Compared with calcium and zinc deficiency, this is the most terrifying thing for babies to lack.

Not long ago, a patient came to see me because her 2-year-old child Tongtong was prone to losing her temper recently. She couldn\’t sleep well at night, her face didn\’t look good, and her nails were flat and slightly upward. She was worried that Tongtong was suffering from calcium deficiency, so she went to the pharmacy to buy calcium tablets, but after taking them for almost a month, they had no effect. So I took Tongtong to the hospital for a check-up. I immediately gave Tongtong a blood test and was finally diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia. What is iron deficiency anemia? Iron deficiency anemia, as the name suggests, is anemia caused by iron deficiency, because iron is a component of hemoglobin in red blood cells. Hemoglobin is responsible for transporting oxygen in the body. The human body obtains oxygen through respiration and is transported to tissues and interacts with tissue cells. Gas exchange requires the participation of hemoglobin. Therefore, when there is a lack of iron in the body, hemoglobin synthesis will be insufficient, resulting in a decrease in the oxygen-carrying function of red blood cells, and a series of symptoms will occur due to insufficient oxygen supply to various tissues and organs of the body. What is more noteworthy is that iron deficiency can also affect the development of the nervous system and cause mental retardation in children, and this effect is irreversible. Symptoms like Tongtong\’s should be due to iron deficiency for a period of time, because in addition to the iron used to synthesize hemoglobin, some iron elements are stored in our bodies. When insufficient iron intake occurs, this part of the stored iron begins to be mobilized to work. Sustained insufficient iron intake leads to anemia. Tongtong\’s mother felt that she had been worried that she would be deficient in calcium, but she did not expect that she would be deficient in iron, and eventually reach the level of anemia. Although people\’s living standards have improved now, and their food is better. But anemia in children is not uncommon. According to WHO data, one-quarter of the world\’s population is anemic, and the prevalence of anemia in children under 5 years old is 47.4%. Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia, accounting for at least 50% of the total number of anemia patients. The \”China Nutrition Development Report for Children Aged 0-6 (2012)\” points out that the prevalence of anemia in children aged 6-12 months in some areas of my country is as high as 28.2%, and the prevalence of anemia in children aged 13-24 months is 20.5%. ▼What exactly causes iron deficiency in children? ① Insufficient iron reserves: 80% of the iron in full-term newborns is accumulated in the third trimester. Premature birth, multiple births, maternal anemia during pregnancy, intrauterine growth restriction, etc. will lead to insufficient iron reserves. ② Insufficient iron intake. Insufficient iron supply in the diet is also an important cause of iron deficiency. There are two food sources of iron: heme iron and non-heme iron. Heme iron is found in animal liver, animal blood, lean meat and other foods high in animal protein. It can be absorbed directly from the intestines with a high absorption rate. Non-heme iron is inorganic iron found in vegetables, beans, iron pots, or medicines. These foods contain little iron and have low absorption rates. There are many factors in the diet that can inhibit the absorption of iron, such as oxalic acid in vegetables, phytic acid in grains, tannic acid in tea and high-fiber foods. Therefore, if the diet structure is unreasonable, it is easy to cause iron deficiency. It is important to note that although we all advocate breastfeeding, breast milk does have many irreplaceable advantages. But the iron in breast milkThe content is low, so exclusively breastfed babies should add iron-containing complementary foods in a timely manner and do not ignore the possibility of iron deficiency. The iron content in fresh milk is also very low, so do not give fresh milk to your children too early. Although the traditional iron-supplementing food \”egg yolk\” contains high iron content, its absorption rate is very low, and it is not the best iron-supplementing food supplement. Of course, egg yolk also contains other nutrients such as lecithin and riboflavin, so do not use it because of its high iron content. Iron has a low absorption rate and has been \”relegated to the sidelines\”. ③ Growth and development factors Iron is a component of hemoglobin in red blood cells. As the weight of infants and young children increases, their blood volume increases accordingly, and their demand for iron also increases. The faster the growth rate, the greater the iron requirement, and the easier it is for iron deficiency to occur. When the baby is 1 year old, the weight increases to three times that of the newborn, and the weight of premature infants can increase to 5 to 6 times. Therefore, infants and young children, especially premature infants, are most susceptible to iron deficiency anemia. Babies who grow faster and are heavier should also pay special attention to iron deficiency. ④ Excessive loss or consumption of iron. If children suffer from chronic diarrhea, hookworm disease, allergies, long-term recurring infections and other diseases, increased loss and consumption will cause iron deficiency and then lead to anemia. Knowing the causes of iron deficiency, it is not difficult to prevent iron deficiency. ① my country\’s \”Feeding Recommendations for Premature and Low Birth Weight Infants after Discharge\” clearly mentions that premature infants need to start supplementing elemental iron 2 mg/day 2 to 4 weeks after birth. kg·d until corrected age 1 year. ② The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that exclusively breastfed full-term infants receive a daily supplement of 2 mg of iron per kilogram of body weight beginning 4 months after birth until appropriate iron-containing complementary foods are added. For partially breastfed infants, if more than half are breastfed, or if they are eating complementary foods that are not fortified with iron nutrition, they should also be supplemented with 1 mg of iron per kilogram of body weight per day after 4 months of age. ③ Infants fed with milk powder can meet their iron needs through formula milk powder and supplementary food after 4 to 6 months. Among the complementary foods added, red meat and iron-rich vegetables should be added earlier. ④ The \”2013 Reference Intake of Dietary Nutrients for Chinese Residents\” issued by the Chinese Nutrition Society recommends that the daily iron intake of children aged 1 to 3 years is 9 mg, and that of children aged 4 to 6 years is 10 mg. It is best to supplement through food. Foods rich in vitamin C can increase the absorption of iron, while foods containing phytic acid can reduce the absorption of iron. If young children cannot meet their iron needs by eating iron-rich foods, they can also take iron supplements or multivitamins to supplement their iron needs. Mothers need to be reminded that when supplementing food with iron, they must pay attention to a reasonable intake. Do not ignore the basic principles of a balanced diet by increasing the amount of animal food to supplement iron. You must not develop the habit of picky eaters in your children. ⑤ Regular physical examinations can help detect iron deficiency and anemia in time.