Children, especially infants, are in a period of rapid brain and body development during their growth. They have a high demand for essential trace elements such as calcium, iron, zinc, and selenium. Some babies may encounter absorption issues leading to nutritional deficiencies like calcium deficiency affecting hair growth. How to deal with poor calcium absorption in children during this period?
The rapid growth of infants requires a lot of calcium to support bone development, but relying solely on calcium powder supplementation is not the best choice. In fact, breast milk and infant formula are the ideal sources of calcium for infants. They are not only rich in calcium (50 mg of calcium per 100 ml of infant formula, around 30 mg in breast milk) but also have easily absorbable calcium, increase protein intake, making them the preferred way of calcium supplementation. Therefore, it is more scientific to supplement calcium through daily diet.
Excessive use of calcium powder (exceeding 200 mg per day) may have side effects, including affecting infant appetite, causing constipation, and even leading to the presence of milk clots in the stool. Ensuring effective calcium absorption is equally important. Foods rich in calcium and those that promote calcium absorption, such as dairy products, animal liver, egg yolk, fish, meat, and legumes, are good choices. Additionally, vitamin D significantly enhances calcium absorption efficiency. Natural sunlight can convert the precursor of vitamin D in food into its active form, so moderate sun exposure is beneficial for infants. Seafood (such as kelp, dried small shrimp), laver, cauliflower are also good sources of calcium. There are also rice mixtures designed for infants available in the market, rich in diverse nutrients, aiding in the comprehensive development of babies.
Outdoor activities are key to increasing vitamin D levels in infants’ bodies, thereby promoting calcium absorption. Moreover, cod liver oil, as a supplement of vitamins A and D, not only enhances the immune system of infants but also assists in calcium absorption and utilization.
In conclusion, improving calcium absorption in children not only requires a reasonable dietary plan ensuring sufficient calcium and nutrient intake to promote calcium absorption from natural food sources, but also encourages appropriate outdoor activities for infants. When necessary, consider adding supplementary foods that aid in digestion and absorption to comprehensively promote the healthy growth of infants.
