Which one should I supplement first if my child is deficient in calcium, iron or zinc?

Children need a lot of nutrition as they grow. If they do not have an adequate diet, they are likely to suffer from calcium, iron and zinc deficiencies. Which is the most important supplement for children who are deficient in calcium, iron or zinc? Can the three trace elements be supplemented together? If the mother does not have knowledge in this area, it is easy to make mistakes. Experts say that when a child lacks all three trace elements, they cannot be supplemented at the same time. Zinc should be supplemented first and then iron.

When supplementing calcium, iron and zinc for children who are deficient, zinc should be supplemented first, and then iron should be supplemented as needed. When supplementing calcium and zinc, be sure to take them three hours apart.

1. Children who are deficient in calcium, iron and zinc cannot be supplemented at the same time. Many mothers, upon hearing that their babies are lacking in certain nutrients, hope to quickly supplement them all at once. In reality, it often only achieves the opposite effect. For calcium, iron and zinc, since calcium, iron and zinc are all metal ions, especially calcium and zinc, they share a common channel of entry during the absorption process. If both iron and zinc are deficient, there will be no competition as long as the total amount of iron and zinc given at the same time does not exceed 25 mg. If it exceeds the limit, mutual inhibition will occur during absorption. "The strong prevail and the weak are eliminated", that is, if the amount of zinc supplemented is too much, the iron absorption will be less. The more iron you supplement, the less zinc you absorb. For simultaneous supplementation of calcium and zinc, if the weight ratio of calcium to zinc is less than 20:1, it generally does not affect the absorption of zinc. If a baby needs to supplement 200 mg of calcium and 5 mg of zinc, then the zinc may be added in vain and the baby cannot absorb it.

2. Children who are deficient in calcium, iron and zinc should supplement zinc first and then iron. After zinc supplementation, the baby's appetite can be increased. If iron deficiency persists after 1 month, stop taking zinc supplements and take iron supplements instead. Then switch to zinc supplements again after 4 to 6 weeks. Tips: Taking 1 to 2 tablets of vitamin C with iron supplements can promote the body's absorption of blood tonics. When taking iron supplements, drink more bovine colostrum, such as Life Sunshine Bovine Colostrum, which can improve iron absorption and transportation, blood indicators, and intestinal and respiratory health. Bovine colostrum enhances the body's ability to capture iron from the digestive tract and has two major functions: one is to deprive some pathogenic microorganisms of the iron they need to grow; the other is to provide the necessary iron for physiological functions such as the body's immune response. Note: Certain foods can also affect the absorption of iron supplements, such as tea, coffee, eggs, milk, foods rich in dietary fiber, etc. You should try to eat less of them while taking the medicine.

3. Children who are deficient in calcium, iron and zinc should supplement calcium and zinc separately. Because calcium supplementation for babies is likely to affect the absorption of zinc, calcium and zinc should be taken separately with an interval of more than 3 hours. You can also take calcium in the morning and evening, and zinc at noon. Both should be taken after meals.

4. Before supplementing calcium, iron and zinc, confirm the nutrients that the baby is lacking. First of all, when supplementing calcium, iron and zinc for the baby, it is necessary to make it clear whether the baby is lacking in nutrients. For children who are calcium deficient, it is best to first understand his diet, whether he is lacking in cod liver oil (vitamin D), and whether he is taking in enough calcium-rich foods such as milk. If the baby has anemia, do not supplement iron immediately, but first rule out whether it is thalassemia (a congenital hemoglobin abnormality), whether it is iron deficiency anemia, whether it is caused by inflammation, or whether it is caused by lead poisoning. Nowadays, food is extremely abundant, and there are many foods containing iron. If your baby suffers from iron deficiency anemia, he or she can get it from food under the guidance of a doctor.