Children

Iron deficiencies and children: advice for children and adolescents

An adequate daily intake of iron is essential from childhood. Iron, in fact, is a very important nutrient for the normal physical and cognitive development of boys and girls.

INCREASED IRON CONSUMPTION IN CHILDREN

During childhood and adolescence, our body uses iron to facilitate cognitive development and to support energy metabolism, as well as to facilitate the normal formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin. The immune system, which, during childhood and adolescence, is gradually becoming stronger, also needs iron for its normal functioning. It may happen, therefore, that the first years of life are characterised by an increased body demand for iron compared with what our body needs during adulthood.

IRON INTAKE IN CHILDREN STARTS WITH DIET

Children are often a little difficult when it comes to diet. However, it is important to set a healthy and balanced diet from an early age, which guarantees an adequate supply of all the nutrients necessary for the body’s physical and cognitive growth and development. Even during adolescence, it is important to maintain a varied and balanced diet to provide the growing body with the correct amount of iron daily. In the case of girls, there are certain physiological conditions, such as a heavy menstrual cycle that can cause iron deficiency and, in the most extreme and prolonged cases, low serum iron and low haemoglobin.

IRON FOR CHILDREN: WHEN A SUPPLEMENT IS NECESSARY

Under normal health conditions, a varied and balanced diet is sufficient to provide the body with the right amount of iron daily. In some cases, however, there might be a deficiency or increased need for iron related to specific physiological (menstrual cycle) or pathological conditions (bleeding, malabsorption related to specific diseases). The use of a food supplement, together with a balanced diet, may be useful in case of iron deficiency or increased needs. The SiderAL® range of food supplements is designed to supplement iron in case of deficiency or increased needs for this nutrient.