Most children lack  vitamins A, D, zinc...

On the occasion of the upcoming Micronutrient Day June 1-2, 2015, Associate Professor, Dr. Le Bach Mai, Deputy Director of the National Institute of Nutrition, said that micronutrient deficiency is affecting health, stature and intelligence, and is a factor related to stunting malnutrition. Micronutrient deficiency in Vietnam is mainly vitamin A deficiency, iron deficiency anemia, vitamin D deficiency, zinc deficiency, and multiple micronutrient deficiency. The rate of anemia in children under 5 years old according to statistics in 2010 was 29.2%, and has now decreased by 5%.

In the Red River Delta provinces alone, the rate of anemic children under 5 years old is 22.5 - 23.7% and has not changed in the past 10 years. Regarding zinc, 30 - 90% of children under 5 years old are zinc deficient. Regarding vitamin D, 10 - 20% of vitamin D comes from daily food, 80% from sunlight, but in our country, vitamin D deficiency in children also accounts for 50 - 60%.

Eating a lot of meat excretes calcium, eating little meat is not good for bones.

According to a study by the National Institute of Nutrition, in some localities, a diet with too much meat and protein disrupts calcium balance, limits calcium absorption, and negatively affects the ossification process. The calcium/phosphorus ratio in Vietnamese meals is only 0.5 - 0.7, while for calcium in the diet to be well absorbed, this ratio should be greater than 1.

For the Vietnamese body, especially children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers, milk and products are valuable sources of protein and calcium. However, when meals are improved, protein is often increased due to increased meat consumption but the amount of calcium in the diet is not increased (due to less use of milk and products), which can increase the risk of osteoporosis. A diet with too much protein increases calcium excretion in the urine. On the contrary, eating too little protein is also not good for bones. The appropriate protein level in the diet is 12 - 14%.

Supplement micronutrients from food

According to nutritionists, zinc is abundant in oysters, lean red meat, liver, turkey, beans, wheat germ, sprouted seeds and cereals. Iron is an essential trace element for the body. Easily absorbed forms of iron are found in organ meats, red meat, poultry, fish and seafood.

Iron is also found but is not easily absorbed in beans and dried fruits, seeds and green vegetables. Calcium is abundant in cheese, yogurt, cow's milk, nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, figs), beans and some green vegetables (cabbage, leeks, broccoli). The recommended calcium intake by doctors is 500 mg per day (for children 1-3 years old), up to 1,200 mg per day for adolescents, women over 55 years old, men over 65 years old.