Zinc is necessary for the growth and development of kids. The deficiency of
zinc can delay the development of your kid. It is essential for both the
health and the formation of your kid’s brain. Therefore the daily dose
of zinc is necessary to provide your kid with nutritious food sources.
If you think of providing your kid zinc supplement then make sure to consult with his doctor first because it could cause dangerous side effects.
In the US kids get enough
zinc through their diet alone. Supplementation may prove useful in some
circumstances such as if the kid is suffering from a deficiency. Most
importantly, parents who give zinc supplements should make sure they are
giving the appropriate dosage to their kids.
Why Zinc is Important
Zinc plays a crucial role in brain function support as well as in the health
of your kid’s immune system and helps in preventing illness too. In
fact, zinc helps in healing a kid’s injuries too. Your kid’s body
requires zinc according to body requirements regularly for proper growth
and development of his reproductive system. It is a mineral that is
useful in supporting the senses of smell, taste, and even sight. In
addition, the proper dose of zinc is helpful in preventing cell damage
that can lead to heart disease and cancer.
Daily Dosage of zinc
The zinc dosage your kid needs regularly depends on his/her age and body
requirement. And a kid can get it by eating a healthy and well-balanced
diet from natural sources. There isn’t a fixed recommended dose of zinc
for kids under the age of 7 months. But from 7 months to 4 years your
child should get 3 milligrams of zinc regularly. Also, between the age
of 4 and 8, your children’s body requirement is 5 milligrams of zinc
each day and between the age of 9 and 13, children require approx 8
milligrams of zinc. In addition, young men and women (teenagers)between
ages 14 and 18 require 11 mg and 9 mg of zinc respectively daily.
Basic Sources of Zinc
You can find zinc in various nutritious foods and can add them to your
child’s diet. It is the best way through which you can increase your
kid’s zinc intake in his diet and ensure that he gets enough dosage of
zinc according to his body requirement. This will also help your child
in normal puberty changes. Oysters are considered as one of the best
sources of zinc which contain 74 milligrams per 3-ounce serving.
However, it is much more than your child’s regular day needs.
Beef, chicken, pork, crab, lobster, and fish are more friendly meat sources
of zinc. Usually, beef in a 3-ounce serving contains 7 milligrams of
zinc. On the other hand, pork of the same amount consists of 2.9
milligrams of zinc. And, Alaska king crab of 3-ounce serving provides
6.5 mg of zinc. Similarly, the same quantity of lobster contains 3.4
milligrams of zinc. Also, dark meat chicken 3 ounces consist of 2.4
milligrams of zinc.
In addition, fortified breakfast cereal intake can complete up to 25
percent of your kid’s daily zinc and iron needs. Additional food sources
of zinc are milk, yogurt, oatmeal, almonds, cashews, cheese, cashews,
almonds, and peas are additional food sources of zinc.
An 8-ounce yogurt carton also consists of zinc ie. approx 1.7 milligrams.
And an ounce of cashews consists of 1.6 milligrams of zinc. You can also
give your child a cup of milk, a slice of swiss cheese, or a packet of
instant oatmeal. Almost all these food sources supply about 1 milligram
of zinc.
Effects of Extra dosage
Sometimes
overdose of zinc may affect your kid’s health badly. Overdose of zinc
can lead to vomiting, stomach cramps, loss of appetite, nausea,
diarrhea, and headaches. If your kid’s zinc intake is too much on a
regular basis then it can reduce immunity and low levels of “good”
cholesterol. Also, It may cause low copper levels in the body. Therefore
parents should be aware to make sure their children do not exceed the
High dosage of zinc which may not be tolerable.
Tolerable Intake Levels of zinc
Everyone
knows that the best diet for kids is a balanced diet that includes
proper vitamins and minerals. If you give your kid a diet supplement for
zinc or multivitamin. You need to make sure that you are giving the
exact dose. Also, keep it away from your kid in a safe place so that he
can’t reach it. Remember, a high dosage of zinc, as well as other
nutrients, are harmful to health. If we consider kids of age between 1
and 3 then make sure that they should not get more than 7 mg of zinc.
According to research, the tolerable level of zinc is 12 mg for children
having age between 4 and 8. And, 23 mg for children of age between 9
and 13 years.
Special Circumstances
Most
parents use tolerable upper intake level amounts to know how much zinc
they should give their kids. Children who have digestive disorders and
suffer from sickle cell disease if found with zinc deficiency need zinc
supplements to meet the deficiency of zinc.
Additionally,
breastfed and vegetarian children who can’t get zinc through meat and
chicken are at high risk of a zinc deficiency. If your kid’s medical
condition or lifestyle requires a higher dose of zinc, your doctor may
advise some amount of zinc supplement to you.
Conclusion:
Zinc
is necessary for the kid’s growth and development. Children who suffer
from deficiency can intake supplements if prescribed by a doctor. You
should not provide your kid an extra dose of zinc because it may
negatively interact with certain medications or other supplements.
Always let your kid’s doctor or pediatrician know about the medications
or other supplements your kid takes before giving a zinc supplement to your child. Also only follow the exact dose of zinc according to the age of your kid and his body requirements.
Resource: https://vitaminsworld.medium.com/how-much-zinc-for-kids-a05d82e61b48