How to supplement nutrition for malnourished children

The core logic of nutritional supplementation for children suffering from malnutrition has never been to “throw in expensive nutritional supplements”. Instead, it is to first find out clearly the causes of nutritional gaps and then make targeted adjustments so that the efficiency of supplementation will be high.

In the past two months, I met a 4-year-old girl who was 6 centimeters shorter than her peers and weighed 3 pounds less than her peers. Her mother said that she was importing DHA and whey protein every day for fear of not being able to keep up with her nutrition. As a result, a food intolerance test revealed that the child was mildly allergic to wheat and milk. Without intervention for a long time, the good food she ate was not only not absorbed, but also increased the burden on the intestines, which was equivalent to a wasted effort.

Many parents panic when they hear the word "malnutrition" and rush to add various supplements to their shopping carts. In fact, the industry has different priorities for supplementation. Some clinicians will recommend plugging "loopholes" first: such as those with intestinal parasites For those who have poor appetite due to zinc deficiency, first supplement with zinc for 2 weeks to stimulate their appetite. For those who are lactose intolerant, switch to low-lactose milk or soothing milk. First solve the problem of consumption exceeding intake or not absorbing after eating, just like filling the leaky hole in a reservoir before storing water, otherwise it will not be able to retain it no matter how much water is poured. There are also colleagues in the nutrition department who prefer to make up for the basic energy gap first, instead of focusing on supplementing trace elements. For example, for a child who usually has a small appetite, mix some grated cheese and steamed sweet potatoes into his rice, add a spoonful of peanut butter when cooking noodles, and first get enough calories needed every day. As the weight gradually increases, the absorption efficiency of other nutrients will also increase. In fact, both ideas are supported by clinical data. There is no absolute right or wrong, and the choice depends on the specific situation of the child.

I once met a grandma who made bone soup and pigeon soup for her grandson every day, saying that the soup was thick and full of essence. However, after half a year of supplementation, the child was still diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia. In fact, the most in the soup is fat and purine, and the real iron and protein are all in the meat residue. Think about it, less than 10% of the nutrients in the meat can be dissolved into the soup after two hours of boiling. Drinking soup without eating meat is not in vain. Some parents chase and feed them, coaxing and coaxing them to eat one meal for an hour. The child has no appetite in the first place, and is more resistant to being forced to eat. It is better to let the child run and jump downstairs more often, and wait for half an hour before serving it to the table. The food is more delicious than anyone else, and it is much more effective than forcing the child to eat.

As for whether to take extra nutrition packs and multivitamins, there is a lot of controversy among parents now. Some people think that daily diet can get enough, and there is no need to eat processed products with additives. Others think that dietary adjustment is slow and taking supplements can quickly make up for the gap. In fact, as long as they are regular products that meet national standards, there is no problem with either option. For example, if your child is very picky and won't touch any green leafy vegetables or animal livers, then supplementing with some iron and vitamin A will definitely be better than being deficient all the time. If the child is not picky and can eat enough meat, eggs, milk, vegetables and food every day, then there is no need to spend that wasted money, and don't listen to the nonsense of the merchants.

If your child has been suffering from frequent colds, hair loss, white dots on his nails, and is easily tired from walking, don’t make random adjustments at home. Go to the child care provider for a systematic nutritional assessment first. The most worry-free way is to make up for whatever is missing.