Risk of iron deficiency anemia in children: what should mothers do?

A nutritious diet is indispensable for children's development. However, many parents are less concerned with the risk of iron deficiency anemia in the child's diet, causing unpredictable consequences.

Red blood cells distribute oxygen to the body's tissues and organs. Each red blood cell is made up of hemoglobin, the nucleus contains iron. Iron is like a "energy" dose for hemoglobin enough to carry oxygen in the blood where needed. Iron deficiency can lead to iron deficiency anemia, a common condition in children.

What is iron deficiency anemia?

Iron deficiency anemia is often a cause of iron deficiency in the daily diet. That means the patient's body does not make enough hemoglobin, thereby reducing the number of red blood cells, causing anemia. When a person has iron deficiency anemia, the amount of oxygen to cells and tissues decreases, affecting the function of the body. Iron plays an important role in muscle function, energy generation and brain development. Consequently, the consequence of iron deficiency in children is behavioral and learning disorders.

Children are at high risk of iron deficiency

Babies and young children are breastfed so they usually get enough iron from their breast milk until they start weaning. Even when not breastfed, babies can also eat formula that most formula milk today is fortified with enough iron for the body to develop. Meanwhile, preschool-aged children are susceptible to iron deficiency anemia due to unbalanced diet, drinking too much cow's milk and eating less iron-rich foods like red meats and green vegetables. Cow's milk not only contains less iron, but also makes it harder for a child's body to absorb iron.

For vegetarian children, the diet often prevents children from absorbing enough iron because meat is the largest source of iron and is the most easily absorbed, compared with iron sources from plants.

Adolescents often suffer from iron deficiency anemia due to rapid growth during puberty, especially in girls, because their bodies do not store enough iron, but lose too much iron when they start. menstruation.

What are the symptoms of iron deficiency?

Symptoms of iron deficiency include:

Fatigue and weakness;

Pale skin, especially the skin of the hands, nails, and eye conjunctiva;

Rapid heartbeat;

Ease of irritation;

Anorexic;

Dizziness or drowsiness.

How much iron do children need?

Newborn babies usually get enough iron from breast milk until 4-6 months. After 4-6 months, babies are often given a diet with minced meat or iron fortified cereals. The amount of iron that children need to absorb every day is 11mg.

Children ages 1-3 years need 7mg of iron per day, kids 4-8 need 10mg, and kids 9-13 need 8mg per day.

Teenagers need about 11mg of iron per day, but girls need about 4mg, or about 15mg of iron per day.

For young athletes, regular exercise also depletes iron in the body and requires iron supplementation with a variety of foods. For vegetarian children, it is necessary to take iron supplements to ensure the iron requirements.

What foods should children eat to supplement iron?

Here are iron-rich foods that mothers should consider in their baby's meals:

Beef, pork, lamb and seafood;

Tofu;

Legumes and seeds;

Dried fruit;

Dark green vegetables;

Iron fortified cereals, breads and pasta.

In addition, to ensure your child's body absorbs iron from food, you need:

Limit your milk intake to 450-700ml per day;

Offer infants and young children iron-fortified cereals until 18-24 months of age;

Give your child foods containing vitamin C such as tomatoes, oranges and strawberries. Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron in the best way;

Avoid letting your baby drink tea or coffee with meals, both substances contain tannins, which are substances that reduce iron absorption in the body.

Iron is an essential trace element because only a small amount becomes a vital factor for the body. To keep your baby healthy, parents should pay attention to learn to supplement iron in a timely manner and suitable for the child's age.