Most people have heard or are aware that vitamin E is good for the human body. It is the main antioxidant that enters the body through food and affects immunity. Is it useful for children? In the article we will tell whether the child needs vitamin E and in what quantities.
How Vitamin E Works
This vitamin is scientifically called tocopherol - it refers to fat-soluble substances. This means that if you take it on an empty stomach, just drinking it with water, there will be no benefit.
With sufficient use, it has the following effect:
- helps the endocrine and cardiac systems;
- protects body cells from inflammatory processes;
- regulates oxidative reactions;
- normalizes blood coagulation;
- supports immunity;
- increases stamina;
- protects red blood cells and strengthens the walls of the vascular system;
- beneficial effect on muscle functioning;
- helps to absorb vitamin A;
- increases tissue regeneration rate in case of damage;
- lowers blood sugar;
- normalizes the reproductive system;
- eliminates cramps.
By consuming a sufficient amount of vitamin E, the child will fully develop, differ in activity and health.
How much and who needs vitamin
For the normal development of the child's body, it is important not just the intake of any vitamins in the body, but their consumption in the optimal amount.
For children, the following daily allowance for vitamin E is established, depending on age:
- up to one year old - 3 mg / kg (3-4 IU);
- from one to three years - 6 mg (5-6ME);
- from three to eleven years - 7 mg (6-7ME);
- girls over eleven - 8 mg (7-8 IU);
- boys over eleven - 10 mg (9-10 IU);
- adolescent children - 50-100 IU.
There are groups with an increased need for vitamin E. Children in this category include:
- Premature - fat metabolism has not yet been established in their body, and tocopherol deficiency increases the risk of infections and damage to the retina.
- Babies with congenital abnormalities or diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, which interfere with the absorption of nutrients.
Consequences of Vitamin Lack
A lack of vitamin E has serious negative consequences for the baby's body, especially premature babies.
Among them are:
- muscle weakness;
- hemolytic anemia;
- retinopathy of prematurity;
- impaired coordination of movements;
- double vision
- stunted growth;
- bad eating habits;
- weight loss
- ataxia of the trunk and limbs;
- dysarthria;
- retrolental fibroplasia;
- intraventricular and subependymal hemorrhages in newborns.
All of the above problems can be treated with the timely appointment of vitamin E for children in any form. In this case, it should be borne in mind that some breast-milk substitutes can make vitamin absorption difficult due to the high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in them. Also, some digestive tract diseases can give poor digestibility.
Vitamin Products
Against the background of vitamin deficiency and stimulation of the normal development of the child, it is necessary to pay close attention to the nutrition of the baby. The menu should contain foods rich in vitamin E and cover the daily need for it daily.
Tocopherol contains products of both animal and plant origin. Moreover, from the first vitamin is absorbed by the children's body better.
In the early stages of life, babies who are fed naturally receive vitamin E from breast milk, and artificially from enriched mixtures. At an older age - with the addition of complementary foods and when switching to ordinary food - the preparation of the correct diet becomes relevant.
The child consumes vitamin E as part of such products:
- sour cream and dairy products;
- apples of all sorts;
- dried apricots and apricots;
- spinach;
- blueberries and sea buckthorn;
- potatoes;
- eggs
- beef liver and beef meat;
- sea fish;
- legumes;
- peanut butter and nuts, especially almonds;
- sunflower seeds;
- sprouted grain;
- unrefined vegetable oils.
You should know that a significant part of the vitamins is lost during heat treatment. Therefore, oils should be added to ready-made dishes, and nuts should be raw.
Release Forms
All types of vitamin release are divided into:
- one-component, containing only vitamin E;
- multicomponent, including other additives (mineral salts and other vitamins).
The drug is available in several forms:
- syrup;
- liquid oil solution (drops);
- chewing pastilles;
- capsules.
Vitamin E in drops for children is given from the age of birth to three years, syrup - up to six, and lozenges and capsules are perfect for children from six years.
For babies who are weakened or often ill, prescribe complex preparations in which vitamin E is in combination with vitamin A and ascorbic acid. Effective representatives of this group of funds are Multi-Tabs, Sana-Sol, Vitrum, Supradin, Alphabet, Pikovit.
Tocopherol is available in natural (labeled “d”) or synthetic (labeled “dl”) form, but its effectiveness in the first case is considered to be twice as large. An oily solution of vitamin E for children can be given not only inside, but also used as an external remedy.
Who is indicated for vitamin A, warnings and contraindications
Preparations where tocopherol is the main component are taken only as prescribed by the doctor and in case of vitamin E hypovitaminosis, confirmed by a blood test.
The drug is indicated as a multivitamin in such cases:
- SARS and systematic colds;
- underweight at an early age;
- unbalanced nutrition of the child;
- high physical activity;
- recovery period after illness;
- overwork;
- living in areas with adverse ecology and radiation conditions.
According to the instructions, vitamin E is forbidden for children - or its complex preparations - if there is intolerance to any of their components. Also, it is not recommended to take such funds for children suffering from iron deficiency anemia or poor blood coagulation in order to avoid deterioration of their condition.
It should be remembered that an overdose of tocopherol can cause:
- failure in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
- increase in pressure;
- bleeding and bleeding;
- weakness;
- headache;
- muscle cramps.
How to take and overdose
According to the instructions for use, vitamin E for children is measured in drops with a pipette, and the child should chew or swallow capsules and lozenges during or after meals (preferably breakfast). It is absolutely necessary to observe the dosage recommended by the therapist.
With excessive use of vitamin E, any significant changes in the body will not occur, since an excess amount of the substance is excreted in the bile. But a significant excess of the dose leads to digestive disorders, hormonal disorders, headaches, weakness, and visual impairment. If such symptoms occur, the tocopherol drug is canceled, and the child is shown to the doctor.
How to increase your vitamin intake
If a deficiency of vitamin E is detected, the child needs to adjust the diet taking into account the following conditions:
- take tocopherol exclusively after or with food;
- the use of very fatty foods is excluded;
- keep in mind that with long heat treatment half of the amount of vitamin in the products disappears.
To determine how much tocopherol is ingested, a blood test is performed. With sufficient intake of vitamin E in plasma should not be less than 0.4 mg%. With an underestimated result, the diet is enriched with appropriate products or the doctor will prescribe a drug for therapy.
Vitamin E is the most important substance for children and it is imperative to monitor how much of it enters the body of the child. It is important to remember that both a shortage and an excess of this compound harm the children's body. With sufficient intake of this vitamin, children develop normally, and their immunity strengthens.