Parents pay special attention to their children’s nutrition. The nutrients we need are not only proteins and fats, but also trace elements, which are called “trace elements” because the content of these nutrients in the body is very low, but they are essential to the human body and cannot be synthesized by ourselves, so they must be taken in through food, so they are also called Therefore, they are also called “essential trace elements”. ‘Zinc’ is an important one of them. What is the important role of zinc for human body? Zinc is one of the most important essential trace elements in the human body and is involved in the formation of more than 100 enzymes in the body. Zinc deficiency can affect the synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins and other physiological functions, and is known as the “flower of life”. What are the signs of zinc deficiency in children? In less developed countries, mild to moderate zinc deficiency in children is more common. Especially in young infants between 7 and 12 months, the zinc content of breast milk decreases, and the supplemental foods added during this period are mainly plant foods, which are not enough zinc and have a low utilization rate, making them prone to zinc deficiency. Taste sensitivity decreases when zinc is deficient, so children may not like to eat, become anorexic and paranoid, or have xenophagia such as eating paper and dirt. Zinc deficiency can prevent the normal secretion and function of growth hormone, which can cause children to lag behind in growth, lose weight, be shorter than their peers, and delay sexual development during puberty. Some children may have reduced resistance and are prone to recurrent infections, such as colds, fevers and pneumonia throughout the year. In severe cases, it can also affect the child’s intellectual development, the child seems to be less intelligent and smart. Some children may also have map tongue, recurrent mouth ulcers, slow wound healing, dry skin, night blindness and other manifestations. However, it is important to note that these symptoms are not specific, which means that not every child with zinc deficiency will show these typical symptoms, and not all of these symptoms are caused by zinc deficiency. How can you tell if your child is zinc deficient? Parents often ask for a trace element test at the hospital, but in fact it is difficult to determine the nutritional status of zinc with a single clinical or laboratory indicator. The “trace element” test is usually for reference only and is not an absolute diagnostic criterion. The doctor’s comprehensive judgment that the child may be deficient in a certain trace element suggests that it is good to cooperate with the test when perfecting the examination, but it is not necessary to routinely check. There is no unified definition and diagnostic criteria for zinc deficiency, and it is up to the specialist to determine whether the child has risk factors for zinc deficiency, symptoms of zinc deficiency and laboratory tests. How can children with zinc deficiency take dietary supplements? Dietary supplementation is preferred for mild zinc deficiency or for prevention of zinc deficiency. Breastfeeding is recommended for small babies. When adding complementary foods gradually at 6 months, pay attention to choosing foods rich in iron and zinc. Animal foods have high zinc content and high bioactivity. Beef, pork and liver are the most readily available zinc-rich foods, followed by fish and shellfish, while plant foods have very low zinc content. How to choose zinc supplements? There is a dizzying array of zinc supplements on the market, with a wide range of advertisements, how do parents choose and administer them? Pay attention to a few principles – the four “right” ones: 1) The right channel. Choose products with quality assurance in hospitals, pharmacies, etc., and do not trust online products. 2) The position is appropriate. Not to price the “hero”, do not have to follow the advertising. Listen more to the doctor and less to the salesman. 3) Appropriate dosage. The general dose of zinc supplementation in case of zinc deficiency is 1mg/kg.d, i.e. about 15mg of zinc per day for a 15kg child. For example, 7mg of zinc gluconate is equivalent to 1mg of elemental zinc, so a 15kg child should take about 15mg of elemental zinc per day, i.e. about 100mg of zinc gluconate. It is not advisable for some parents to increase the dose at will. Zinc overdose may also cause symptoms of toxicity and affect the absorption of other nutrients, so it is important to follow medical advice. 4) The course of treatment should be appropriate. Zinc deficiency is usually treated with zinc for 1-3 months. If the effect is not obvious after 1 month of treatment, other causes should be investigated.