Are supplements necessary for children?

The best sources of nutrients are still foods. But there may be instances when your child needs to take supplements – to add more nutrients to an unbalanced diet. Supplements are needed if your child is showing signs of specific nutrient deficiency and is not eating a variety of foods, as outlined in the Daily Nutritional Guide Pyramid for Children.

As long as the child is partaking of an adequate balanced diet and is unconstrained by illness or economic factors, there is no real need for nutritional supplements.

However, due to economic and other reasons, many Filipino preschool children are at risk of nutritional deficiencies, such as vitamin A deficiency (VAD), iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and iodine deficiency disorders (IDD), as revealed in the latest nutrition survey of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST). Thus, as a general rule, until the diets of Filipino children improve and food fortification is universal, there is a need for nutritional supplements to prevent these deficiencies. In fact, vitamin A supplementation has been shown not only to prevent VAD but also to lower child mortality in high-risk areas. Iron supplements not only prevent anemia but also has other positive benefits to recipients such as lowering the risk to infection, decreasing the risk to morbidity and mortality and improving mental performance.

                               

As a parent, you want to help your child grow and develop to optimal potential. One of the ways you can do this is by offering meals and snacks that meet your child’s nutrient and developmental needs. Variety in daily meals helps your child get used to the different tastes, textures and appearance of foods.

To do this, take a look at and follow the “Daily Nutritional Guide Pyramid for Filipino Children” developed by the FNRI-DOST. For example, a six year-old child should eat the following servings:

q  Two to four and one-half (2 – 4 1/2) servings a day of rice, rice products, corn, root crops, bread, noodles. Choose whole grains for extra fiber. One serving is equal to one cup of rice, or four slices of loaf bread, or two slices puto, or five pieces small pandesal, or one cup corn, or two cups noodles, and one cup cooked rootcrops.

q  One-third to one-half (1/3 – 1/2) serving a day of green leafy vegetables and other vegetables. One serving of vegetable is equal to 1/2 cup cooked.

q  One to two (1 - 2) servings of fruits a day, one of which is vitamin C-rich fruit. Consider fruit for your snacks. One serving of fruit is equal to one medium-sized fruit or one slice of a big fruit.

q  One to one and one-third (1- 1 1/3) servings a day of fish, shellfish, meat and poultry, dried beans and nuts, and eggs. Limit intake of fatty meats, cholesterol-rich food and saturated fats. One serving is equal to one piece medium-sized fish, or  1/3 cup shellfish, shelled, or 3 centimeters cube (one matchbox size)  cooked pork/beef/chicken, or 1/3 cup cooked dried beans/nuts, or one slice cheese, or one piece chicken egg, or one piece tokwa.

q  One serving of milk and milk products a day such as one glass of milk.

q  Four to five servings a day of sugar/sweets. Consume sweets in moderation. One serving of sugar is equal to one teaspoon honey, or one piece hard candy.

q  Six servings a day of fats and oils a day. One serving of fat is equal to one teaspoon mayonnaise, or one teaspoon margarine/butter, or one teaspoon peanut butter.

q  Drink lots of water (four to seven glasses a day) depending on your age, physical activity, health conditions and among others.

For more information on food and nutrition, contact:  Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City; Tel/Fax Num:  8372934 and 8373164; email: mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph, mar_v_c@yahoo.com; FNRI-DOST website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph. . (FNRI-DOST S & T Media Service: Press Release – MA. IDELIA G. GLORIOSO)