Signs your child is deficient in necessary vitamins

Kids often lack vitamins and minerals because their diet lacks diversity. The food children are fed are usually routined and without any variety. In addition to this, kids these days are fed with sugary beverages and processed food items which is leading to a surge in vitamin deficiency among them.

Hence it is vital to understand the various signs of vitamin deficiency in kids and compensate for it with the right diet.

Dr Richa Panchal, Pediatrician & Neonatologist, Apollo Hospitals, Ahmedabad has noted key signs of vitamin deficiency in kids:

Vitamin A deficiency leads to dry eyes, night blindness, wrinkled or brownish spots on the white of the eye, and frequent tummy or chest infections in kids.

Deficiency of vitamin B complex leads to poor appetite, weakness, and irritability, delayed achievement of normal milestones such as standing and speaking (developmental delays), sores on lips and tongue, nerve-related complaints, and mood changes.

Kids deficient in vitamin C will show symptoms like swelling of gums, bleeding from gums while brushing, easily getting bruised with a trivial injury that normally should not have caused a bruise, pain in limbs or joints, slow wound healing, and dry hair.

Deficiency of the sunshine vitamin can lead to the weakening of bones (a disease called “rickets” in young children). As a result, the bones of the legs may “bend”. Besides this, vitamin D deficiency can also lead to delay in walking and teething, an increased risk of fractures, and low blood calcium.

Calcium deficiency is usually due to vitamin D deficiency, so the complaints are those of being vitamin D deficient. Besides this, muscle cramps, and occasional fits (in young babies) can also occur.

Tiredness, lack of concentration, irritability, poor appetite, and a pale look is characteristic of iron deficiency.

Sodium and Potassium deficiency leads to muscle cramps and unexplained weakness.

As per health reports, kids mostly lack vitamin D, calcium, vitamin B12, Potassium and iron.

Iron deficiency is highly prevalent among adolescent girls.

Dr Panchal says for kids it is important to pay attention to the diet.

She emphasizes on desi food to cure vitamin and mineral deficiency.

Green leafy vegetables (spinach, amaranth), most green and yellow fruits and vegetables (e.g., papaya, mango, pumpkin, and carrots); Fortified foods: Ghee, margarine, milk are good sources of vitamin A, says Dr Panchal. The darker the green leaves, the higher their content, she adds.

For vitamin D she suggests liver, egg yolk, butter, cheese, fish, and fish-liver oils. She also recommends exposure to sunlight for the synthesis of vitamin D in the body.

Green leafy vegetables, milk, eggs, meat, liver, and fish are good sources of B complex. Apart from these, whole grains, cereals, and pulses also contain complex in small amounts. Fresh fruits, green leafy vegetables, germinating pulses, amla, and guava are rich sources of vitamin C, says Dr Panchal.

On this, Dr Panchal says, if a child consumes a balanced diet, logically, he or she should get all the vitamins and minerals. But, this may not always be the case.

She then highlights how the symptoms vary with each vitamin deficiency.

"Severely undernourished children, who have measles, long-standing diarrhea, problems in absorbing food, long-standing liver disease, and eye complaints, suggest vitamin A deficiency, and they should take vitamin A supplements. Since young children are growing rapidly and one cannot rely solely on sunlight and dietary sources to meet their requirements, vitamin D supplements are recommended for infants," says Dr Panchal and adds that it is better to consult your doctor to understand whether your child needs supplements.

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