Vitamin E for children

Vitamin E is one of the important compounds for children, and its lack threatens with problems with metabolic processes and immunity. It is also manifested by a decrease in activity and impaired growth of the child, therefore such a vitamin must be supplied to the child's body daily with food or with vitamin preparations.

At the same time, before buying a multivitamin complex or vitamin E preparation, each mother should find out whether it is possible to fill the lack of such a compound with food and how to properly use pharmacy supplements with vitamin E.

Vitamin E action

This vitamin, which is also called tocopherol, is a fat-soluble substance that has the following effect on the body:

Thanks to its antioxidant effect, vitamin E inhibits inflammation and protects cells from damage.
This vitamin is essential for the functioning of the heart and the functioning of the endocrine system.
Vitamin E is involved in oxidative processes and blood clotting.
Adequate amounts of this vitamin are important for immune support.
Tocopherol has a beneficial effect on the vascular walls and protects erythrocytes from destruction.
The presence of vitamin E is important for muscle function, absorption of vitamin A and faster tissue regeneration in the event of damage.

Childhood needs

Vitamin E should be supplied to the child's body every day, depending on age, in the following amount:

Doctors also identify groups of children whose needs for vitamin E are increased:

Newborns who were born prematurely. In such children, the absorption of fats is impaired, and a lack of tocopherol increases the risk of infections and damage to the retina.
Babies who have congenital abnormalities in the absorption of fats or diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, in which the absorption of nutrients is impaired. At the same time, children with cystic fibrosis are prescribed synthetic water-soluble vitamin E.

Vitamin E foods

Tocopherol is found in various foods - both animal origin (of which it is better absorbed) and plant foods. Breastfeeding babies receive this vitamin from mother's milk, and a baby on artificial feeding - from a mixture enriched with vitamins. When it comes time to get acquainted with complementary foods, the baby begins to receive tocopherol from the new food that he tries.

To prevent an older child from feeling a lack of vitamin E, his diet should include:

Vegetable oils (especially unrefined).
Sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds.
Sprouted grain.
Nuts and peanut butter.
Legumes.
Pike perch, salmon and other fish.
Beef and beef liver.
Eggs.
Potatoes.
Sea buckthorn and blueberries.
Spinach.
Apricots and dried apricots.
Apples.
Sour cream and milk.

Mothers should remember that heat treatment leads to partial destruction of this vitamin. For this reason, vegetable oils are best added to ready-made meals, nuts should be offered to children not fried, and vegetables should be cooked short.

Vitamin E Supplements

Types and forms of release

All supplements with tocopherol as an ingredient can be divided into one-component (contain only vitamin E) and multicomponent (includes other vitamins, minerals and other ingredients). Vitamin E in their composition can be natural or artificial. It is believed that tocopherol from natural sources is twice as effective as the synthetic version.

The drugs are available in various forms - capsules, chewable lozenges, liquid oily solution, syrup. For infants, supplements in drops are more preferable, since it is more convenient to dose them at an early age, and lozenges and vitamin E in capsules are given to children over six years old who can swallow them.

Often sick babies are recommended to take complexes in which vitamin E is combined with ascorbic acid and vitamin A. To prevent a lack of tocopherol, the child can be given complexes Pikovit, Alphabet, Supradin, Vitrum, Sana-Sol, Multi-tabs and others.

Indications

Drugs in which tocopherol is the main component are prescribed only for hypovitaminosis of this substance, which is confirmed by a blood test. Only a doctor should prescribe such vitamin supplements in childhood.

Vitamin E in the composition of multivitamins is recommended to be taken with:

Frequent colds and SARS.
Being underweight at an early age.
Unbalanced nutrition of the child.
High physical activity.
The recovery period after illness.
Overwork.
Living in an area with unfavorable ecological and radiation conditions.

Contraindications

Vitamin supplements that include tocopherol are not given in the presence of intolerance to any of their components. Also, vitamin E preparations should not be given to children with iron deficiency anemia, as tocopherol can worsen their condition. For serious illnesses and problems with blood clotting, vitamin E should be used with caution.

Instructions for use

Vitamin supplements in drops are dispensed with a pipette, and lozenges and capsules are given to the child to chew or swallow during meals. It is important to comply with the doses recommended by the doctor and not forget about the age restrictions specified in the instructions for the drug.

Since the best time for taking vitamins is considered the morning, often multivitamin complexes are given during or after breakfast.

Overdose

If a child uses vitamin E in a small excess, this will not have a negative effect on his health, since the excess compound will be excreted in the bile. A significantly exceeded dosage of tocopherol can lead to headaches, indigestion, weakness, visual impairment, increased blood pressure, hormonal disorders. If the child has such symptoms, the vitamin E preparation should be immediately canceled, and the baby should be shown to the doctor.