A variety of vitamins

Don't take vitamins randomly. Read this article before making a decision! Did you know that there are many types of vitamins and what roles do they play in our lives? Let's take a look!

The most common vitamins are vitamin A, B, C, D, E, K, etc. These are all necessary for our body. Water-soluble vitamins include vitamin C and B vitamins B1, B2, B6, B9, etc., and fat-soluble vitamins include vitamin A, D, E, K. These vitamins play an important role in the human body.

First, let's take a look at vitamin C in the water-soluble vitamin family. Vitamin C is an important antioxidant in the human body and is involved in many physiological and biochemical processes in the human body. However, the human body cannot synthesize vitamin C and must obtain it through diet. Vitamin C supplementation is beneficial for improving blood vessels, reducing the risk of heart disease, regulating blood pressure, and enhancing immunity. However, if we take a large amount of vitamin C, our gastrointestinal tract will sound the alarm, with symptoms such as bloating, flatulence, diarrhea, and transient colic.

The water-soluble vitamin B is a large family. Lack of vitamin B1 can easily cause children to lose their appetite. Lack of vitamin B2 can cause angular cheilitis and oral ulcers. Lack of vitamin B6 may cause dry skin and loss of appetite. Vitamin B12 is involved in the development and maturation of red blood cells. Children with deficiency of vitamin B12 are more likely to suffer from anemia.

Next, let’s look at fat-soluble vitamins

(1) Vitamin A, a vitamin with a high content in carrots, has physiological functions of maintaining normal growth, reproduction, vision and anti-infection. However, the level of vitamin A intake in my country is not high. Vitamin A deficiency is associated with recurrent respiratory tract infections and decreased humoral and cellular immune functions in children. Long-term insufficient intake or excessive consumption is prone to blinding dry eye, respiratory tract infections, measles and gastroenteritis. Studies have shown that vitamin A supplementation can also prevent and treat bladder cancer.

(2) Vitamin D is more famous. Children who lack vitamin D are more likely to suffer from rickets and occipital baldness. Insufficient vitamin D intake should first be addressed through children’s diet. Children should eat foods rich in vitamin D, such as fish, egg yolks, etc. Secondly, they can be supplemented with cod liver oil. The key is to take children out to bask in the sun more often. Sunlight can promote the synthesis of vitamin D.

(3) Vitamin E is a natural antioxidant that can maintain the body's metabolic process at a certain level, thereby ensuring the normal function of muscles, nerves, blood vessels and hematopoietic systems. When young children lack vitamin E, they may develop vitamin E deficiency hemolytic anemia, thrombocytosis, reticulocytosis, and a shortened red blood cell half-life.

(4) Vitamin K is used clinically to prevent bleeding caused by vitamin K deficiency in infants and young children. Because vitamin K has difficulty crossing the placenta, the fetus's liver enzymes are immature, the fetus's ability to synthesize vitamin K is poor, and the vitamin K content in breast milk is low, the serum vitamin K level of newborns is low. Newborns are a high-risk group for vitamin K deficiency bleeding, and the doctor's advice must be followed when using vitamin K.

Parents must let their babies eat more fruits and vegetables, and ensure the intake of meat, eggs and milk to achieve a balanced nutrition. Vitamins are one of the six essential nutrients for the human body. There are now a wide variety of vitamin health products on the market. However, blindly taking vitamin supplements may also be harmful rather than beneficial. Once a child shows symptoms of vitamin deficiency, he must go to the hospital for examination and take medicine under the guidance of a doctor. Doctors and pharmacists are by your side to protect you and your child!

References:

［1］ Shan Chengcheng. Safety and importance of vitamin and mineral supplementation[J]. Chinese Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2008, 16(03): 195-198.

[2] Yang Kefeng, Cai Meiqin. Clinical research on the safety of water-soluble vitamins (review) [J]. Chinese Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2004, 12(04): 284-288.

[3] Ding Guolin, Li Shen. The role of vitamin E in infant nutrition[J]. Foreign Medical Reference Materials Pediatrics, 1978, 05(1): 44-46.

[4] Chinese Medical Association Pediatrics Branch Neonatology Group, Gansu Medical Association Neonatology Branch, Gansu Medical Association Clinical Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Medicine Branch. Guidelines for the clinical application of vitamin K in neonates[J]. Chinese Journal of Pediatrics, 2022, 60(9): 877-882.

Academic authenticity, the author is responsible for the content

Source: Department of Pharmacy, Tianjin Children's Hospital

Author: Pharmacist Chen Zihan

Reviewer: Sun Yanyan, Chief Pharmacist

Yu He, Chief Pharmacist