Foods rich in vitamin A should be given to children every day.
Vitamin A plays an important role in vision, skin, cell production, the immune system and protection from infection. Children who eat diets rich in vitamin A, especially from plant sources, have been shown to be healthier and have fewer illnesses.
1. Vitamin A is essential for children's development
Vitamin A is a micronutrient that plays an important role in the health and comprehensive development of children. According to Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Lam, former Deputy Director of the National Institute of Nutrition, vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that protects the eyes, prevents night blindness and dry eye disease, ensures normal development of bones and teeth, protects mucous membranes and skin, and enhances the body's resistance to infectious diseases.
Vitamin A has four main roles in the body:
-Vitamin A helps growth:Regardless of its form, vitamin A acts as a cell-communicating component. Vitamin A helps children grow and develop normally.
-Vitamin A develops vision:The presence of vitamin A is an indispensable part of ensuring human vision.
-Vitamin A protects the epithelium:Vitamin A protects the integrity of the epithelium, cornea, skin epithelium, small intestine and excretory glands. Vitamin A helps delay the aging process by preventing the development of free radicals.
-Boost immune system:Due to its specific action on the body's cells, vitamin A actively participates in the body's immune system, increasing human resistance to disease.
2. Daily vitamin A requirements
According to the recommendation of the Institute of Nutrition, the need for vitamin A in the daily diet is as follows: Children < 6 months: 300mcg/day; Children 6-12 months: 400 mcg/day; Children 1-2 years old: 350-400mcg/day; Children 3-5 years old: 400-500mcg/day; Children 6-7 years old: 400-450mcg/day; Children 8-9 years old: 500mcg/day; Children 10-11 years old: 600mcg/day; Children 12-14 years old: 700-800 mcg/day; Children 15-17 years old: 650-700mcg; Pregnant women in the last 3 months: increase by 80mcg/day; Breastfeeding women: increase by 450mcg/day compared to normal.
Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Lam said that vitamin A deficiency causes dry eyes, dry cornea, keratomalacia leading to corneal scarring and permanent blindness. Vitamin A deficiency also causes degeneration and keratinization of epithelial cells, reduces the body's protective function; reduces immunity, increases the rate of illness and death in children. Vitamin A deficiency causes children to gain weight and grow taller slowly. Early vitamin A deficiency affects children's intellectual development when they reach school age.
According to studies in the UK and the US, vitamin A deficiency can cause a number of serious health problems, starting in the womb. Vitamin A deficiency can weaken the immune system, cause dry and scaly skin, and cause impaired vision. In addition to some birth defects and poor growth in childhood, there is an increased risk of reproductive problems later in life.
Children with malabsorption problems, such as Crohn's disease, Celiac disease, and autism, are more susceptible to vitamin A deficiency and may need supplements.
Vitamin A can be stored in the body. Taking large amounts of vitamin A over a long period of time can cause serious problems such as birth defects, liver and nerve damage, skin problems, temporary jaundice, and abnormal bone growth.
Children who overdose on vitamin A may experience severe reactions leading to acute poisoning. The signs of poisoning can easily be confused with encephalitis, meningitis, and food poisoning, so parents need to pay close attention.
3. Foods rich in vitamin A should be given to children every day
There are two main types of vitamin A:Vitamin A has been metabolized:This exists as retinol and is found in animal foods such as meat, fish, poultry and dairy products.Provitamin A:It is found in the form of carotenoids, primarily beta carotene. It occurs in plant-based foods such as fruits and vegetables.
According to Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Lam, foods of animal origin have the most vitamin A or retinol. Because the liver is where vitamin A is stored, the liver has the highest retinol content. Fat from meat and eggs also contains a significant amount of vitamin A.
Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Lam said that the source of provitamin A - carotenoids is often found in some animal products such as milk, cream, butter and eggs. Plant-based foods are rich in provitamin A such as yellow/red fruits and vegetables, dark green vegetables, and cooking oils. When entering the body, provitamin A will be converted into vitamin A (at a ratio of 12:1 for ripe fruits and 22-24:1 for green vegetables).
Animal sources of vitamin A:Animal liver, red meat, fish, egg yolks, cheese, milk, yogurt
Plant sources of vitamin A:Fruits and vegetables with orange, yellow, red colors such as sweet potatoes, oranges, mangoes, carrots, papaya, gac fruit, etc. Many vegetables have dark green leaves such as broccoli, amaranth, Malabar spinach, Malabar spinach, water spinach, jute, etc.
Because vitamin A is fat-soluble, to help the body absorb vitamin A better, you should add fat to your daily diet. You should also not overcook vegetables because it will reduce the vitamin A content in the food.
To prevent vitamin A deficiency, it is necessary to take care of the baby from the time it is still in the womb. The mother should eat a nutritious diet and supplement foods rich in vitamin A. Breastfeeding babies from 0 to 6 months old is the most effective way to supplement vitamin A.
