Vitamin D is prescribed for almost every newborn child, especially in the autumn-winter period, for the prevention or treatment of rickets. Let's see, is it important to give your child vitamin D?
Of course, for the normal development of the child's body requires a large number of vitamins. Among them, vitamin D plays an important role, which is not so easy to get from ordinary foods. In fact, the presence in the body of a child of a sufficient amount of this vitamin is especially necessary in the period of intensive growth. Because, he performs a regulating function in the process of calcium and phosphorus metabolism, which is necessary for normal growth of bones, teeth, and also for the prevention of rickets.
The main catalyst for the formation of vitamin D is sunlight. In the autumn-winter period, when there is not enough sun, for babies an alternative source of vitamin D. is required. Of course, it is contained in some food products - liver, seafood, cheese, cottage cheese. But, it should be taken into account that its content in these products is rather small, and the child, due to his age, can use only some of them. Today, vitamin D preparations can be found in pharmacies in the form of an oily solution (D2) and an aqueous solution (D3) for children.
How to give vitamin D to infants?
Pediatricians usually prescribe a prophylactic dose of D3 for newborns. Do not worry, vitamin D in the prophylactic dosage is absolutely safe for babies and can be used continuously throughout the entire sunless period. In comparison with the oil solution (D2), the water (D3) is physiologically and more effective, since it is provitamin D, which stimulates the production of its own vitamin D. In the body, the water solution is less toxic than the oil solution, it is quickly absorbed and has a longer action effect. One drop of D3 contains 500 IU of vitamin D, which is the daily norm for a newborn baby, which will be enough for its normal development. As a rule, pediatricians recommend giving children vitamin D supplements during meals, in the first half of the day.
Lack of vitamin D in children
Due to a lack of vitamin D in the intestine there is a violation of the absorption of calcium, while the level of phosphorus rises. This leads to thinning and softening of bone tissue, to a worsening of the central nervous system, as well as internal organs. With vitamin D deficiency in the baby's diet, usually after six months of life, the first signs of rickets begin to appear. At the same time the behavior of the baby changes, on the back of the head the hair begins to drop out and, as a rule, during sweating or sleeping, excessive sweating appears. If the first signs of rickets are present, urgent measures should be taken to prevent a deficiency in the body of vitamin D, as this threatens to further develop this disease, in which there is deformation of the bones and disruption of the internal organs.
Overabundance of vitamin D in children
Solutions of vitamin D are serious enough drugs and should strictly follow the doctor's recommendations for its use. With excessive amounts of vitamin D in the body of a child, calcium and phosphorus salts accumulate in the blood and poison the body. This can be dangerous for the cardiovascular system, liver, kidney and gastrointestinal tract.
Symptoms of an overdose of vitamin D:
- loss of appetite;
- sleep disturbance;
- frequent vomiting;
- dyspepsia;
- thirst;
- dry tongue;
- a sharp loss in weight;
- low-grade fever;
- possible convulsions, difficulty breathing, slowing the pulse;
- enlargement of the liver and spleen;
- delay in development.
To alleviate a child's condition in case of an overdose, it is necessary simply to stop taking the drug containing vitamin D.
Grow your kids healthy!