The child's body needs vitamins and minerals. Their use affects the correct development of the baby, allows him to grow strong and healthy. Vitamins with calcium for children help to strengthen bones and affect their formation. They improve the condition of nails, hair, teeth, as well as increase immunity and reduce susceptibility to many diseases.
Why is calcium so important for a child's body?
If the growing body lacks any important vitamin, this can cause a lot of trouble for parents. It is worth making sure that the baby receives the required amount of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and iron. It is these minerals that are considered essential for its healthy development and growth.
Ca plays an important role in the formation of a child's skeletal system. It has the best effect on the work of the heart, nervous system, stimulates metabolic processes, promotes hair growth, normalizes the epidermis, strengthens the immune system, which is very important for a growing body.
Particular attention should be paid to the combination of Ca and Mg. They are closely related to each other, since with a lack of one in the body, the level of the other is significantly reduced.
Infants, whose age does not exceed 6 months, are allowed up to 400 mg of the substance per day, from 6 months to a year - 600 mg, from 1 to 10 years - up to 800 mg. An older child can take 1200 mg. If for some reason the child lacks calcium, the pediatrician will prescribe additional vitamins containing this element.
Natural sources
It is worth remembering that many foods are rich in calcium. The consumption of milk and dairy products -, - will contribute to the rapid absorption of the substance. Also natural sources of calcium and phosphorus are fish products (cod liver, sardines, salmon), eggs. The body is able to assimilate up to 30% Ca from food.
A newborn baby is quite satisfied with the vitamin contained in mother's milk. After six months, vegetables and cereals can be added to the diet.
In order for the microelement to be better absorbed by the body and bring as much benefit as possible, it is necessary to carefully monitor the diet. It is recommended to exclude from it sugary carbonated drinks, fatty foods, foods high in salt. It is advisable for the kid to consume dairy products every day, since they contain a very important element for calcium metabolism - lactose.
Calcium deficiency symptoms
If the child's body is not sufficiently saturated with Ca, this can lead to impaired development of the skeleton and vascular system, fragility of bones, hair and nails. At an early stage of development, there may be developmental delays and abnormal formation of bone tissue.
The most common symptoms are:
- weakness;
- excessive irritability ;
- severe fatigue ;
- fragility of hair, nails ;
- the development of caries and dental problems ;
- sleep disturbance.
What vitamins with calcium are better for choosing?
Vitamins for children differ in composition and produced form (chewable or simple tablets, syrups). They taste good, which is why kids love them so much.
You need to buy multivitamins after examining their composition. It is known that calcium is better absorbed with vitamins D, B, silicon, magnesium, phosphorus. Complex vitamins will enrich the body with useful substances much more. Preparations containing only calcium are absorbed by the body worse and longer, therefore their price is lower.
When buying a medication, do not rush. It would be correct to first consult with a doctor, identify the problem and listen to his conclusion. Only after that is it advisable to go to the pharmacy and purchase the complex with confidence. After all, an excess of any consumed substance is extremely undesirable for a child and requires a serious approach.
Ca must be applied at regular intervals. For preventive purposes, a two-month course per year will be enough. Contraindications to use may be kidney problems and urolithiasis.
Vitamins with calcium for young children
Sometimes products containing Ca are not enough for the baby's body. Then the pediatrician prescribes an additional intake of drugs containing it.
Syrup works well for young children. It is important that children are allowed to use it from birth. Vitamin D3, which is in the composition, improves the absorption of the useful mineral by the body. older (from 5 years old) is prescribed in the form of tablets.
From two years old, a baby can already use a complex called Multi-tabs Kid Calcium + ... These vitamins are useful for teeth during the change from milk to permanent.
For children, a drug called Vitamishki Calcium + ... He will help to strengthen them andwill help to overcome tooth decay. The complex contains vitamin D, which affects growth. Gummy bears with fruit flavors will impress any baby. It is not surprising that these useful "sweets" are so popular with children, and they gladly accept them.
Compliance asset, , Duovit, Alphabet schoolboy - and strengthening bones with Ca content for older children. In addition, they include representatives, as well as other trace elements.
The range of calcium preparations is wide; a pediatrician will help you not to get confused in this variety. He will help you choose a complex that suits your child's age and meets his needs. But before giving your baby pills, you should pay attention to his diet. Plenty of dairy products and fish - and additional intake of vitamins for children with calcium will not be needed.
Vitamins for children have been very popular lately. This is due to the impoverishment of the composition of food. Lack of vitamins in the child's body threatens the development of serious diseases. First of all, we are talking about rickets and anemia, the normal neuropsychic development of the baby is also disrupted.
In order for vitamin therapy to bring maximum benefit to children, it is necessary to choose the right vitamin complex and monitor the child's nutrition. It is important for every responsible parent to know what and how many vitamins should be given to children, how much ascorbic acid or calciferol should be additionally taken by the baby every day.
Vitamin D for children and adolescents is vital for good health, therefore calciferol is included in the state prevention program. With a shortage of this important substance, a serious disease develops - rickets.
Rickets symptoms:
- Development disorders of the inert system
- Late onset of the baby's head
- Late teething
- Delayed physical development
- Lagging in mental development.
However, not only hypovitaminosis is dangerous, but also D3 hypervitaminosis in children. If there is an excess of calciferol in the body, the following symptoms are characteristic:
- Poor appetite
- Thirst
- Lethargy
- Adinamia
- Diarrhea alternating with constipation
- Increased irritability
- Bad sleep at night
- Nausea and vomiting
- Bone pain
- Poor immunity and frequent development of infectious diseases.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C ("ascorbic acid") for babies and adolescents is necessary to ensure the following processes in the body:
- The formation of collagen fibers that make up connective tissue
- Strengthening immunity
- Strengthening the vascular wall and preventing pathological bleeding
- Normalization of the process of hematopoiesis
- Improving metabolic processes in the body.
"Ascorbinka" for babies is the most popular vitamin. It is loved by both adults and children, and the deficiency in the body can be replenished very quickly. However, a lot of "ascorbic acid" and its uncontrolled use is dangerous by the development of hypervitaminosis. If the baby consumes a large amount of ascorbic acid (more than 1-2 grams per day), the following symptoms may occur:
- Sleep disturbances
- Increased irritability
- Feeling hot
- Headache
- Increased blood pressure
- Diarrhea
- Increased sugar, as excess vitamin C can inhibit insulin synthesis
- Urolithiasis, etc.
The best vitamins for children and adolescents are those in which the composition is optimally selected, taking into account the needs for a certain age of the baby. A lot of ascorbic acid is definitely harmful to health, at the same time, a lack of it leads to chronic inflammatory processes in the body. An excess of ascorbic acid is able to enhance the function of the adrenal glands - excessive production of hormones, which also negatively affects metabolic processes in the body.
Group B
Vitamins of group B for the health of children and adolescents are necessary, first of all, for the normal development of the nervous system. These important substances are responsible for the processes of neurotransmission, and also participate in the formation of the sheath of the nerve fiber. If there is a shortage of these substances in the body, this provokes the appearance of paresthesias, increased irritability, spastic muscle contraction, etc. Supplementing children with B vitamins can help prevent these dangerous symptoms.
Retinol
Vitamin A for the health of children and adolescents is prescribed in cases where there are signs of its lack, especially if there are vision problems.
These symptoms include:
- Teary eyes in the cold
- Poor vision at night
- Dandruff in hair
- Peeling skin
- Caries
- Dry skin and mucous membranes in the corners of the mouth
- Frequent colds.
Tocopherol
Vitamin E is also extremely important for the health of children and adolescents. Remember that this is a fat-soluble compound. Tocopherol is found in foods such as oil, liver, eggs, milk, and cereal germ. If these products enter the body in an insignificant amount, this predisposes to the development of hypovitaminosis. For the prevention and treatment of hypovitaminosis, it is necessary to consume foods containing tocopherol or additionally vitamins for children with vitamin E.
It is important to exercise caution when the baby is born prematurely. Excessive intake of tocopherol can lead to the development of necrotizing enterocolitis and sepsis. Therefore, it is imperative to take into account the child's daily need for vitamin E, taking into account his age.
Magne-B6
Magnesium for children is essential for the normal functioning of the nervous system. The optimal content of the element in the body is the key to the correct social adaptation of the baby, increases its stress resistance. To compensate for the deficiency of this microelement, Magne-B6 preparation for children has been created. Some call it Magnesium B6, which somewhat distorts the true name of the pharmacological drug.
It is necessary to take Magne B6 when:
- Confirmed lack of magnesium in the body
- A combination of clinical symptoms such as excessive irritability, insomnia, stomach or intestinal spasm, tachycardia, spastic muscle contractions and pain in them, a tingling sensation in the skin.
Contraindications:
- Individual intolerance to the components of the Magne-B6 preparation
- Renal failure, in which the level of creatinine filtration is less than 30 ml per minute
- Phenylketonuria is a hereditary disease
- Children under one year old, if we are talking about a solution, or children under 6 years old, if we are talking about a tablet preparation
- Disorders of fructose metabolism
- Simultaneous treatment with Levodopa.
Calcium
Calcium is an essential trace element that is vital for the normal development of a child. Large amounts of calcium are expended in building bones and developing the musculoskeletal system. Calcium deficiency occurs when a woman is breastfeeding and eats few dairy products. The symptoms of vitamin deficiency are quite specific. There is also a high probability of developing hypocalcemia in the case of late introduction of complementary foods (if the baby is older than 6 months and eats only breast milk).
Lack of calcium D3 in the body of children has the following symptoms:
- Increased fragility of bones
- Spasmodic muscle contractions for no apparent reason
- A sharp decrease in immunity
- Increased anxiety
- Increased irritability
- Child's anxiety.
Vitamins with calcium for children D3, for example, the Nycomed brand, will help eliminate all these unpleasant and dangerous symptoms. However, it is necessary to comply with the daily intake of the substance, since hypercalcemia is also dangerous to the health of the baby as well as the deficiency.
The excess is characterized by the following symptoms:
- renal failure
- urolithiasis disease
- a shortage of iron, phosphorus and zinc develops.
Vitamins with calcium D3, for example Nycomed, should not be given to children without first consulting a doctor. Currently, the pharmaceutical industry produces various drugs with this trace element, adapted for use in pediatric practice.
These are the brands:
- Calcium D3 Nycomed
- VitaMishki with calcium D3
- Complivit Calcium D3 and others.
For growth
Growth vitamins, supplied in sufficient quantities to the body, make the baby more energetic and active.
Additionally, the following positive effects are observed:
- They can play longer, as they do not get tired for a long time
- Stronger bones
- Children become more mobile
- Immunity rises.
Vitamins for the growth of children have a direct and indirect effect on the synthesis of growth hormone. It is the optimal content of D3 that is responsible for the growth of the child. If there is a lack of growth hormone, the baby lags behind in physical development from their peers. These vitamins are best given during periods of childhood when there is a rapid increase in growth (stretching periods).
For sight
Avitaminosis in children can be manifested by visual impairment. Most often we are talking about a lack of retinol, a specific symptom can be considered a violation of the perception of objects in the dark. This is not the only cause of ophthalmic problems. Certain situations lead to an increased intake of vitamins necessary for the normal functioning of the organs of vision.
These situations are:
- Long-term work at the computer
- Examining light from light bulbs
- The effect of ultraviolet radiation on the retina
- Frequent TV viewing, etc.
To prevent visual impairment in a child in the presence of the listed factors, it is necessary to periodically take vitamins for the eyes for children. Their main distinguishing feature is the high content of retinol, which is necessary for the normal functioning of the rods and cones, the constituent parts of the retina. In addition, vitamins for vision for children are necessarily enriched with thiamine, pyridoxine and other B vitamins. These substances improve the transmission of nerve impulses to the visual center in the brain, improve blood supply to the eyes.
Popular children's eye vitamins (such as Nycomed) also contain ascorbic acid, a powerful antioxidant that protects eye structures from free radical damage. Vitamins for the eyes with tocopherol perform a similar function. Experiments have shown that tocopherol and ascorbic acid prevent retinal detachment and its degenerative changes.
Eye multivitamins should be taken from a month to three, especially useful for babies with a predisposition to ophthalmic diseases. It is also important that the vitamins for vision contain lutein, which is necessary for the formation of zeaxanthin, a substance found in large quantities in the macular region. It is this part of the retina shell that is responsible for the clarity and brightness of the perception of objects.
Lecithin
Lecithin is a fat-soluble complex containing large amounts of phospholipids. Cell membranes are built from lecithin, which determine the resistance of cells to damaging factors. Microelements with lecithin and vitamins for children have a complex effect on the child's body:
- Increasing the stability of the nervous system
- Increasing the functional activity of the liver, which neutralizes many harmful substances in the body
- Acceleration of metabolic processes in the nervous tissue
- Improving intellectual ability (children do better at school)
- Normalization of blood cholesterol levels.
Vitamins with lecithin for children are recommended almost from birth, but only after the obligatory consultation with a specialist. If the baby is breastfed, feeds on mother's milk, then he does not need additional introduction of lecithin into the diet, since he already receives the required amount with mother's milk.
Vitamin complexes
Vitamins for children in the pharmacy are so different - which is better, how to choose the right one? The modern pharmacological industry offers a lot of vitamin complexes adapted for use in pediatrics.
Before choosing a drug, the following important points should be considered:
- The qualitative and quantitative composition fully meets the age needs of the child
- Serious clinical studies have been carried out, in which they have proven their high safety and effectiveness
- GMP compliant
- They have various dosage forms, adapted for any age of the child.
Which is better
The parents find the answer to this question together with the pediatrician, taking into account the peculiarities of the baby's development and his daily need for nutrients. To achieve a good result, vitamin therapy should not last less than a month, since during this time a supply is formed, from which then, in certain situations, the vitamins are mobilized.
The duration of treatment is determined by the doctor, taking into account the tolerance of the drug, as well as the age and state of health of the child, the more health problems the baby has, the higher his need for vitamins and minerals.
Calcium is an extremely important element, without which many processes in the human body are impossible. This substance promotes cell regeneration, protein synthesis, the formation of tissue structures, etc. For this reason, in order for the child to be strong and healthy, and his development proceeds according to the norm, the process of calcium intake into his body should be closely monitored. The lack of this substance leads to negative consequences, malfunctions of the body, etc. Within the framework of this article, the features of taking calcium-containing preparations for children will be considered.
Daily Calcium Intake for a Child
The amount of daily intake of calcium depends on the gender, age of the child, as well as on the general condition of his body. Age norms are as follows:
- up to 6 months - 400 mg;
- up to a year - 600 mg;
- and until the age of ten, the norm remains unchanged - 800 mg.
Symptoms of calcium deficiency in children
Hypocalcemia is a condition that can be noticed by certain symptoms. It will be very easy for parents who closely monitor their baby to note the problem. The main signs of calcium deficiency are:
- hair loses its shine, their fragility increases and active hair loss may even begin;
- nails begin to break, white spots appear on the plates;
- the skin loses its elasticity, so even the slightest mechanical impact on impact can lead to
- the appearance of a serious wound;
- the baby shows interest in eating chalk or even earth;
- activation of carious processes with proper dental care;
- irritability, increased fatigue, nervousness;
- bone deformities, posture disorders.
In young children, a similar problem provokes a slowdown in growth and weight gain, and also creates favorable conditions for the development of rickets. Hypocalcemia causes inhibition of the normal development of internal organs and mental functions.
Calcium deficiency affects the muscles and promotes the active development of spasms. So, to determine the presence of a lack of a component in a child, you can slightly squeeze the child's hand between the joint of the shoulder and elbow - as a result, the fingers will cramp.
Calcium foods for babies
Calcium is found in foods of both plant and animal origin, but there is a difference in its properties. So, in animal sources, the element is found in large volumes, but it is more difficult for the body to assimilate. In general, from a quarter to 40% of the consumed calcium is absorbed; this process is influenced by a deficiency or an excess of other components. A child can get a useful item from:
- and fermented milk products (cottage cheese, cheese, kefir, fermented baked milk) - it is from such products
- almost 80% of the child's needs are satisfied;
- legumes (peas, beans) are one of the best sources of assimilation, as they contain other components,
- improving this process;
- vegetables (carrots, radishes, tomatoes, cucumbers, green onions, cabbage, parsley, basil and lettuce);
- fruits and dried fruits (kiwi, citrus fruits, apricots, pineapples, bananas, apples, melon, dried apricots, raisins and dates);
- berries (raspberries, grapes, currants);
- nuts (peanuts, pistachios, almonds, walnuts);
- meat (chicken, veal);
- fish (red fish, mackerel).
What calcium is best for children: a review of drugs
Calcium supplements for children are offered by many pharmaceutical companies. The main feature that is inherent in all good products in this category is the presence of additional components that improve assimilation processes and a pleasant taste that children like.
Complivit "Calcium D3" for babies up to 1 year
For children, the drug is produced in the form of a powder for preparing a suspension. Before use, you need to shake the bottle with the powder, then add cold water to it by two-thirds of its volume and shake it again. The last step is to bring the volume to 100 ml with water to obtain a homogeneous suspension. Contents and give babies 5-10 ml per day with meals for a month. Only a doctor can prescribe and increase the duration of admission. A big plus of the drug is that it has a pleasant fruity taste, and therefore kids do not refuse it. The set includes a special measuring spoon for dispensing the product.
Tianshi
The drug is available in powder form for solution preparation. The mixture consists of ground calf bones, egg powder, whole milk powder, vitamin and mineral supplements.
The manufacturer recommends mixing the composition dissolved in water with water and then adding it to food, best of all to cottage cheese. The preparation also includes vitamin D3, which facilitates the absorption of calcium. Children's composition from Tiansha is considered a dietary supplement, so its use is not prescribed by a doctor.
Calcium-D3 Nycomed Forte from 5 years
Calcium-D3 Nycomed Forte is available in the form of round chewable tablets in three flavors - orange, lemon and mint. In addition to the main components - calcium and vitamin D3, the composition contains only auxiliary ingredients. The tool is intended both for the prevention of the deficiency of the described components, and for the treatment of their deficiency. This drug should not be used in children under 5 years of age. The tablets are suitable for both resorption and chewing, they are taken with meals, for children under 12 years old - 1-2 tablets per day, the exact dose is recommended to be set in accordance with the doctor's recommendations.
Children's vitamins Multi-Tabs
Multi-tabs with calcium is a vitamin and mineral complex intended for children aged 2 to 7 years. It helps to fill the deficiency of useful components, and is simply irreplaceable for those children who do not like dairy products.
Contains no flavors, colors or sugar. You need to give the child only 1 tablet a day with a meal. The Multi-tabs line also includes complexes for children under one year old, up to 4 years old, from 4 to 11 years old, and separately for teenagers.
Features of the use of calcium preparations
Calcium supplements are usually recommended for children with meals. Also of great importance is the intake of additional components, which increase the percentage of assimilation of the element. The main carrier is vitamin D, which increases calcium absorption in proportion to its intake. Also, the absorption of calcium is affected by the intake of medications, fat, phosphorus and oxalic acid. When combined with the latter, the element forms insoluble compounds, which are essential for the formation of kidney stones.
It is better if the concentration of calcium in the blood is constant all the time, since when it is lacking, special hormones are released that release it from the bones, replenishing the deficiency in the blood. This becomes the reason for the increased fragility of bones.
Komarovsky's video about calcium gluconate
This video is about the process of assimilating a chemical such as calcium in the body. The author of the video clearly explains how the component is sucked in and what conditions are necessary for this. Also, attention is paid to such a drug as calcium gluconate and its description, including the effectiveness and relevance in relation to analogues.
Calcium is one of the most important elements for the functioning of the human body. The need for it occurs during the period of intrauterine development and persists throughout life. Without a sufficient amount of it, the normal formation of a child's body is impossible. What is the child's daily calcium requirement? How to raise its level? What preparations with its content are the most effective?
- growth and strength of the skeletal system, teeth, hair and nails;
- balanced work of nerve cells and the brain;
- production of necessary hormones;
- muscle sensitivity to impulses, regulation of muscle contractions;
- regulation of blood clotting and stabilization of blood pressure;
- many other processes at the cellular level.
At each age, the Ca consumption rate is different. How much of it should enter the child's body in a certain period of life can be seen in the table.
How to determine if a child has enough calcium and whether it is worth giving vitamins?
You can determine the lack of calcium in the child's body by the following symptoms:
- the presence of cramps or involuntary muscle twitching;
- lethargy, drowsiness, lethargy, fatigue;
- excessive sweating;
- deformation of bones, curvature of the spine;
- increased intracranial pressure;
- peeling and irritation of the skin, a decrease in its elasticity;
- poor blood clotting;
- the presence of anemia;
- wheezing;
- tooth decay.
You should not give your child vitamins if he has hypercalcemia. If you suspect hypercalcemia or hypocalcemia, you should consult a doctor who will prescribe laboratory tests to determine the Ca level in your baby. These are blood and urine tests to establish the concentration of total calcium.
Rules for choosing vitamins and vitamin complexes with calcium for children
Before choosing vitamins with calcium for children, you need to visit a pediatrician. The doctor will examine the child, prescribe tests and, based on the data obtained, will select exactly what is needed. At the age of up to 2 years, calcium enters the baby with breast milk or is contained in mixtures, it is also included in cereals and other complementary foods, so it should be given with great care.
Vitamin complexes with Ca are prescribed to children by age:
- from 1 month - Calcium-D syrup, Complivit Calcium D3 for babies;
- at 2 years old Multi Tabs are allowed Baby Calcium +, Alphabet Our baby (we recommend to read:);
- from 3 years old - Alphabet Kindergarten, Vitamishki Calcium +, Calcium gluconate;
- with 4 - Marine calcium for children;
- with 5 allowed Calcium D3 Nycomed, Calcemin Advance;
- from 7 - Alphabet Schoolboy.
The best manufacturers of children's vitamins with calcium, their advantages and disadvantages
Calcium gluconate
Regardless of the manufacturer, the composition of this drug is always the same. The exception is Fruit Calcium Gluconate, which, in addition to the standard set of ingredients, contains sucrose, sugar or fructose, fruit flavor and citric acid (may not be added). The age of application in children is from 3 years old.
Advantages:
- low cost;
- a small number of contraindications (intolerance to the components and diseases that have arisen against the background of an excess of calcium);
- are prescribed not only for hypocalcemia, but also for chemical poisoning, allergies, for the restoration of blood vessels and as part of the complex therapy of many diseases.
Disadvantages:
- low content of pure Ca, which is why a large single dose is indicated - from 2 to 6 tablets;
- complications in the form of bradycardia, nausea and vomiting are possible, but they quickly disappear when the dosage is reduced;
- partial absorption of calcium;
- when taken in large doses, it provokes kidney stone disease.
Calcium with Vitamin D3
- Calcium D3 Nycomed. Ingredients: Ca and vitamin D3. Pros: release form (records with a pleasant taste). Cons: calcium carbonate is poorly absorbed, which is partially compensated by D3; reduces the acidity of the stomach, which causes indigestion, rashes, itching, urticaria are possible; prohibited for children under 5 years old.
- Complivit Calcium D3. It differs from the previous one only in the form of release, which allows you to take the medicine from 3 years old.
- Calcium-D. Pros: the consistency of the syrup, the ability to apply from the first month of the baby's life, does not change the acidity of the stomach, there are practically no side effects (only flatulence, nausea, mild stool disorders are possible). Cons: high price.
Calcium + phosphorus
The combination of these macronutrients is presented in the following preparations:
- Calcium Bears. The composition includes phosphorus and D3. Used for the full growth of teeth and bones.
- Kaltsinov. In addition to Ca and phosphorus, it contains A, D, B6 and ascorbic acid.
When taking phosphorus, you need to take into account that it is contained in many products, and its lack is a rather rare occurrence. With excessive use, its excess is possible, which will reduce the absorption of calcium, provoking its deposition in the internal organs in the form of stones.
Other vitamin complexes for children
Among other complex preparations of Ca, it is possible to distinguish Marine calcium for children with vitamins. A small number of side effects and good absorption due to additional components make it preferred by many parents. Marine calcium contains vitamins C, D, A, B1, B2, B6, B12, biotin, pantothenic and folic acids. Allowed for children from 4 years of age.
Ca is included in the vitamin complexes prescribed for children. Its small amount in such preparations is sufficient to maintain normal levels in the child's body. In the case of hypocalcemia, Ca in the vitamin complexes is insufficient.
- it can be taken only as directed by a doctor or after consulting with him;
- you should take into account the presence of this mineral in the baby's food, baby food (cereals, mixtures, mashed potatoes, etc.);
- in no case should the prescribed dose be exceeded, because this threatens with hypercalcemia, kidney stones and other negative consequences.
Contraindications and possible side reactions
Contraindications for taking calcium supplements:
- hypersensitivity to components;
- hypercalciuria;
- thrombophlebitis;
- atherosclerosis;
- calcium nephrourolithiasis (urolithiasis and kidney stones);
- hypercoagulation;
- syndrome of impairment of all kidney functions;
- hypercalcemia;
- sarcoidosis;
- digitalis treatment.
Adverse reactions caused by calcium intake in children: constipation, dyspepsia, flatulence, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. The occurrence of other unpleasant consequences is possible only from the auxiliary components that make up the drug.
For the full growth and development of a child, all the necessary vitamins and macro- and microelements are important. The main minerals are calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and iron. They play a significant role in the development of the body and strengthening the health of the baby.
- From infancy, children need calcium, because it takes an active part in the main life processes: the formation of bones, tooth enamel and dentin.
- This element has a significant effect on muscles and nerve tissues.
- It has antiseptic and anti-allergic properties.
- It has a beneficial effect on the development of mental abilities in children.
- Strengthens the protective functions of the body and strengthens the walls of blood vessels.
- Improves the condition of the skin. Makes nails strong, prevents splitting, and hair silky and healthy.
The daily calcium intake depends on the sex and age of the child, as well as the general condition of the body. The need for it for children under 6 months is no more than 400 mg, up to 12 months - 600 mg, up to 10 years - 800 mg. For an adult, 1200 mg is enough.
The body absorbs a maximum of 30% of this macronutrient from fish, dairy and other foods consumed by humans.
Separately, the tandem "calcium and magnesium" should be highlighted - these minerals are closely interrelated. With a decrease in the content of the second component in the body, the level of the first one also begins to fall, and vice versa. Therefore, it is better to take them together. Magnesium is much easier to digest and helps to preserve calcium in all organs and, above all, in the bones.
Calcium is absorbed much better together with vitamin D, which enhances calcium metabolism in bones, and also with phosphorus.
The best natural sources
For infants up to 6 months of age, the calcium they receive from breast milk is sufficient. Although it contains a small amount of a useful element, it is almost completely absorbed. A formula-fed baby is recommended to use a formula fortified with minerals.
Calcium found in dairy products (cheese, cottage cheese, milk) is well absorbed.
After 6 months, you need to introduce various vegetables and cereals into the diet - natural sources of this macronutrient. And the favorite here is oatmeal.
Foods high in phosphorus and vitamin D:
- Fish and seafood;
- liver;
- eggs;
- legumes;
- apples;
- green pea;
- cucumbers and cabbage;
- celery;
- nuts and dried fruits.
Foods containing calcium alone are not enough to cover the little man's need for this microelement. Vitamins and nutritional supplements developed for children will help here.
The level of calcium in the body and the degree of its absorption is also influenced by a balanced diet. The use of cola, caffeine, fatty foods, excess salt - impede absorption and lead to the loss of calcium. Lactose, on the other hand, improves calcium metabolism. Therefore, it is so important that the baby consumes a sufficient amount of dairy products every day.
Symptoms and Effects of Deficiency
The shortage leads to violations in the structure of the skeleton, fragility and fragility of bones, problems of the vascular system. In young children, a lack of calcium can cause retarded mental development, stunted growth, weight, rickets, bone deformity, poor posture, curvature of the spine and caries.
The main symptoms are: increased fatigue and irritability of the child, weakness, poor performance, dryness and loss of elasticity of the skin, brittle nails and hair, progressive dental diseases (caries and periodontitis), muscle cramps and sleep disturbances. Tingling sensation in the tips of the fingers is sometimes observed.
Prophylaxis
Treatment and prevention are based mainly on a special nutritional program, prescription of drugs, as well as on additional physical activity. One of the main sources of calcium is considered to be ready-made vitamins, which contain the daily dose necessary for children. They are usually recommended to be taken with or after meals.
Children's vitamins are of several varieties, differ in composition and form of release of the drug.
Release forms: syrups, tablets (regular, effervescent or chewable) with a pleasant taste for children. Effervescent options are best absorbed.
When choosing multivitamins, pay attention to which components are contained in their composition. It is desirable that along with other minerals. Such complexes must be taken with caution - there is a risk of allergic reactions.
The complex - calcium and vitamin D - is better absorbed. At the same time, we must not forget that vitamin D can accumulate in the baby's body and lead to an overdose.
Talk to your doctor about choosing vitamins for your child. He will determine exactly whether it is necessary to include them in the children's diet. After all, an excess of calcium is also undesirable for a baby, as well as its deficiency. In case of an overdose, there is a decrease in appetite, weakness, imbalance when walking, the condition of blood vessels and blood circulation deteriorates.
It should also be remembered that you cannot take calcium all the time. The duration of admission can only be determined by a doctor. As a preventive measure, it is sufficient to take calcium supplements for no more than two months a year.
There are contraindications for babies with kidney disease and urolithiasis. Therefore, you should not neglect the advice of a specialist.