Vitamins for children to increase appetite

When a child refuses to eat, eats little and rarely, parents often begin to worry. Decreased appetite can be a sign of illness, stress or lack of physical activity, but in childhood quite often problems with appetite can arise due to insufficient intake of vitamin-mineral substances.

The fact that the deterioration of appetite can be a sign of vitamin deficiency, parents can judge by other symptoms, such as increased fatigue, deterioration of sleep, irritability, bleeding gums, cracks in the lips and other manifestations. At the same time, when the appetite worsens, the child receives less food and, accordingly, less vitamins and other beneficial substances, which makes the condition even more complicated.

The following vitamins have an effect on the child's appetite:

• Vitamin A. It is important for the skin and mucous membranes, helps strengthen the immune system and eyesight.
• Vitamins of group B (thiamine, pyridoxine, riboflavin and others). They are involved in metabolic processes and the nervous system.
• Vitamin C. Such a vitamin will strengthen the immunity of the little ones and improve the digestive process (in particular, help to absorb iron).

In addition to these vitamins in the stimulation of appetite in children play a role:

• Vitamin-like amino acid l-carnitine.
• Zinc. Important for the exchange of carbohydrates and strengthen the body's defenses.
• Magnesium. Affects sugar levels and glucose metabolism.
• Iron. Indispensable for blood formation.
• Oligofructose. It belongs to prebiotics, because it improves the growth of the microbial flora in the intestine, affecting local immunity and digestion.

Vitamin preparations for reduced appetite should not be given to a child if:

• The baby has an individual intolerance to some component of the vitamin-mineral complex.
• The child has developed hypervitaminosis.

Vitamin supplements that help improve appetite are presented in the following forms:

• Syrup or oral solution.
• A powder that is added to food or mixed with water.
• Chewable tablets.
• Tablets in the shell.

The choice of a particular form of release is based on the age of the crumbs:

• If the child is very small, he is recommended drugs in the form of syrup or powder dissolved in water.
• Chewable vitamins are most often offered to preschool children.
• At school age, the child can already swallow the tablets with a shell, washed down with water.

When choosing suitable vitamins for a child, it is important to pay attention to such points:

1. Who is the manufacturer. Children should buy products only reputable manufacturers who can be trusted.
2. What is the composition. Ensure that the drug contains essential vitamins that affect the appetite, and also specify their dosages.
3. What are the expiration dates. Children are not allowed to give expired medications, so at the date of manufacture of the drug you need to look first.

Anna: “I regularly give my son ascorbic in winter. The appetite is much improved and the gums no longer bleed. In addition, it became very rare to get sick. If earlier I tried to persuade me to sit at the table, now I often ask for a supplement. Vitamin C son loves with different fruit flavors. ”

Victoria: “I can’t believe that pharmaceutical vitamins can improve appetite and improve health. I try to give children vitamins in their natural form, so I prepare fruits, berries and vegetables for the winter. We eat only natural, do not complain about poor appetite. "

Yuliya: “On the advice of a pediatrician, I started giving my daughter Vitrum Kids in the dosage indicated in the instructions. If I am sick, I give a little more, as it seems to me that a large dose of vitamins will help me recover faster. There are no problems with appetite after taking vitamins. ”

The famous pediatrician considers the prescription of vitamin supplements to be justified only with hypovitaminosis, that is, with a lack of any specific vitamins. Komarovsky advises to increase appetite in another way. First of all, in his opinion, parents should change their attitude to poor appetite and stop turning the child’s food into the meaning of family life.

If you play with a healthy child in active games, he will very quickly have a good appetite. At the same time, Komarovsky does not recommend feeding a child who has no appetite, since the baby’s body is not ready to absorb food if there is no appetite.

For information on how to increase the appetite of a child, and whether it is scary that your child does not want to eat, see the programs of Dr. Komarovsky.