The role of cod liver oil in baby supplementation

Many parents are worried about their children's calcium deficiency, so they give their children calcium tablets. However, perhaps they have overlooked a question: are the calcium supplements they give their children in line with their own and their body's needs? In the following article, there are indeed many parents who are confused about whether the method of supplementing cod liver oil for babies is correct.

1. Not taking the right amount of cod liver oil while supplementing calcium. In this way, the extra calcium will be excreted through the feces, which not only wastes the calcium source, but also easily causes the baby to have anorexia or constipation.

2. The timing of cod liver oil supplementation is not right. This will result in calcium not being effectively absorbed. For example, if a baby takes calcium supplements in the morning and cod liver oil in the evening, the time difference means that the cod liver oil does not have a chance to "direct" the small intestine to absorb calcium.

3. The amount of calcium supplemented is not enough. If the baby takes calcium gluconate preparations orally, since the available calcium content of calcium gluconate is low, a larger dose must be taken, and it is often difficult for babies to accept too much. Therefore, even though the baby takes calcium every day, it does not actually meet the baby's needs.

4. Improper method of use. If the baby only takes it once a day, it will cause calcium loss. Due to the characteristics of intestinal peristalsis, calcium absorption is completed in about 4 hours after oral administration. If calcium is supplemented in large amounts at one time, the calcium absorption rate is only about 25%. However, if calcium is supplemented in small amounts over several times, the calcium absorption rate can be higher than 50%. Therefore, it is more effective to supplement calcium in small amounts over several times.

5. Taking calcium supplements with other foods will reduce the absorption rate of calcium. If taken together with milk, soy milk, fruit juice, vegetable juice, rice soup, etc., the absorption rate of calcium will decrease. Therefore, calcium supplements are best taken alone.

Experts remind: The effectiveness of calcium deficiency treatment cannot be judged based on the presence or absence of signs of rickets. When the baby is properly supplemented with cod liver oil and calcium supplements, sweating will decrease, sleep will improve, night terrors will disappear, teeth will erupt faster, etc. However, the signs of rickets will not disappear quickly, such as circular alopecia, square head, beaded ribs, rib eversion, pigeon chest, funnel chest, "O"-shaped legs, etc., but they will not continue to worsen. As the baby grows and develops, the muscles, gravity and bones are gradually coordinated, remodeled and modified, and the signs of rickets will disappear.

Let you know that when supplementing your baby with cod liver oil, you must first supplement cod liver oil according to the child's physiological needs. This is to make the child's body more nutritious and allow the nutrients to be absorbed quickly, thus achieving a supplement that depends on whether it is effective.