Zinc Supplements In Children
Zinc is an essential mineral required by the human body for an array of different physiological processes to function normally. Despite being so essential, Zinc is required in milligrams, or minor quantities.
The normal physiological requirement of Zinc by the human body is anywhere between 8 and 12 milligrams per day. The Zinc requirement range increases from the normal 8 milli grams per day in non pregnant females, to 12 milli grams per day during pregnancy and lactation.
Children require anywhere between 2 milligrams and 9 milli grams depending upon their stages of life, like infancy, early child hood and late childhood.
The importance of zinc during infancy and childhood cannot be stressed enough, because zinc plays a vital role in many of the normal developmental processes in them. Zinc contributes to the normal metabolic activity in the cells, normal sexual growth, development of the sense of smell and taste and also in mediating various chemical reactions occurring in the body.
The development of Zinc deficiency is more common among children due to a myriad of cause. Zinc deficiency can develop as a concomitant to several other diseases or dietary habits.
Sickle cell anemia, the different chronic forms of gastro intestinal maladies, chronic diarrheas, chronic colds, Crohn's disease etc are the various diseases which can cause associated Zinc deficiency. Most if not all of these diseases are quite common in childhood.
In addition to these facts, children are more prone to malnutrition due to their finicky food habits. All these factors act in tandem, and are capable of causing Zinc deficiency related health disorders in children.
Zinc supplements become necessary in such cases. Zinc is found naturally in a variety of foods like nuts, red meat which includes beef, lamb etc, sea food, milk, cheese, oat meals etc. But the availability of Zinc in the vegetarian food is lesser as compared to that in the non-vegetarian food. Children may be either encouraged to consume more of these foods or may be given supplements of Zinc to cope with the deficiency.
The supplements must always be given under strict medical supervision, because inadvertent excess intake of Zinc supplements can be quite risky and pose a health hazard.
Despite taking Zinc supplements regularly, there can be a problem or disturbance in the absorption of these supplements, if they are taken along with certain other drugs or medications. Zinc absorption is hindered when used along with the antibiotics, the medicines used to promote urination and also penicillamine.
Zinc is an essential mineral required by the human body for an array of different physiological processes to function normally. Despite being so essential, Zinc is required in milligrams, or minor quantities.
The normal physiological requirement of Zinc by the human body is anywhere between 8 and 12 milligrams per day. The Zinc requirement range increases from the normal 8 milli grams per day in non pregnant females, to 12 milli grams per day during pregnancy and lactation.
Children require anywhere between 2 milligrams and 9 milli grams depending upon their stages of life, like infancy, early child hood and late childhood.
The importance of zinc during infancy and childhood cannot be stressed enough, because zinc plays a vital role in many of the normal developmental processes in them. Zinc contributes to the normal metabolic activity in the cells, normal sexual growth, development of the sense of smell and taste and also in mediating various chemical reactions occurring in the body.
The development of Zinc deficiency is more common among children due to a myriad of cause. Zinc deficiency can develop as a concomitant to several other diseases or dietary habits.
Sickle cell anemia, the different chronic forms of gastro intestinal maladies, chronic diarrheas, chronic colds, Crohn's disease etc are the various diseases which can cause associated Zinc deficiency. Most if not all of these diseases are quite common in childhood.
In addition to these facts, children are more prone to malnutrition due to their finicky food habits. All these factors act in tandem, and are capable of causing Zinc deficiency related health disorders in children.
Zinc supplements become necessary in such cases. Zinc is found naturally in a variety of foods like nuts, red meat which includes beef, lamb etc, sea food, milk, cheese, oat meals etc. But the availability of Zinc in the vegetarian food is lesser as compared to that in the non-vegetarian food. Children may be either encouraged to consume more of these foods or may be given supplements of Zinc to cope with the deficiency.
The supplements must always be given under strict medical supervision, because inadvertent excess intake of Zinc supplements can be quite risky and pose a health hazard.
Despite taking Zinc supplements regularly, there can be a problem or disturbance in the absorption of these supplements, if they are taken along with certain other drugs or medications. Zinc absorption is hindered when used along with the antibiotics, the medicines used to promote urination and also penicillamine.
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