Do you know what vitamins and minerals your children should be consuming? Find out in this latest Nutrition News article as we explore the latest studies in nutritional research.
What vitamins and minerals should children be consuming?
While everyone needs a certain amount of vitamins and minerals in order to stay healthy, children especially need to ensure they are getting the right nutrition in order to support their physical and mental growth into adolescence. A varied diet, with the right amount of carbohydrates, protein, fats and fruits and vegetables, should provide the nutrition a child needs but those who are on a restricted diet or lack the ability to absorb or make certain nutrients need to be particularly aware.
This recent article by Medical New Today looks at the essential vitamins and minerals for children, acting as a reminder of their needs and requirements. Such essential vitamins and minerals include:
As adolescents reach 90% of their peak bone mass by the age of 18 and 20, for females and males respectively, it is important to ensure children get the right amount of calcium in their diet for their age and gender.
Vitamin D is important in childhood as it contributes to bone strength, without enough of it, children are at risk of the childhood condition rickets.
B vitamins are important for the support of healthy blood, metabolism, neurological development, skin and eye health as well as energy production, which is vital for growing children.
Iron is important for both children and adults in aiding red blood cells transport oxygen throughout the body and is important at all stages of a child’s development.
As children age, they are often in close proximity to other children, making them more susceptible to colds and viruses. Vitamin C is important for supporting their immune system and development.
Vitamin A is needed for growth and tissue repair, particularly important as children age.
Could CoQ10 support muscle health?
A recent study, reported by NutraIngredients, that looked at muscle damage in professional football players suggests that Co-Enzyme Q10 could support muscle health.
The scientists behind the study believe it is due to the antioxidant’s protective function against structural damage in muscle cells. While the results of previous studies on the effects of CoQ10 on muscle health in athletes have been mixed, the research team behind these latest findings point to the varying bioavailability of different CoQ10 supplements, which can hugely impact its effect and the outcomes of such studies.
It is important to note that this latest study illustrates an association between CoQ10 and athletic performance, not a causation. For such a conclusion, further research is needed but the findings are promising and suggest that we are getting closer to fully understanding the role CoQ10 could play in sports performance.
Could vitamin D deficiency increase infection risk?
We’ve often reported on breaking research on the anti-viral properties of vitamin D, as with this previous Nutrition News article on vitamin D linked with respiratory tract support, and it would appear to be making headlines again this week as it emerges that deficiency in the vitamin may raise the risk of viral infections.
As we have said before, there is no firm research that has been approved by governing bodies to suggest that vitamin D in any way protects a person from contracting COVID-19, and it is irresponsible of any company to suggest otherwise.
This latest research from the University of Chicago Medical Center, reported by Science Daily, is a retrospective study of patients who tested positive for COVID-19 and finds an association between deficiency and the likelihood of infection. Association studies are problematic in the sense that they show correlation not causation and correlation, especially when the research isn’t specifically tracking such hypotheses, could be a result of other linking factors. That being said, vitamin D is known to support immune function, which is why the British public is advised to supplement with the vitamin during the darker, winter months.
The team behind the study have called for further studies to determine whether vitamin D supplementation can decrease risk, and potentially the severity, of COVID-19.
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Alison is Director and Founder of Metabolics who writes about Metabolics updates, events and natural healthcare. Her experience and passion for natural supplements and healthcare comes from her years of experience as a practising osteopath, having founded Metabolics in her search for high quality, natural products in her own work. Alison has been a qualified and practising Osteopath since 1981 and regularly gives seminars on a range of healthcare subjects to the wider practitioner community helping share her knowledge and experience.