Winter chills are there, and everyone prefers to stay inside more to enjoy the cozy weather. But they don’t know, that it is a concerning factor resulting in lack of Vitamin D.
As per the Pediatrics 2023 published report, 13.7% of preschool children, 18.2% of schools, and 23.9% of adolescents have vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D plays a significant role in bone metabolism by regulating phosphate homeostasis and calcium.
First understand, what vitamin D is to your body.
Calcium and phosphorous are the 2 important minerals for our body and to absorb them properly, vitamin D helps come into play. It helps to regulate the abruption properly which keeps children’s bones stronger, better immune system, and enhances overall mental health. The sources regulate brain plasticity, serotonin synthesis, and neuroprotection.
There are some signs which can help you understand the deficiency of vitamin D in your children.
- Weakening of muscles
- Frequent mood changes
- Frequent illness
- Bone pain
If your child is showing any of the signs, you should promptly address the issue to the pediatrician.
Why Vitamin D is needed?
As per WHO, deficiency of vitamin D can lead to some consequences like type 1 diabetes later in childhood. Rather than delaying, it is time to know the benefits.
- 1. Stronger bones: better abruption of calcium and phosphorous leads to stronger bones, and also protects children more osteoporosis. Additionally, in the long run, it will keep your child protected from arthritis, and fracture.
- 2. Better immune system: in immune cells including dendritic, monocytes, B and T cells, vitamin D receptors and metabolizing enzymes are available. With proper sources of minerals, they are able to regulate the immune system. Vitamin D boosts the immunity of children to fight against bacteria. A better immune system aids in protecting from disease, flu, cold, and fever.
- 3. Better healing: we all know, that in winter it becomes difficult to heal wounds, as the temperature constricts blood vessels, and reduces the flow of blood and oxygen. But, vitamin D helps to regulate the T-cells, control inflammation, regulate and enhance the ability of white blood cells, maintain the integrity of endothelium, and deliver oxygen which are essential nutrients for tissues to heal.
- 4. Better mental health: the nutrients regulate the serotonin (happy hormones) level in the brain, as it impacts social behavior and emotional cues, and neuroprotective properties to deal with mood swings.
Important for infants:
As per WHO, within a month after born, the vitamin D concentration decreased by 50%. This indicates the attention of new parents to take care of their babies. This vitamin is essential to maintain blood calcium and bone health, as deficiency can lead to difficulty in breathing, low calcium, and soft malformed bones (rickets).
For infants, it is not viable to go outside and have the source, so the lactating mother can add doctors recommended Vitamin D supplements to their diet. Moreover, some pediatricians also recommend a dose of supplement to infants to ensure the daily value.
Source of Vitamin D for children
- The Sun: several sources stated that exposure to the sun for a long time can cause skin cancer and damage skin barriers. But by limiting the timing, the sun can become a beneficial source for them. Through outdoor activities, you can ensure your child’s health, fulfill the daily need for vitamin D, and boost their mood by letting them play outside. Sun is the best way to maintain the vitamin level. Daily 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure is enough to fulfill daily essential minerals. But winter resists getting the best out of the sun because of the shorter days, and windy weather, and we started to prefer sitting inside our house. This is a simple trick of tit-for-tat.
- The Food: although, dairy products like milk, yogurt, and cheese are good for children. Additionally, you can add fatty fish like tuna and salmon, mushrooms, eggs, cereal, muesli, orange, fortified sources, and fish oil to their diet as well.
- The Supplement: vitamin gummies, liquids, sprays, etc are available in the market. But this doesn’t mean you can pick any of the sources. As kids are tender, it is advised to consult with a pediatric specialist. You can contact Cradle Children’s Hospital, as they are one the most reliable hospitals that can advise the best for your child.
Make Your Child’s Winter Better
Being a parent, it is your responsibility to keep your child active and fit even the cold days. You can’t let your child face the issue of vitamin D deficiency. Even the simplest steps like adding foods to their diet, supplements, and letting them play outside can help your child. Now the question is, whom to consult when it comes to a child’s health?
Why choose Cradle Children’s Hospital?
We are a team of specialized doctors who are helping a number of children in every possible way. We strive to offer the best services that you can get, as when it comes to children, you can make mistakes. So, contact us today to know more information.
