Statistics from the Ministry of Health indicate that micronutrient deficiencies in children, including those of vitamin A, iron, zinc, and iodine, continue to be a significant concern. The issue is particularly prevalent in rural and mountainous areas, as well as among urban children whose diets lack sufficient diversity.
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| Nutrition specialist examines a child at Hoan My Dong Nai Hospital. Photo: Hanh Dung |
Micronutrient deficiencies not only slow physical development but also weaken the immune system, making children more susceptible to illness and slowing their recovery.
Micronutrient deficiencies make children more prone to illness
According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Quy, Level-I Specialist and in charge of the Nutrition Department at the Dong Nai Center for Disease Control, micronutrients account for only a very small portion of a child’s diet but play essential roles in nearly all vital functions, including blood formation, brain development, mucosal protection, energy metabolism, bone maturation, and immune regulation. A deficiency of any essential micronutrient can lead to physiological disorders.
The danger lies in the fact that this condition often shows no obvious signs in its early stages. Children may exhibit only mild symptoms, such as a loss of appetite, slow weight gain, pale skin, or poor sleep, which can lead many parents to overlook the issue. Only when children frequently fall ill, experience recurrent infections, or show clear signs of malnutrition do micronutrient deficiencies become apparent.
According to Dr. Quy, studies have shown that a child’s immune system is closely tied to their nutritional status. Vitamin A deficiency causes atrophy of the respiratory and digestive mucosa, making children more susceptible to pneumonia, bronchitis, and prolonged diarrhea, and is a leading cause of blindness.
Zinc deficiency reduces the activity of immune cells, leaving the body less capable of fighting infections. Children lacking zinc often experience poor appetite, recurrent infections, slower recovery, impaired height growth, and later reproductive issues.
Iron deficiency reduces oxygen transport to organs, leading to fatigue, impaired concentration, decreased brain function, and weakened cellular immunity.
Vitamin D deficiency affects bone strength and innate immunity, increasing the risk of respiratory infections. Iodine deficiency can lead to impaired intellectual development.
Caring for a child with severe pneumonia at Hoan My Dong Nai Hospital, Doan Thi Cam Phuong (residing in Xuan Duong Commune, Dong Nai Province) said her 8-month-old baby weighs only 6.7 kg and is 63 cm tall. A few days ago, the child began wheezing. When she took the baby for an examination, the doctor ordered immediate hospitalization because the child's lungs were filled with fluid and damaged, compounded by malnutrition.
According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Hue, Head of the Pediatrics – Neonatology Department at Hoan My Dong Nai Hospital, nutrition is the foundation of development. A patient with good nutritional status will recover faster than a child who is malnourished or overweight. Therefore, when examining pediatric patients, if a child is malnourished, pediatricians will invite nutritionists to consult and determine the best treatment approach, or guide the family on supplementing essential micronutrients to help the child recover quickly and improve nutritional status.
Foods rich in vitamin A include liver, fish oil, and egg yolks, as well as yellow-colored vegetables and fruits such as carrots, gac fruit (Momordica cochinchinensis), pumpkin, papaya, and mango. Dark green, leafy vegetables such as katuk, jute plant, and cruciferous vegetables, as well as seafood like clams and mussels, are rich in iron and zinc. Iron-rich foods include blood pudding, liver, egg yolks, and dark green leafy vegetables. Foods rich in vitamin C include green vegetables and ripe fruits.
Proper, adequate, and balanced micronutrient supplementation
Many parents wonder why their children eat well but still gain weight slowly. According to Dr. Quy, this may occur because parents provide their children with an abundance of food but not enough essential nutrients. For example, children may be fed a diet high in carbohydrates but lacking in crucial sources of vitamins and minerals, such as animal protein, green vegetables, and fats. Some parents even restrict fats in their child’s diet, while vitamins A and D are fat-soluble. As a result, children cannot properly absorb these vitamins from their food.
In addition, some parents supplement their children with micronutrients such as D3K2 or DHA on their own, but neglect more essential nutrients like zinc, iron, or vitamin A. Unbalanced supplementation can lead to children consuming a lot but not growing, or experiencing poor absorption without parents realizing it. Moreover, children with digestive disorders, parasitic infections, or intestinal damage may have poor absorption of micronutrients, especially zinc and iron. Not exclusively breastfeeding during the first six months of life can also lead to vitamin A deficiency.
Dr. Quy noted that micronutrient supplementation for children must follow the principles of being adequate, appropriate, and suitable for each developmental stage. Specifically, children need sufficient intake of all nutrient group including protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals; proper methods, such as adding oil or fat when cooking porridge/powder to enhance the absorption of vitamins A, D, and K; and the right timing, such as providing vitamin D from birth until 18 months of age and allowing children to have 10–20 minutes of sun exposure each morning. Vitamin A should be administered periodically, twice a year, according to the Ministry of Health’s program. Since each child’s ability to absorb nutrients varies, a nutritional assessment is necessary to determine which micronutrients the child is lacking, avoiding indiscriminate or excessive supplementation. Proper nutrition not only helps children grow but also keeps them healthy. Correct micronutrient supplementation is crucial for protecting immunity, enhancing stature, and improving the intellectual potential of the next generation.
By Hanh Dung – Translated by Thu Hien, Minho
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