National Nutrition Week 2017 - 5 common queries on micronutrients for infants answered by an expert

The importance of micronutrients to its deficiency in infants -- everything you need to know explained by an expert.

Believe it or not, diet plays a key role in the overall well-being of a person right from childhood to old age. And hence, it is necessary to ensure that right from birth to the growing years of a child; every mother should take care of the diet. Breastfeeding for at least six months is crucial, which should be followed by a balanced, rich weaning recipes. However, it is during this stage that every mum should consider providing micronutrients in addition to macronutrients like carbohydrates, proteins and fats in an infant's diet for a healthy diet. If you are wondering what are micronutrients and the it's importance in a child's nutrition, we have Charu Dua, Head of Department, Nutrition, Max Super Speciality, Hospital, New Delhi answering some of the common queries on micronutrients. You may like to read about 19 baby care tips for every new mum.

1. What is the importance of micronutrients in an infant?

Micronutrients play a very important role in the overall well-being of an infant as it regulates the metabolism, heartbeat, cellular pH and bone density. Micronutrients are nothing but mineral and vitamins which are needed in small quantities to carry out key functions in the body. These include minerals like iron, calcium, selenium, sodium, iodine, copper and zinc and vitamins such as vitamin C, A, D, E and K as well as the B-complex vitamins. Although micronutrients are required in small quantities, it plays an integral part of the diet because, without these, the macronutrients (calories, proteins, fats and fibre) cannot be utilised efficiently.

2. Why are the first 1000 days in the life of an infant critical?

The first 1000 days are very important in an infant s life. In the first 1000 days, the baby grows more than the entire remainder of her life. In the first year alone, an infant s weight triples and height increases by 50%. Moreover, 80% of the brain and cognitive development occurs within the two years of age. At the time of delivery, babies have an immature immune system and hence, requires up to 2 years to strengthen it. As most of the growth and development of a baby occurs within the first 1000 days, infants need a balanced nutrition including macronutrients and micronutrients for overall growth. Here's more on top nutritional deficiencies in India.

3. What will happen if an infant lacks micronutrients?

Unlike macronutrients, the effects of micronutrients deficiency cannot be seen immediately. While physical growth is easily measured, mental growth is often overlooked. Various studies show that micronutrients play a significant role in the development of the brain. There are also hidden dangers; for example, if children are not fed enough vitamin A, they might become more susceptible to conditions like malaria and measles. Further, a lack of iron may lead to anaemia causing a decreased production of red blood cells which are essential to carry oxygen around the body. Similarly, in the case an infant does not consume adequate amounts of zinc, it may lead to growth retardation, acute diarrhoea and recurring bacterial infections. In fact, a prolonged deficiency of any micronutrient may also lead to conditions like mental retardation, blindness and even death in some cases.

4. Can home cooked food provide adequate micronutrients?

When introducing solids to an infant, parents prefer to give the child home cooked food. However, it has been witnessed that infants who are fed meals that adequately meet the nutritional needs of the whole household are more susceptible to have insufficient micronutrients. Moreover, unlike adults, children less than 2 years of age need more vitamins and minerals than adults. Thus, it is important that along with home cooked food, an infant is also given complementary foods that are rich in micronutrients. Also read about nutrition guide for toddlers (with a sample meal plan)

5. What are the ways to ensure that an infant gets the right amount of micronutrients?

Micronutrients can be supplied through the diet in the form of vitamin and mineral rich foods. They are present in a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and dairy products. And as different foods contain different levels of vitamins and minerals, it's important to eat a wide variety of foods from the different food groups. Sometimes the only way to prevent deficiency or to correct it to opt for vitamin and mineral rich food/ fortified foods and supplements to ensure that the body gets these essential nutrients in right amounts. Lastly, a conscious effort needs to be made of including them in the diet. You may like to read about reasons that lead to early infant death.

Image Source: Shutterstock