According to the National Nutrition Survey 2018, In Pakistan, four out of ten children under five years of age don’t achieve their full height. It may be due to malnutrition, and less intake of vitamins and minerals that play a major role in the proper growth and development. 

Every child needs to take an adequate intake of essential vitamins and minerals at a growing age to achieve full growth potential and it can only be possible when they will be having a balanced diet.

Essential vitamins and minerals for growing children:

Vitamin A:  It promotes normal growth and development; helps maintain healthy skin, eyes, and immune responses. Good sources of vitamin A include milk, cheese, eggs, and yellow-to-orange vegetables like carrots, and sweet potatoes.

B Vitamins: It is a family of 8 water-soluble vitamins – B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, and B12, help in metabolism, energy production, and healthy circulatory and nervous systems. Good sources include meat, chicken, fish, nuts, eggs, milk, cheese, and beans.

Vitamin C: It helps children to form strong collagen in bones, cartilage, and muscles to support their healthy bone development. It helps maintain a strong immune system. Good sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits, strawberries, kiwi, tomatoes, cabbage, and cauliflower.

Vitamin D:  It promotes bone health and tooth formation. It also helps the body absorb calcium. Milk and fatty fish like salmon are good dietary sources of vitamin D. However, the best source of vitamin D is sunlight. 

Calcium: It helps build strong bones as a child grows. Milk, cheese, yogurt, and calcium-fortified products are the good sources of calcium 

Iron: It is essential for hemoglobin formation to carry oxygen in the body. Its deficiency can cause iron-deficiency anemia among children. Iron deficient children show symptoms like pale skin, fast heartbeat, fatigue, and low energy levels. Good dietary sources of iron include red meat, spinach, beans, and prunes.

What is the peak growth period? 

Max growth takes place among children in the first five years after birth. After five years, the growth rate slows down and again rises to the max level after puberty starts. 

In males, puberty starts at the age of 12-16 years. In females, it starts between 10-14 years. It is the max growth period in which the physical growth and development of organs take place.

During this peak growth period, children need complete nourishment which should be fulfilled through a balanced diet on a priority basis. But it seems impossible to fulfill this sort of nutritional requirement from diet only. Because at this time, the immune system of kids is not developed properly and they may suffer from some digestive disorders like frequent diarrhea, constipation, and stomach pain; some of them may show irregular eating patterns, and even some may be picky eaters and don’t like to taste new foods due to physiological and psychological factors. 

Due to these reasons, we can’t say for sure that all the nutrients our kids consume are metabolized, digested, and absorbed properly in the body for energy purposes. 

To cope with this risk of nutritional deficiencies, we just need to make sure that our children are getting good quality multivitamin supplements for proper growth and development.

How supplements can help in kids growth?

1.    Bio Grow (Syrup)

Nutrifactor’s Bio Grow is a dietary supplement, formulated with 13 essential nutrients to support healthy growth and development in children. It is designed to meet the nutritional needs of growing children. It helps to enhance appetite and provides complete nutritional support for children who are picky eaters. It is recommended for 4-10 years of children to enhance their appetite and support healthy growth among them.

2.    Bio Grow Gummies

It tastes delicious, contains 13 essential vitamins and minerals, and provides complete nutritional support to children for healthy growth. It’s a convenient way for children to get multivitamins. It also supports healthy metabolism and immune system among children. Children above two years of age can take these gummies for proper growth.

3.    Nucal-Z (Syrup)

Nutrifactor’s Nucal-Z syrup has a great taste and contains 4 vital nutrients, essential for the bone health of growing children. Calcium is a key mineral in Nucal-Z that supports healthy growth and development by building strong bones and muscles.  It is beneficial for 3-12 years old children for the proper bone and muscle growth. 

4.    Lacta-D (Chewable tablets)

Lacta-D is a dietary supplement manufactured by Nutrifactor in the form of chewable tablets. It contains Calcium and Vitamin D3 which are crucial nutrients for the growth and development of bones and teeth in children. It helps to enhance the calcium absorption in bones to make them stronger. It also plays a key role in supporting a healthy immune system.

Reference: 

•    https://www.verywellfamily.com/best-childrens-vitamins-4586789

•    https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-a-benefits

•    https://www.webmd.com/parenting/guide/vitamins-for-kids-do-healthy-kids-need-vitamins