Posts Tagged ‘Amino Acids’

Vitamins for Kids

Saturday, November 8th, 2008

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Vitamins for Kids

Vitamins are organic nutrients with specific metabolic functions. They are required in minute amounts in the diet because they cannot be synthesized by the body. They are essential for the growth and maintenance of good health in human beings and are essential food factors which help in the proper utilization of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, lipids and . Vitamins have a host of advantages for people belonging to various age groups such as kids, adolescents, adults and aged individuals. It is not possible to get all the vitamins from diet alone. Supplementation is a significant means by which the body’s daily requirement of all the nutrients can be met.

There are a variety of vitamins for kids available in the market these days. It is necessary for children to take multi-vitamins on a . Not getting the adequate amount of a vitamin nutrient in the diet may result in a deficiency. It is necessary for kids to eat a well balanced diet comprising of the four basic food groups on a .

Essential vitamins for kids can be obtained from fresh fruits and vegetables and adequate amounts of meat, fish, egg, milk, cheese, cereals and curd. In case, the child is unable to get all the vitamins through a regular diet, it is best to start supplementation. There are a variety of tonics, capsules and injections available in the health and that help prevent nutritional deficiencies in children and keeps them healthy.

Common deficiencies in children:

Vitamin D: The deficiency of vitamin D in kids may result in a disease called rickets which is characterized by poor absorption of calcium.

Vitamin B: This helps subside Obsessive Compulsive Disorders in children. Kids suffering from this disease are found to demonstrate low levels of serotonin in their brain. This prevents the brain’s capacity of sending messages to its other parts, resulting in the messages getting stuck in a repetitive manner. When large doses of Vitamin B in the form of Inositol are given to kids, they tend to help the child in combating the disorder.

Vitamin A: This may lead to poor eyesight, night blindness and lowered infection fighting capacity in children. This can be rectified by supplying adequate amounts of Vitamin A rich foods such as green leafy vegetables, carrots, milk etc.

Vitamin C: This leads to the weakening of bones, gums and teeth, delayed healing of wounds and susceptibility to colds and viruses.

Vitamins for the growth and development of kids:

There are two types of vitamins in the body:

Fats soluble vitamins consist of vitamins A, D, E and K that get stored in the fat tissues of the body.

Water Soluble vitamins consist of the B complex group and Vitamin C.

The fat soluble vitamins can only be absorbed when there is normal fat absorption in the body. They have diverse functions in the body. Vitamin A is essential for vision, vitamin D is required for calcium and phosphate metabolism, Vitamin E is known for its powerful antioxidant properties, vitamin K aids in blood clotting. A deficiency of these vitamins can lead to the development of a number of deficiency syndromes such as night blindness (vitamin A), rickets (vitamin D), neurological disorders and anemia of the newborn (vitamin E), hemorrhage of the newborn (vitamin K).

Water soluble vitamins also result in various deficiency syndromes such as beriberi (thiamin), cheilosis, glossitis, seborrhes (riboflavin), pellagra (niacin), anemia (vitamin B12) and scurvy (vitamin C).

The shortage of a vitamin can result in a deficiency, whereas the intake of a vitamin in excess can result in a number of side effects such as diarrhea, headaches, stomach cramps, vomiting, dizziness, outbreak of rashes on the skin etc. Vitamins are essential for kids. They enhance the metabolism of fats, proteins and carbohydrates, boost the immune system and act as powerful antioxidants, enabling the body to fight the harmful effects of free radicals in the environment such as pollution, smoke, industrial fumes etc.

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Vitamin Overdose: Imposing health Hazards

Saturday, November 8th, 2008

Vitamin Overdose: Imposing health Hazards

Vitamins are organic compounds categorized as essential nutrients. They are required by the body in very small doses and fall in the category of micronutrients. They do not yield energy directly into the body but enable it to use other nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, lipids and to meet its daily energy requirement.  They cannot be synthesized by the body and need to be taken through diet. A well balanced diet usually supplies the vitamin needs of a healthy person in an adequate quantity. There are 2 types of vitamins – fat soluble vitamins (A,D,E and K) and water soluble vitamins (B group of vitamins and vitamin C) It is necessary to take vitamins in the recommended doses on a daily bases to enhance the overall well being of the body and prevent the development of any deficiency syndromes.

Recommended daily allowance (RDA) is defined as the amount of nutrients sufficient for the maintenance of health in nearly all people. This recommendation is estimated to meet the requirements of almost all healthy people.

On the one hand, where vitamins help increase the efficiency of most bodily functions, they can prove to be extremely fatal if taken in a high overdose. Therefore, vitamin overdoses must be strictly avoided in order to prohibit them from interfering with the normal body reaction.

Effects of Vitamin Overdose

A vitamin overdose can lead to a number of side effects such as toxicity, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, irregular heart beat, increased blood pressure, restlessness, anxiety disorders, depression, numbness, burning or itching, sensitivity to light (Vitamin B2), hyperuricemia, hepatic abnormalities, peptic ulcers, liver damage, elevated blood glucose level (Vitamin B3), kidney and gall stones (Vitamin C) etc. Before taking any vitamin supplement it is recommended that you consult a registered medical practitioner in order to determine if the vitamin is required by you or not. A Vitamin overdose can lead to a series of side effects that may prove extremely harmful for the body. Before ingesting any of these nutrients you must make a note of your medical condition and any ailments you might be suffering from such as heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, kidney stones, depression etc. Pregnant and nursing women should take additional precautions while taking any vitamin supplements and monitor their intake from time to time in order to avoid excessive doses.

Vitamin Overdoses

Vitamin A overdose – An excessive intake of retinol causes vomiting, nausea, anorexia and related sleep disorders followed by skin desquamation, enlarged lever and papillar oedema. High intakes of carotene may color plasma and skin. High amounts of vitamin A can also result in teratogenic effects.

Vitamin D overdose – Vitamin D is stored in the body in fatty tissues and in the lever. An excessive intake is harmful and may result in anorexia, vomiting, nausea, increased thirst and indigestion. The patient may lapse into Coma, while cardiac arrhythmias and renal failure may appear. The effects are due to hypercalcemia induced by increased intestinal absorption and mobilization of calcium from bone. Pregnant women may need to consult a doctor before taking vitamin D as high doses may result in the development of hypercalcemia in the utero.

Vitamin E overdose – It is known to have a cytotoxic effect on human lymphocytes in vitro at high concentration.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) – High doses of the vitamin can result in nausea, toxicity, dizziness, irregular heart beat and gastro intestinal disorders.

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) – Extremely high doses of this vitamin can result in numbness, prickling sensation, burning, itching and sensitivity to light.

Vitamin B3 (Niacin) – Large doses of this vitamin may result in hyper uricemia, hepatic abnormalities, itching, peptic ulcers, liver damage and elevated blood glucose levels.

Vitamins might be great for the body but they too, have side effects when taken in extremely high doses. Too much of everything is bad and vitamins are no exception to this. Mega doses of vitamin B6 result in nerve damage, which may be irreversible.  Certain vitamins can lead to the development of brain tumor, gall and renal stones, liver damage and cancers. Pregnant women must refrain from taking exceptionally high doses of vitamin A, as it may harm the fetus.

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