not dangerous to the health of the child, but only manifested by a change in skin color, which passes as soon as the amount of this compound in the diet is reduced.
  • Vitamin D. This is one of the most important vitamins for bone growth, as well as the formation of teeth, because it participates in the metabolism of mineral compounds that form bone tissue. It not only comes from food, but also forms in the skin of a person under the influence of sunlight. In the first year of life, such a vitamin is extremely important for the formation of the baby’s skeleton, therefore, it is more often than others prescribed to be taken additionally, especially in the cold period of the year, when there are few sunny days.
  • Vitamins of group B. Especially important for the growth of vitamins of this group of compounds are thiamine, vitamin B2 and pyridoxine. Such vitamins improve digestive processes, conduction of nerve impulses and metabolic processes, as a result of which growth is activated. Vitamin H is important for hair growth, also called biotin, which is also included in group B.
  • Vitamin C. Such a compound affects the absorption of other vitamins, and therefore stimulates the growth of a child indirectly. Without a sufficient amount, the absorption and transportation of vitamins D and A will be impaired, which will affect the growth processes. In addition, the assimilation of other substances from which new tissues are built in the children's organism is also improved due to ascorbic acid.
  • Vitamin E. Such a substance does not directly affect the growth of a child, but its presence in the body of children is important for protection against the destruction of other vitamins that are valuable for growth - first of all, retinol and vitamin C.
  • Vitamin K. Such a compound affects growth indirectly, as it improves the blood supply to the tissues by thinning the blood and reducing its clotting. Due to the sufficient amount of this vitamin, the access of blood with oxygen and nutrients to the bone tissue is improved.
  • L-carnitine. This is the name of the vitamin-like compound involved in the metabolism of fats, bone growth and muscle tissue. Carnitine is able to improve appetite and increase overall tone, so it is important for children with slow growth and low weight.
  • Calcium. Without this mineral, normal bone tissue formation and muscle contraction are impossible, therefore calcium deficiency affects the growth of the child, as well as the condition of his teeth.
  • Zinc. This mineral substance stimulates cell regeneration and affects the development of bone and brain tissues, and also participates in carbohydrate metabolism. With its shortage, the child's growth slows down
  • Iodine. This mineral is an integral part of the hormones that the thyroid gland produces. These hormones are responsible for the rate of metabolic processes, so their insufficient amount, caused by iodine deficiency, also leads to slower growth.

Receipt of the necessary amount of such substances is especially important in the first year of a child’s life and at 4–5 years old, when the preschooler is growing very actively, and also at 13–14 years old, when maintenance of the restructuring processes in the adolescent’s body is required.

How to get from food

First of all, the child's need for vitamins and other compounds important for growth processes should be replenished from food. Even if you give a baby multivitamin complexes, they will act only as a supplement to the diet, careful control of which should be the task of every mother.

Products containing important for the growth of children of the compounds presented in the table:

Title

main sources

Vitamin A

Fish fat, yolk, butter, liver, dairy products

Beta carotene

Vegetables and fruits are red and orange

Vitamin D

Eggs, cottage cheese, fish, seafood, cheese, milk

Vitamins of group B

Cereals, legumes, cabbage, meat, fish, nuts, poultry

Vitamin C

Vegetables, citrus fruits, greens, berries

Calcium

Dairy products, cabbage, spinach, seaweed, lemon juice

Zinc

Apples, pumpkin seeds, dried fruits, honey, currants, citrus, meat

Iodine

Seaweed, seafood, fish

Pharmaceutical preparations

This is an overview of supplements. most often appointed by children to stimulate growth:

  • Akvadetrim. This is a solution of vitamin D3, approved for use in children older than 4 weeks.
  • Kinder biovital gel. This multivitamin complex includes the most important for children vitamin compounds, lecithin and three minerals. It is allowed to give to kids of any age.
  • Multi-tabs Baby. This multivitamin supplement is prescribed to children of the first year of life. It comes in drops, the composition of which is represented by vitamins D, A and C.
  • Pikovit 1+. This complex multivitamin preparation in the form of syrup is given to children older than a year. From it, the child receives 9 vitamins valuable for his development.
  • Calcium D3 Complivite. These chewable tablets contain vitamin D and calcium carbonate. The additive is recommended from 5 years of age, and for babies up to 3 years, this manufacturer produces a separate form in the form of a powder without dyes and preservatives, from which the suspension is prepared.
  • Sana-sol. This multivitamin preparation, including 10 vitamin compounds, is available in syrup. He is appointed from 1 year.
  • Vitamishki. Supplements with the same name, prescribed for children over the age of three, are represented by tasty chewy “cubs”. The growth of the child is positively influenced by both the multivitamin Multi + complex and Calcium + supplement, in which vitamin D is combined with tricalcium phosphate.
  • Pikovit Yunik. These chewable tablets for children over 3 years old give the child 11 vitamin compounds and 8 mineral substances.
  • Alphabet Our baby. Such a drug, produced in the form of sachets with powder, is prescribed to children 1.5-3 years old. The nutrients in the Alphabet vitamins are divided into 3 daily doses, taking into account the absorption of individual components. Our baby complex contains 11 vitamins, beta-carotene and 5 mineral compounds.
  • Vitrum Baby. Such chewable tablets are prescribed for children 3-5 years old. In the complex there is a special formula, called "growth trio". It contains calcium, phosphorus and magnesium.
  • Nikomed Calcium D3. These chewable tablets, prescribed for children over 3 years old, contain calcium carbonate and vitamin D3.
  • Supradin Kids Gel. This supplement, approved for children over the age of three years, contains 8 essential vitamins, lecithin and beta-carotene.
  • Multi-tabs Baby Calcium +. These chewable tablets are prescribed to take children 2-7 years. The drug includes 13 vitamin compounds, supplemented with basic minerals.
  • Elkar. The additive is a solution of left carnitine, approved for use from birth.

Contraindications

Vitamins that stimulate growth in childhood should not be given with:

  • Intolerance to any component of the additive.
  • Diabetes mellitus (sugar is present in most syrups and chewable multivitamin tablets).
  • Phenylketonuria (if aspartame is present in the selected complex).
  • Severe kidney disease.
  • Hypervitaminosis A or D.
  • Problems with calcium metabolism.

Which is better to choose

To pick up suitable vitamins for growth costs together with the pediatrician. He will evaluate the indications for prescribing such supplements (insufficient nutrition, unfavorable ecological environment, increased loads, a period of active growth) and will recommend optimal preparations. If the crumbs find contraindications, the doctor will help find an alternative.

Buy vitamins that can increase the growth of the baby, should only be in a pharmacy. So you will be sure that the child will receive a quality product. Keep an eye on well-known manufacturers and read reviews of moms to avoid health troubles.

Be sure to read the instructions for the vitamin supplement and take into account the age limits. If the baby is not yet three years old, select a complex that is approved for use in children under 3 years of age. As a teenager, buy a drug that is designed to meet the needs of grown-up children aged 12-18. Adult complexes should not be given to children.

What should be done with growth disorders in a child, see the video of the Union of Pediatricians of Russia.

On the growth hormone deficiency in the body, see the following video.

Information provided for reference purposes. Do not self-medicate. At the first symptoms of the disease, consult a doctor.

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