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How to give your child liquid vitamin E. Vitamin E in your child's diet
Vitamins A and E are necessary for our body, children especially need them. Retinol (the name of vitamin A) takes part in the development of the baby even before his birth - it promotes strong immunity, helps the placenta grow with the fetus and adjusts the proper functioning of the mother’s internal organs. It is produced from beta-carotene in the small intestine. Vitamin E (tocopherol) takes care of cell regeneration and helps relieve inflammation of tissues and organs. This antioxidant is good for the heart and essential for muscles. Tocopherol is fat-soluble, its main reserves are in the adipose tissue of our body.
Vitamins A and E are necessary for the child during pregnancy
To understand exactly why a child needs vitamins A and E, it is worth taking a closer look at their properties. In addition, we will find out which products contain enough of these substances and how to use them correctly to increase efficiency.
Benefits of Vitamin A
- promotes good vision;
- restores the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, stomach, and intestines;
- takes part in activating bone growth;
- normalizes digestion;
- supports immunity, reduces the likelihood of viral diseases;
- necessary as a stimulant and regulator of the body's hormonal activity.
You can maintain the desired balance of vitamin A in the body if you regularly eat foods in which it is present. The list is quite long:
- vegetables: carrots, pumpkin, broccoli, sorrel, celery, tomatoes;
- fruits: oranges, tangerines, mangoes, apricots;
- dairy products: cream, milk, sour cream, cottage cheese, cheese and butter;
- liver - cod, beef, chicken, pork;
- chum salmon caviar;
- fish oil (more details in the article:).
Vitamin A can be found in a wide variety of foods Important: when heat treating products, almost 15% of this substance is removed from them. To enhance the digestibility of the remaining portion, it is advisable to add foods rich in vitamin E to your dishes.
Benefits of Vitamin E
Tocopherol in capsules is often prescribed to women, especially during pregnancy, but babies also need it. Along with ascorbic acid, this substance helps the body quickly cope with viral diseases and colds. The drug is prescribed as an immunomodulatory agent, and is also used as part of therapy aimed at increasing the body weight of infants whose weight is below standard indicators.
Only a doctor can prescribe vitamin E, choosing the optimal dose and form of release. It is especially important to correctly calculate the required amount of medication if it is prescribed to a newborn.
If you exceed the norm, side effects are possible:
- nausea, vomiting;
- diarrhea;
- headache and loss of strength;
- changes in hormonal levels;
- loss of vision.
However, with the right approach, this substance will not cause health problems. To replenish vitamin E reserves in the body, without worrying about regularly taking a capsule or tablet, you can introduce the following products into your diet:
- apricots – fresh and dried, sea buckthorn, rose hips;
- fish: herring, salmon, pike perch;
- beef and beef liver;
- nuts and legumes;
- eggs;
- milk, sour cream;
- unrefined vegetable oil;
- sprouted grains of wheat or other cereals.
If you constantly consume recommended foods, you don’t need to take vitamin E in synthetic form. Like retinol, this substance is only partially resistant to heat treatment, and there is much less of it in a finished dish than in a raw one. There is even less tocopherol in products that have been stored for a long time, since it disappears when exposed to light and air.
Rules of application
According to the latest research by scientists, it is very difficult to fully provide a modern child with vitamins if you rely only on a balanced diet. A menu that seems balanced at first glance can ultimately lead to a deficiency of nutrients of 20 or even 30%.
You can provide your child’s body with the necessary amount of vitamins A and E using pharmaceutical products. However, it is important to understand that children's medications differ from those for adults in dosage. The form of release does not matter - you can use vitamins in drops, tablets, or capsules. Typically, the manufacturer supplies children's medications with a special dispenser - a pipette, a measuring spoon, so measuring the required amount is not difficult.
When and how is it best to offer a child vitamins? What dose can be given to the baby depending on his age? Almost any vitamins are absorbed more effectively before 2 o'clock in the afternoon - after waking up, metabolism is most active. If we are talking about a baby, the drops can be given to the baby along with milk during morning or afternoon feeding.
Using a dispenser, measuring the required dose of vitamins is quite simple. Different manufacturers use different units of calculation - milligrams, micrograms or MO (international units). The table shows all options for the standard dose of the drug in relation to the baby’s age. However, the pediatrician may prescribe a different administration option and a different dosage - preventive or therapeutic. In this case, parents are required to study the instructions for use before starting therapy.
Tocopherol can be given to newborns - it is sold not only in capsules, but also in an oil solution. Up to ½ year, the dose of this drug is 5 drops (3 milligrams) once a day. Older children should be given 4 milligrams. This portion remains relevant until the baby reaches 2-3 years. Pediatricians recommend taking this vitamin before meals.
Vitamin E oil solution can also be given to newborns Vitamin E for children is sometimes available in chewable lozenges or capsules. The latter are suitable for preschoolers who can already easily swallow the capsule.
It is important to pay attention to the labels and warnings on drug packages. The instructions for use of the medication describe contraindications and age of use in more detail.
What are the consequences of a lack of vitamins?
Vitamin deficiency or hypovitaminosis is a dangerous condition for a child’s body. It occurs infrequently, but you need to be able to notice atypical manifestations of the baby’s behavior and contact a specialist in time. What is missing in a child’s body? What symptoms may indicate hypovitaminosis of vitamins A and E? Let's look at these signs and ways to determine them in more detail.
Vitamin A deficiency
Retinol can be stored in tissues - if it is not systematically consumed, the body will independently adjust its balance. Sometimes the lack of this substance is so significant that the body begins to signal a problem. Vitamin A is necessary for children; you can make sure that your child is not getting enough of it by looking at some signs:
- The baby's height and weight are below normal.
- The child often gets sick, and the upper respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract are at risk.
- The skin is dry, flaky, and cracks in the heels are possible. Inflamed areas of skin appear on the stomach, knees, and buttocks, and the baby complains of itching.
Dry baby skin may be due to vitamin A deficiency - Hair becomes dry, lacks shine and falls out.
- The mucous membranes (mouth, inner surfaces of the eyelids, nasal passages) look unhealthy - erosions and ulcers appear.
- The proper functioning of the tear ducts is disrupted, “dry eye syndrome” appears - the shine disappears, the eyes itch and burn. Frequent eye infections, in particular conjunctivitis, are possible. In early infancy, vitamin A deficiency can cost the baby his vision - the cornea becomes thinner, which leads to perforation of the eyeball.
If you suspect a lack of vitamin A, you should immediately consult your pediatrician. The doctor may prescribe intramuscular injections of the drug, or recommend taking it in the form of drops if the child is under 2 years old.
Typically, retinol is prescribed only to those children who are often sick and are developmentally delayed. In other cases, the doctor's recommendations may be different.
Vitamin E deficiency
Poor appetite in a child may be due to vitamin E deficiency Before making recommendations, a good doctor will ask parents questions about the circumstances of the child’s birth - whether he was full-term, whether there were any birth complications. If there is a baby under one year old in front of him, the pediatrician will find out whether the baby is breast-fed or bottle-fed, and will also check the degree of maturity of the fontanel. Some drugs help quickly close the hole in the skull in children, which is not always desirable. In addition, important factors are:
- child's body weight;
- likelihood of anemia;
- genetic blood diseases;
- eye diseases;
- other individual characteristics of a small patient.
Pediatricians say that an infant is fully provided with vitamin E from mother's milk. However, a nursing woman should pay special attention to her diet - make sure that her menu is varied and balanced. Artificial formulas are also enriched with vitamins necessary for the proper development of the baby. Usually, you only need to review the nutrition of the mother and child in order to protect the baby from possible hypovitaminosis.
If the doctor decides to prescribe vitamin E, he should warn about the peculiarities of taking this drug. In particular, the medication should not be taken together with iron-containing products, otherwise none of them will perform their function. You need to maintain a gap of 2 hours between taking both.
If the mother eats properly, breast milk covers the deficiency of all vitamins Is there an oversupply?
In rare cases, hypervitaminosis may occur, especially if you take vitamins uncontrolled. How dangerous is this condition and what are its characteristic features? An excess of retinol (vitamin A) can manifest itself as quite dangerous symptoms:
- hydrocephalus (increase in the size of the skull due to fluid accumulation);
- swelling of the fontanelle, as well as its pulsation;
- nausea, increased urination, rash and sweating.
Hypervitaminosis E is characterized by general weakness, dizziness and nausea. In addition, other symptoms are possible:
- retinal hemorrhage;
- diarrhea;
- decreased immunity;
- increased blood pressure;
- disruption of the nervous system.
As you can see, a lack of vitamins A and E is just as dangerous as an excess of them. The issue of taking additional medications should only be discussed with a doctor. It is the specialist who will tell you whether the child needs to undergo a course of treatment and what is the optimal dosage of the vitamin. Remember that good parents have a responsibility to make informed decisions about their child's health.
Vitamin E for children is a vital vitamin, as it controls the proper use of proteins to build new body cells, that is, it takes an active part in regulating the growth of the child, as well as the development and functioning of its individual organs.
Why do children need vitamin E?
The most important function of vitamin E (tocopherol) is antioxidant. It suppresses the toxic effect of free radicals formed during the life (that is, metabolism) of cells. And since in the growing body of a child, metabolism occurs more intensely than in the body of an adult, and it requires more antioxidants.
Another feature of the action of tocopherols is their regulatory effect on the absorption of proteins entering the body with food. The human body’s own proteins synthesized from food under the influence of vitamin E are used more rationally. Their preservation is facilitated by the inhibition, under the influence of tocopherols, of certain types of enzymes that break down proteins. Vitamin E also supports baby's muscle tissue function, including skeletal muscle and heart muscle function.
Since vitamin E regulates the body's use of proteins, it is indirectly involved in the formation of the body's immune system. A lack of vitamin E will lead to the fact that the child will often begin to suffer from colds, against which chronic infectious and inflammatory processes may well develop (chronic sinusitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and so on).
Vitamin E for children under one year old
Children under one year of age are characterized by particularly rapid growth: their body weight increases approximately three times per year. Naturally, with such growth, vitamin E is especially necessary for an infant. Children's need for this vitamin depends on age and some individual characteristics of the body.
Vitamin E for newborns is especially needed for prematurity, as well as for children born on time, but with insufficient body weight.
This may be caused by fetoplacental insufficiency, since during pregnancy the fetus absorbs no more than a third of the tocopherols that enter the mother’s body with food. A lack of vitamin E in newborns can appear in the form of hemolytic (with the breakdown of red blood cells - erythrocytes) anemia.
Vitamin E for preschool and school children
Despite the fact that a child’s growth rate decreases after a year, vitamin E is still needed at this age. It contributes to the final formation of various organs and systems. For example, the immune system, the final maturation of which occurs only at the age of 14.
In addition, children of preschool and school age often engage in sports, fast dancing, and have high physical (muscular) loads. This also requires sufficient vitamin E to maintain normal muscle function.
Teenagers need vitamin E for the proper formation of the reproductive system.
A lack of tocopherols at this age can lead to disorders of the reproductive system: spermatogenesis in boys and the menstrual cycle in girls.
What foods contain vitamin E?
Vitamin E is found in many plant foods. But it is a fat-soluble vitamin, so it is usually found in foods rich in vegetable fats. These products include corn, peanut, soybean, cottonseed oils, walnuts, cashews, almonds, and sunflower seeds.
On the one hand, polyunsaturated fatty acids contained in vegetable oils are beneficial for the body, on the other hand, they suppress the absorption of vitamin E in the intestines. Therefore, if there are symptoms of tocopherol deficiency, they are prescribed in the form of medications.
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The site provides reference information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Consultation with a specialist is required!
General characteristics, forms and name of vitamin E
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble compound with pronounced antioxidant properties. The traditional name for vitamin E is also used - tocopherol. In addition, due to its ability to maintain youth for a long time and its beneficial effect on conception and gestation, tocopherol is also called the “vitamin of youth and beauty” and “fertility vitamin.”Vitamin E is a mixture of eight bioorganic structures that have the same properties and are its varieties. These types of vitamin E are called vitamers and are divided into two large classes - tocopherols and tocotrienols. Tocopherols and tocotrienols each include four vitamers E. In principle, all eight vitamers have almost the same activity, therefore they are not separated in the instructions for use and various descriptions. Therefore, when talking about vitamin E, they use the name common to all vitamers - tocopherol.
But the first of the E vitamers was obtained and identified alpha-tocopherol, which is most often found in nature and is the most active. Currently, the activity of alpha-tocopherol is taken as a standard, and it is with it that the activities of all other vitamers E are compared. Therefore, in some very detailed descriptions any preparation with vitamin E can be seen that its content corresponds to N units equivalent to the activity of 1 mg of alpha-tocopherol. But nowadays the amount of vitamin E is usually expressed in international units (IU) or milligrams, with 1 IU = 1 mg.
Alpha, beta and gamma tocopherols have the most pronounced vitamin activity. And delta tocopherol has the most powerful antioxidant properties. Manufacturers of various medications, depending on their purpose, introduce the necessary type of vitamin E into the composition to ensure the most pronounced biological effect.
Since tocopherol dissolves in fats, it can accumulate in the human body in almost all organs and tissues. This happens when a large amount of vitamin E enters the body, it does not have time to be excreted and penetrates all organs and tissues, where it dissolves in membrane fats, forming a depot. The largest amount of vitamin E can accumulate in the liver, testes, pituitary gland, adipose tissue, red blood cells and muscles.
Due to this ability to accumulate, vitamin E can be found in the body in high concentrations, much higher than normal, which leads to disruptions in the functioning of various organs and systems. An excess amount of vitamin E in the body is called hypervitaminosis and, just like hypovitaminosis, is accompanied by clinical manifestations that arise due to disruption of the functioning of many organs and systems.
Insufficient intake of vitamin E into the body leads to its deficiency or hypovitaminosis, which is accompanied by disruption of organ function with characteristic clinical symptoms.
That is, in relation to vitamin E, both an excess and a deficiency can be created in the human body, and both conditions cause disturbances in the normal functioning of various organs. This means that vitamin E should be consumed only in the required amount, without allowing too much or too little of it into the body.
Absorption and excretion of vitamin E
Vitamin E enters the human body with food and is absorbed from the intestines in the presence of fats and bile. This means that for normal absorption of the vitamin from the digestive tract, it must be combined with a small amount of vegetable or animal fat. Approximately 50% of the total amount of vitamin E contained in the food bolus is absorbed from the intestines, provided that there is a normal amount of fat and bile. If there is little fat or bile in the intestines, then less than 50% of the incoming vitamin E is absorbed.
During absorption from the intestine, vitamin E forms a complex with fatty acids (chylomicrons), in which it penetrates first into the lymph and then into the blood. In the blood, vitamin E is released from the complex with chylomicrons and binds to proteins. It is in this complex of protein + vitamin E that it is transported by the bloodstream to all organs and tissues.
In tissues, vitamin E is released from its binding to protein, and in combination with vitamin A, it participates in the synthesis of ubiquinone Q, a substance that transfers oxygen from red blood cells directly into the cell.
Vitamin E is excreted from the body both unchanged and in the form of metabolites. Moreover, most of vitamin E - 90% is excreted in feces through the intestines, and only 10% - in urine through the kidneys.
Biological role of vitamin E
Vitamin E is a unique substance that has the ability to rejuvenate the body, slowing down the aging process. That is why it is called the vitamin of youth and beauty. The effect of slowing down aging is achieved due to the powerful activation of tissue respiration processes, during which cells are well supplied with oxygen and decay products are removed from them.Vitamin E also reduces blood clotting, preventing excessive thrombus formation, and therefore improving microcirculation and preventing blood stagnation in various organs and tissues. A decrease in blood clotting activity leads to the fact that it flows better through the vessels without clogging them. In addition, vitamin E makes the walls of blood vessels smooth, as a result of which cholesterol plaques are not deposited on them, thereby preventing atherosclerosis. Improving blood properties and the condition of blood vessels, as well as preventing atherosclerosis, together ensure the prevention of cardiovascular failure with regular use of vitamin E.
Vitamin E improves the functioning of the immune system, thereby preventing infectious and inflammatory diseases of any organs. In combination with vitamin A, it protects the lungs from the negative effects of polluted air. Vitamin E also improves muscle tone and performance, relieves cramps and accelerates the healing of various wounds and burns. When vitamin E is used, wounds heal with less or no scarring.
Separately, it must be said that vitamin E improves sexual function in men and women, having a beneficial effect on the production of hormones and the condition of the reproductive organs. For example, in women, tocopherol improves blood supply to the uterus and ovaries, and also promotes the production of the required amount of progesterone and the formation of the placenta during pregnancy. In women, vitamin E alleviates the course of premenstrual and menopausal syndrome, and also contributes to the complete cure of fibrous formations of the mammary gland. In men, vitamin E improves sperm quality by normalizing the functioning of the gonads. In addition, tocopherol significantly improves potency.
In all people, regardless of gender, vitamin E reduces blood pressure, dilates and strengthens the walls of blood vessels, prevents cataracts and anemia, and also maintains the normal functioning of the nervous system.
As an antioxidant, vitamin E has the following biological effects on the human body:
- Actively binds to free radicals, deactivating them;
- Protects cells from damage by free radicals;
- Slows down already running processes of free radical oxidation of lipids and DNA of cells;
- Reduces the rate of formation of new free radicals;
- Protects other vitamins from the negative effects of free radicals;
- Improves the absorption of vitamin A;
- Prevents the appearance of senile pigmentation on the skin in the form of brown spots;
- Destroys and prevents the appearance of cancer cells, thereby reducing the risk of malignant neoplasms of various organs;
- By protecting cells from damage by free radicals, it reduces the rate of aging;
- Improves the formation of collagen and elastin, necessary to maintain the properties of connective tissue;
- Facilitates the course of diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.
Vitamin E intake standards
Typically, the amount of vitamin E is reported in international units (IU) or milligrams (mg). However, sometimes manufacturers provide outdated units for measuring the amount of vitamin E, called tocopherol equivalents (TOEs). Moreover, 1 mg = 1 IU, and 1 ET is approximately equal to 1 IU, so all three units of measuring the amount of vitamin E can be considered equivalent.The daily requirement of an adult and a child over two years old for vitamin E is 8–12 IU, and in men, other things being equal, it is higher than in women. In children of the first year of life, the need for vitamin E is 3–5 mg.
The need for tocopherol increases in the following situations:
1.
Active muscular work, for example, during sports, physical labor, etc.
2.
Eating large amounts of vegetable oil.
3.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding increase the need for vitamin E by at least 2 to 5 IU.
4.
The recovery period after infectious and inflammatory diseases.
5.
The healing period of various wounds.
According to dietary standards, the optimal intake is 15 mg of vitamin E per day for adults and children over three years of age. Safe from the point of view of the development of hypervitaminosis is the consumption of a maximum of 100 mg of vitamin E per day. This means that you can consume up to 100 IU of tocopherol per day without fear of developing hypervitaminosis.
However, clinical studies conducted in recent years indicate that more correct and, at the same time, safe dosages of vitamin E are 100–400 IU for adults and 50–100 IU for children. It is these dosages of vitamin E that provide not only the physiological needs of the body, but also effectively resist the aging process. For some diseases, as part of complex therapy, vitamin E can be taken in dosages of 1200 - 3000 IU.
In blood serum, the normal concentration of vitamin E is 21 – 22 µmol/ml.
Symptoms of deficiency and lack of vitamin E in the body
When there is insufficient intake of vitamin E into the human body, a deficiency develops, called hypovitaminosis. Hypovitaminosis leads to disruption of the functioning of various organs and systems, which is manifested by the following symptoms: - Impaired tissue respiration;
- Muscle weakness;
- Deterioration of potency in men;
- High risk of miscarriage, miscarriage or spontaneous abortion in women;
- Early toxicosis of pregnancy;
- Anemia due to hemolysis (destruction) of red blood cells;
- Decreased reflex levels (hyporeflexia);
- Ataxia (impaired coordination of movements);
- Dysarthria (impaired speech intelligibility with the impossibility of normal pronunciation of words and sounds);
- Reduced sensitivity;
- Retinal dystrophy;
- Hepatonecrosis (death of liver cells);
- Nephrotic syndrome;
- Increased activity of creatine phosphokinase and alanine aminotransferase in the blood.
Hypervitaminosis can develop in two cases - firstly, with long-term use of high doses of vitamin A, and secondly, with a single dose of a very large amount of tocopherol. However, in practice, hypervitaminosis E is very rare, since this vitamin is not toxic, and its excess is used by the body as an antioxidant. Thus, almost the entire volume of vitamin E entering the body can be effectively used without remaining free and without damaging various organs and tissues.
Clinical studies have shown that even daily consumption of vitamin E at 200–3000 IU per day for 10 years did not lead to the development of hypervitaminosis. A single dose of vitamin E in a high dosage can cause nausea, flatulence, diarrhea or increased blood pressure, which go away on their own and do not require any special treatment or discontinuation of the drug.
In principle, hypervitaminosis E can provoke the development of the following symptoms:
- A decrease in the total number of platelets in the blood (thrombocytopenia), leading to bleeding;
- Reduced blood clotting ability (hypocoagulation), causing bleeding;
- Night blindness;
- Dyspeptic symptoms (heartburn, belching, nausea, flatulence, heaviness in the stomach after eating, etc.);
- Decreased glucose concentration (hypoglycemia);
- General weakness;
- Muscle cramps;
- Deterioration of potency in men;
- Increased blood pressure;
- Enlarged liver (hepatomegaly);
- Increased concentration of bilirubin in the blood (hyperbilirubinemia);
- Hemorrhage in the retina or brain;
- Increased concentration of triglycerides (TG) in the blood.
When vitamin E is administered intravenously, swelling, redness, and calcification of soft tissue may occur at the injection site.
Vitamin E – content in products
The maximum amount of vitamin E is found in the following foods:
- Soybean, cottonseed, corn, sunflower and olive oils;
- Sprouted grains of corn and wheat;
- Corn beans;
- Pearl barley, oatmeal and corn;
- Shrimps;
- Squid;
- Egg;
- Zander;
- Mackerel.
Products that contain a fairly large amount of vitamin E, but not the maximum, are the following:
- Citrus fruits (oranges, tangerines, clementines, mignolas, pomelo, grapefruits, lemons, limes, etc.);
- Liver of animals and fish;
- Acne;
- Sunflower seeds ;
- Hazelnut;
- Dried apricots;
Preparations with vitamin E
Currently, there are two main types of drugs containing vitamin E on the domestic pharmaceutical market. The first type is pharmaceutical drugs containing a synthetic analogue of the vitamin, which has exactly the same structure as the natural tocopherol molecule. The second type is dietary supplements (dietary supplements) containing natural vitamin E obtained from extracts, extracts or tinctures of plant or animal raw materials. That is, there are pharmaceutical synthetic vitamin preparations and natural dietary supplements.In addition, there are monocomponent and multicomponent preparations containing vitamin E. Monocomponent ones contain only vitamin E in various dosages, while multicomponent ones contain several vitamins, minerals, trace elements or other useful substances.
The dosage of vitamin E can be different, however, both in dietary supplements and in pharmacological preparations it is standardized and indicated in IU or mg. Due to the relatively low dosage, dietary supplements can only be used for preventive use as an additional source of vitamin E. And pharmacological drugs are used for both prevention and treatment.
Synthetic vitamins E
Currently, the following vitamin preparations containing tocopherol are available on the domestic pharmaceutical market:- Aevit;
- Alphabet "Our Baby";
- Alphabet "Kindergarten";
- Alpha tocopherol acetate solution in oil;
- Biovital Vitamin E;
- Biovital-gel;
- Vitamin E 100;
- Vitamin E 200;
- Vitamin E 400;
- Vitamin E 50% type SD powder;
- Vitamin E-acetate;
- Vitamin E Zentiva;
- Vita bears;
Specialists from the Daughters-Sons online market will talk about the role of vitamins in the development of children, and will also introduce them to the range of baby food enriched with healthy vitamin components.
For expectant mother tocopherol is indicated for administration in capsules containing 100, 200 or 400 mg of transparent yellowish oil. Newly born children are offered the component exclusively in drops. How many drops of vitamin E newborns need depends on the characteristics of the individual child’s body. On average, the daily requirement is 3-4 IU. The dosage is minimal, which gives reason to refuse daily use of the supplement.
How is vitamin E administered to newborns? The instructions for use look like this:
- 1 mg of the drug per month is sufficient;
- the drug is administered orally;
- given to the baby in a teaspoon of boiled water;
- taken in the morning.
Tocopherol stimulates the absorption of vitamin A and reduces the concentration of its toxicity. At the same time, vitamin E is suppressed by iron, so the drug should be taken at intervals of 2 hours from feeding with breast milk or an iron-fortified formula.
How necessary is vitamin E for newborns? Reviews
Parents in their reviews do not note the positive effects of tocopherol on the child’s body, since the benefits from it are the normal development of the child in the long term. An additional need for vitamin E appears only when symptoms of the disease are detected, for example, hemolytic anemia. The disease is caused by the breakdown of erythrocytes (red blood cells) as a result of a lack of tocopherol.
Vitamin E ensures the baby's normal growth and development; it protects the baby's cells from toxins. In addition, vitamin E prescribed by a pediatrician allows you to:
- maintain the baby's tone;
- avoid anemia;
- develop vision;
- strengthen the heart muscle and blood vessel walls;
- support nerve cells;
- improve the metabolism of proteins and carbohydrates.
| Circulatory organs | Prevents the breakdown of red blood cells; saturates the blood with oxygen | Prevention of anemia; strengthening blood vessels |
| Musculoskeletal | Protects bone and muscle tissue cells from various types of influences | Muscle tone support; normal bone formation |
| Endocrine | Promotes the absorption of proteins and vitamin A; suppresses toxic effects on the body; speeds up metabolism | Correct (fast) weight gain; regulation of hormone levels |
| Immune | Provides an immune response | Helps the child’s weakened body fight viruses and germs. |
The baby receives a certain part of the required dose of tocopherol through the placenta during the mother’s pregnancy. Premature and underweight babies are deficient in this substance, so the doctor prescribes vitamin E for them.
After several doses of vitamin E, infants experience improved metabolism, weight gain, and a strengthened immune system.
Newborns need vitamin E for a more rational use of proteins by the body in building bone and muscle tissue. Regulation of metabolism and removal of toxins with the help of tocopherol has a beneficial effect on the baby’s tone and development.
The pediatrician should prescribe an additional dose of the drug after conducting appropriate tests. Reviews from pediatricians make it clear that vitamin E deficiency can lead to anemia, delayed physiological development, and a general disorder of the child’s tone.
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The importance of vitamin E for children
Vitamin E refers to a whole group of fat-soluble substances. The main goal in the body is to neutralize free radicals. Compared to other beneficial substances, vitamin E is not a very powerful antioxidant, but it has other beneficial properties that are involved in the development of the child's body. Science has given several names to vitamin E. 8 natural forms of this substance have also been identified. The leading groups are tocopherols and tocotrienols. They can be isolated both from natural substances and obtained synthetically. Synthetically produced vitamins can be found on sale most often and at an affordable price, but the natural component is two to four times more expensive than the synthetic one. Tocopherol can be found as an additive to some other drugs, since research is currently underway on the use of tocopherol in its pure form. Both tocopherols and tocotrienols have different properties and have different effects on the body. This means that all types of vitamin E are the same in structure, but not the same in their effect. The most active form is alpha-tocopherol.
Beneficial features
Vitamin E for children is characterized by a number of beneficial properties. This substance acts in mitochondria, that is, deeper than at the cellular level. Vitamin E is a component of the cell membrane and protects it from oxidation. The substance also has a beneficial effect on red blood cells, ensuring their easy passage through blood vessels and capillaries. This allows red blood cells not to stick together and remain on the walls of blood vessels. Tocopherol is useful for relaxing vascular muscles and their expansion. It affects the proper development of the nervous system, muscular system, liver and other organs in a child up to one year old. In addition to the listed properties, we note that tocopherol strengthens the immune system, protects the body from infections, improves the regenerative ability of tissues, takes part in the production of hormones, reduces the body’s fatigue, ensures normal blood clotting, normalizes blood sugar levels. This is especially true for a child suffering from diabetes. back to contents
Sources of Vitamin E
Children under one year of age and older need vitamin E every day, since about 70% of this substance is eliminated from the body every day. You can get tocopherol in the form of capsules from the pharmacy, as well as by consuming certain foods. The sources are primarily vegetable oils. A significant portion is found in sunflower seeds and apples; this vitamin is also found in nuts. A small amount is found in milk and egg yolk, but the most vitamin-rich vegetables are spinach and broccoli. The invariable leader among products of animal origin is the liver and fillet of fish from the salmon family. to contents
Body need
Speaking about taking a fortified drug, it is worth noting that doctors give various advice on the use of tocopherol. Some doctors believe that children under 12 years old should not be given encapsulated vitamin E. They get this substance in sufficient quantities from food. However, there is a dosage and instructions for use that can be used to determine whether the child receives enough tocopherol, or whether there is a need to adjust his diet by adding the necessary products. So, for children under 1 year of age, the daily requirement of vitamin E is from 3 to 5 milligrams, children from 1 to 6 years old need 5–7 milligrams, and school-age children should receive 10–15 milligrams of this valuable substance. The child begins to receive tocopherol while still in the womb. About seventy percent of it is retained by the placenta, and the remaining thirty goes to the fetus. After birth, infants receive it through mother's milk, with the most tocopherol found in colostrum. If the baby was born full-term, up to 5 milligrams per day is enough for him, but if his weight is insufficient, then the dosage is increased to 9 milligrams. Breastfed babies receive the substance in sufficient quantities from the mother, and bottle-fed babies should receive it in fortified milk formulas. Young mothers should not independently administer medications to children under one year of age, even if there are instructions for use. The consequence of improper use can be a severe overdose. Only a pediatrician, when examining a child, can suspect a deficiency of a substance, followed by confirmation by laboratory tests.
Features of application
Vitamin E is prescribed to frequently ill children, since it is one of the components of the antioxidant group. The substance helps improve immunity and help the body cope with various stresses. Tocopherol also improves the effect of other vitamins in the body, in particular A and C. Before giving vitamin E to a child under one year old, you should consult a pediatrician. Doctors recommend it for increased fatigue, scleroderma, insufficient weight gain and other diseases. Typically, children under one year of age are rarely prescribed vitamins, because overdose is possible. The substance should not be taken together with iron supplements. The instructions for use indicate that tocopherol destroys iron, so more than eight hours should pass between taking these drugs. Note that tocopherol of natural origin is twice as active as the vitamin synthesized by the pharmaceutical industry. Therefore, it is better for children to provide their daily dose of vitamin with food rather than with drugs from the pharmacy. The drug should be stored in a place protected from sunlight. If vitamin E is obtained from natural products, you need to remember that 55% of the substance is destroyed during heat treatment.
Overdose
The use of tocopherol in excess of the norm in most cases occurs without noticeable consequences. If the body is healthy, then the child does not feel negative sensations and the overdose goes away without a trace. The vitamin will be excreted from the body in feces and urine. If the overdose is prolonged, adverse reactions of the body to increased levels of the substance are possible. Such reactions include: increased blood pressure, frequent bleeding, impaired coagulation. If the dosage was exceeded once, then stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea are possible. Due to such side effects, doctors do not recommend taking this vitamin to children who have increased sensitivity to tocopherol, heart disease, and pathologies of the coagulation system. There is no specific treatment for the diagnosis of tocopherol overdose. In order to alleviate the child’s condition, it is necessary to stop taking the drug and then relieve the unpleasant symptoms. The child may need to be hospitalized in the intensive care unit, where he will be given plasma-substituting solutions, lower blood pressure, and prescribe medications that protect liver cells.
It is important to remember that an overdose of any drug has a greater negative effect than its deficiency.
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Vitamins D and E for infants: how to give them correctly?
Vitamin E for infants is prescribed if the child is born ahead of schedule. Tocopherol is additionally prescribed to weakened and underweight children.
Every mother who has given birth asks the question: is it necessary to give vitamins to infants? This is a very interesting matter. Vitamins are a useful thing, especially if they come into the human body from natural products. However, it is difficult to provide a newborn child with all the necessary vitamin complex. A breastfeeding mother must have a very balanced and good diet to provide her baby with everything he needs.
What about vitamin D? After all, the largest amount of it is produced in the body under the influence of the sun's rays. This vitamin is vital for a small organism that is actively forming and growing. Those who suffer from a lack of vitamin D are primarily small children who were born in the autumn or winter, when there is practically no sun in the sky.
But don’t be mistaken that summer children get enough of it. Vitamin D is produced when exposed to direct sunlight, and for very young children this is a contraindication. A walk taken before eleven o'clock in the morning or after four in the evening will be useful; in other cases, direct rays of the sun can have a detrimental effect on the child. Therefore, in the early stages of life, vitamin D is a necessity for infants.
A lack of vitamin D in infants can cause classic D-deficiency rickets. This pathology can provoke a disturbance in the metabolic processes of calcium and phosphorus. This problem can occur in children aged two to three months. It is also observed in premature infants and bottle-fed children. This vitamin will ensure easy absorption of calcium, which is responsible for the strengthening and growth of bone tissue. In case of deficiency of the calcium element, there is a disruption in the normal functioning of the nervous system, as well as thinning and softening of the bones.
If the signs described below are present, parents should understand that the child is beginning to actively develop rickets:
The baby suddenly changes his behavior. Begins to cry often and get scared;
When the child eats, there is increased sweating, which also occurs during sleep;
Rashes occur in the back of the head, hair begins to fall out, and due to severe itching, the child begins to constantly rub his head against the pillow.
Also, with a long-term lack of vitamin in a child in such a situation, muscle weakness is noted. Disruption of the musculoskeletal system is manifested in the fact that the child begins to perform actions with a delay, such as turning over on his stomach, walking, etc. The child experiences frequent constipation and diarrhea, and the abdomen becomes enlarged. Further changes are provoked by various pathologies in a small child, among which the following is noted: the head increases in size, the back of the head becomes flat, the forehead bulges, the ribs thicken, the legs become crooked, separate areas of softened bones are found, etc.
It is prohibited to give vitamins to infants on your own initiative. For this you definitely need a doctor's recommendation. Based on the tests received and after examining the child, the pediatrician draws conclusions and prescribes vitamin preparations.
For preventive use in order to avoid rickets, the pediatrician usually prescribes taking vitamin D. For a child’s body, the daily indicator that determines the norm is five hundred IU, this is quite enough for an organism that is growing. Vitamin for infants is available in two forms - a water-based solution and an oil solution.
It is believed that aqueous drops of vitamin D are absorbed much better by the body; such drugs include Aquadetrim. They are less toxic for such a small baby. They note the great effectiveness of vitamin D3 preparations, which stimulates the body’s own production of vitamin D. In order to carry out prevention, the child can be given the vitamin throughout the cold months. If an increased dose, the so-called therapeutic dose, is prescribed, then after taking the vitamin for three weeks it is necessary to maintain a pause of six days. If the child is bottle-fed, which is not an exception for taking the drug, the pediatrician should set the dose after the next examination of the baby.
A pediatrician should also explain how to give vitamin D to an infant. If for some reason this moment was missed, you should adhere to the following regimen: the vitamin should be given in the afternoon, when the child eats. For babies, a drop is applied to the tongue, and for children who already eat from a spoon, you can dilute a drop of medicine in a spoon with water.
Parents should know that vitamins can also be dangerous if their normal dosage is not controlled. When there is an excess of much-needed vitamin D, calcium salts accumulate in the blood, and this leads to inevitable poisoning of the body. Some people develop sensitivity to this drug, so parents are advised to conduct a tolerance test for their child in advance. When intoxication occurs, the child experiences a loss of appetite, sleep disturbances, diarrhea, breathing becomes difficult, the skin becomes less elastic and the pulse becomes slower. If these symptoms are detected, you simply need to stop giving your child a vitamin D-based drug.
The child will be healthy if the parents carefully monitor this. While growing, the baby should receive everything necessary for its full development, including vitamin D.
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Vitamin A and E for children: properties, features and instructions for use of drops and capsules
Vitamins A and E are necessary for our body, children especially need them. Retinol (the name of vitamin A) takes part in the development of the baby even before his birth - it promotes strong immunity, helps the placenta grow with the fetus and adjusts the proper functioning of the mother’s internal organs. It is produced from beta-carotene in the small intestine. Vitamin E (tocopherol) takes care of cell regeneration and helps relieve inflammation of tissues and organs. This antioxidant is good for the heart and essential for muscles. Tocopherol is fat-soluble, its main reserves are in the adipose tissue of our body.
Vitamins A and E are necessary for the child during pregnancy To understand exactly why a child needs vitamins A and E, it is worth taking a closer look at their properties. In addition, we will find out which products contain enough of these substances and how to use them correctly to increase efficiency.
Benefits of Vitamin A
- promotes good vision;
- restores the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, stomach, and intestines;
- takes part in activating bone growth;
- normalizes digestion;
- supports immunity, reduces the likelihood of viral diseases;
- necessary as a stimulant and regulator of the body's hormonal activity.
You can maintain the desired balance of vitamin A in the body if you regularly eat foods in which it is present. The list is quite long:
- vegetables: carrots, pumpkin, broccoli, sorrel, celery, tomatoes;
- fruits: oranges, tangerines, mangoes, apricots;
- dairy products: cream, milk, sour cream, cottage cheese, cheese and butter;
- liver - cod, beef, chicken, pork;
- chum salmon caviar;
- fish fat.
Vitamin A can be found in a wide variety of foods Important: when heat treating products, almost 15% of this substance is removed from them. To enhance the digestibility of the remaining portion, it is advisable to add foods rich in vitamin E to your dishes.
Benefits of Vitamin E
Tocopherol in capsules is often prescribed to women, especially during pregnancy, but babies also need it. Along with ascorbic acid, this substance helps the body quickly cope with viral diseases and colds. The drug is prescribed as an immunomodulatory agent, and is also used as part of therapy aimed at increasing the body weight of infants whose weight is below standard indicators.
If you exceed the norm, side effects are possible:
- nausea, vomiting;
- diarrhea;
- headache and loss of strength;
- changes in hormonal levels;
- loss of vision.
However, with the right approach, this substance will not cause health problems. To replenish vitamin E reserves in the body, without worrying about regularly taking a capsule or tablet, you can introduce the following products into your diet:
- apricots - fresh and dried, sea buckthorn, rose hips;
- fish: herring, salmon, pike perch;
- beef and beef liver;
- nuts and legumes;
- eggs;
- milk, sour cream;
- unrefined vegetable oil;
- sprouted grains of wheat or other cereals.
If you constantly consume recommended foods, you don’t need to take vitamin E in synthetic form. Like retinol, this substance is only partially resistant to heat treatment, and there is much less of it in a finished dish than in a raw one. There is even less tocopherol in products that have been stored for a long time, since it disappears when exposed to light and air.
Rules of application
According to the latest research by scientists, it is very difficult to fully provide a modern child with vitamins if you rely only on a balanced diet. A menu that seems balanced at first glance can ultimately lead to a deficiency of nutrients of 20 or even 30%.
You can provide your child’s body with the necessary amount of vitamins A and E using pharmaceutical products. However, it is important to understand that children's medications differ from those for adults in dosage. The form of release does not matter - you can use vitamins in drops, tablets, or capsules. Typically, the manufacturer supplies children's medications with a special dispenser - a pipette, a measuring spoon, so measuring the required amount is not difficult.
When and how is it best to offer a child vitamins? What dose can be given to the baby depending on his age? Almost any vitamins are absorbed more effectively before 2 o'clock in the afternoon - after waking up, metabolism is most active. If we are talking about a baby, the drops can be given to the baby along with milk during morning or afternoon feeding.
Using a dispenser, measuring the required dose of vitamins is quite simple. Vitamin A
Different manufacturers use different units of calculation - milligrams, micrograms or MO (international units). The table shows all options for the standard dose of the drug in relation to the baby’s age. However, the pediatrician may prescribe a different administration option and a different dosage - preventive or therapeutic. In this case, parents are required to study the instructions for use before starting therapy.
Vitamin E
Tocopherol can be given to newborns - it is sold not only in capsules, but also in an oil solution. Up to ½ year, the dose of this drug is 5 drops (3 milligrams) once a day. Older children should be given 4 milligrams. This portion remains relevant until the baby reaches 2-3 years. Pediatricians recommend taking this vitamin before meals.
Vitamin E oil solution can also be given to newborns Vitamin E for children is sometimes available in chewable lozenges or capsules. The latter are suitable for preschoolers who can already easily swallow the capsule.
What are the consequences of a lack of vitamins?
Vitamin deficiency or hypovitaminosis is a dangerous condition for a child’s body. It occurs infrequently, but you need to be able to notice atypical manifestations of the baby’s behavior and contact a specialist in time. What is missing in a child’s body? What symptoms may indicate hypovitaminosis of vitamins A and E? Let's look at these signs and ways to determine them in more detail.
Vitamin A deficiency
Retinol can be stored in tissues - if it is not systematically consumed, the body will independently adjust its balance. Sometimes the lack of this substance is so significant that the body begins to signal a problem. Vitamin A is necessary for children; you can make sure that your child is not getting enough of it by looking at some signs:
- The baby's height and weight are below normal.
- The child often gets sick, and the upper respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract are at risk.
- The skin is dry, flaky, and cracks in the heels are possible. Inflamed areas of skin appear on the stomach, knees, and buttocks, and the baby complains of itching.
Dry baby skin may be due to vitamin A deficiency - Hair becomes dry, lacks shine and falls out.
- The mucous membranes (mouth, inner surfaces of the eyelids, nasal passages) look unhealthy - erosions and ulcers appear.
- The proper functioning of the tear ducts is disrupted, “dry eye syndrome” appears - the shine disappears, the eyes itch and burn. Frequent eye infections, in particular conjunctivitis, are possible. In early infancy, vitamin A deficiency can cost the baby his vision - the cornea becomes thinner, which leads to perforation of the eyeball.
Typically, retinol is prescribed only to those children who are often sick and are developmentally delayed. In other cases, the doctor's recommendations may be different.
Vitamin E deficiency
Vitamin E is required for use by a child only if there are indications. Usually the pediatrician prescribes a series of examinations: blood tests, urine tests, which will most accurately highlight the problem. This is necessary, since external symptoms - dry skin, poor sleep and appetite, increased excitability - may indicate both a lack of this vitamin and hypovitaminosis in general.
Poor appetite in a child may be due to vitamin E deficiency Before making recommendations, a good doctor will ask parents questions about the circumstances of the child’s birth - whether he was full-term, whether there were any birth complications. If there is a baby under one year old in front of him, the pediatrician will find out whether the baby is breast-fed or bottle-fed, and will also check the degree of maturity of the fontanel. Some drugs help quickly close the hole in the skull in children, which is not always desirable. In addition, important factors are:
- child's body weight;
- likelihood of anemia;
- genetic blood diseases;
- eye diseases;
- other individual characteristics of a small patient.
Pediatricians say that an infant is fully provided with vitamin E from mother's milk. However, a nursing woman should pay special attention to her diet - make sure that her menu is varied and balanced. Artificial formulas are also enriched with vitamins necessary for the proper development of the baby. Usually, you only need to review the nutrition of the mother and child in order to protect the baby from possible hypovitaminosis.
If the doctor decides to prescribe vitamin E, he should warn about the peculiarities of taking this drug. In particular, the medication should not be taken together with iron-containing products, otherwise none of them will perform their function. You need to maintain a gap of 2 hours between taking both.
If the mother eats properly, breast milk covers the deficiency of all vitamins Is there an oversupply?
In rare cases, hypervitaminosis may occur, especially if you take vitamins uncontrolled. How dangerous is this condition and what are its characteristic features? An excess of retinol (vitamin A) can manifest itself as quite dangerous symptoms:
- hydrocephalus (increase in the size of the skull due to fluid accumulation);
- swelling of the fontanelle, as well as its pulsation;
- nausea, increased urination, rash and sweating.
Hypervitaminosis E is characterized by general weakness, dizziness and nausea. In addition, other symptoms are possible:
- retinal hemorrhage;
- diarrhea;
- decreased immunity;
- increased blood pressure;
- disruption of the nervous system.
As you can see, a lack of vitamins A and E is just as dangerous as an excess of them. The issue of taking additional medications should only be discussed with a doctor. It is the specialist who will tell you whether the child needs to undergo a course of treatment and what is the optimal dosage of the vitamin. Remember that good parents have a responsibility to make informed decisions about their child's health.
Tocopherol (vitamin E) belongs to the group of components responsible for the proper absorption of proteins that a child needs for the normal development of the skeletal and muscular systems and the formation of immunity. Vitamin E in drops for newborns has an antioxidant function - it protects organ cells from toxins, regulates metabolism and maintains the level of red blood cells in the blood.
Specialists from the Daughters-Sons online market will talk about the role of vitamins in the development of children, and will also introduce them to the range of baby food enriched with healthy vitamin components.
How to give vitamin E to a newborn
For the expectant mother, tocopherol is indicated for taking in capsules containing 100, 200 or 400 mg of transparent yellowish oil. Newly born children are offered the component exclusively in drops. How many drops of vitamin E newborns need depends on the characteristics of the individual child’s body. On average, the daily requirement is 3-4 IU. The dosage is minimal, which gives reason to refuse daily use of the supplement.
How is vitamin E administered to newborns? The instructions for use look like this:
- 1 mg of the drug per month is sufficient;
- the drug is administered orally;
- given to the baby in a teaspoon of boiled water;
- taken in the morning.
Tocopherol stimulates the absorption of vitamin A and reduces the concentration of its toxicity. At the same time, vitamin E is suppressed by iron, so the drug should be taken at intervals of 2 hours from feeding with breast milk or an iron-fortified formula.
How necessary is vitamin E for newborns? Reviews
Parents in their reviews do not note the positive effects of tocopherol on the child’s body, since the benefits from it are the normal development of the child in the long term. An additional need for vitamin E appears only when symptoms of the disease are detected, for example, hemolytic anemia. The disease is caused by the breakdown of erythrocytes (red blood cells) as a result of a lack of tocopherol.
Vitamin E ensures the baby's normal growth and development; it protects the baby's cells from toxins. In addition, vitamin E prescribed by a pediatrician allows you to:
- maintain the baby's tone;
- avoid anemia;
- develop vision;
- strengthen the heart muscle and blood vessel walls;
- support nerve cells;
- improve the metabolism of proteins and carbohydrates.
| Body system | Vitamin function | Positive Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Circulatory organs | Prevents the breakdown of red blood cells; saturates the blood with oxygen | Prevention of anemia; strengthening blood vessels |
| Musculoskeletal | Protects bone and muscle tissue cells from various types of influences | Muscle tone support; normal bone formation |
| Endocrine | Promotes the absorption of proteins and vitamin A; suppresses toxic effects on the body; speeds up metabolism | Correct (fast) weight gain; regulation of hormone levels |
| Immune | Provides an immune response | Helps the child’s weakened body fight viruses and germs. |
The baby receives a certain part of the required dose of tocopherol through the placenta during the mother’s pregnancy. Premature and underweight babies are deficient in this substance, so the doctor prescribes vitamin E for them.
Important!
After several doses of vitamin E, infants experience improved metabolism, weight gain, and a strengthened immune system.
conclusions
Newborns need vitamin E for a more rational use of proteins by the body in building bone and muscle tissue. Regulation of metabolism and removal of toxins with the help of tocopherol has a beneficial effect on the baby’s tone and development.
The pediatrician should prescribe an additional dose of the drug after conducting appropriate tests. Reviews from pediatricians make it clear that vitamin E deficiency can lead to anemia, delayed physiological development, and a general disorder of the child’s tone.
