Vitamins for children with constipation there are various kinds. In addition, consuming lots of fibre can also complement the treatment of constipation in children. Constipation is a condition that children quite often experience. A change in diet can cause this. There are several vitamins for children with constipation that you can try to give to overcome this.
In children, constipation occurs when the intensity of bowel movements is less than three times a week. In addition, hard and painful stools during bowel movements can also indicate constipation in children.
Vitamins for constipated children
In addition to increasing fibre intake, you can provide the following types of vitamins to help facilitate digestion in children.
1. Vitamin C
Studies say that constipated children have low levels of vitamin C. Therefore, the consumption of vitamin C should be increased to overcome constipation.
You can find this vitamin for children’s bowel movements in various fruits and vegetables, such as guava, oranges, papaya, strawberries, spinach, and broccoli. You can also find it in supplement form.
Before taking vitamin C supplements, it’s good to consult with your doctor first. Because vitamin C supplements may cause side effects, such as nausea and diarrhoea when misused.
2. Vitamin B5
The following vitamin to launch a child’s bowel movements is vitamin B5. This vitamin encourages muscle contractions in the digestive tract, making faeces easier to expel.
You can find this vitamin in various foods, such as broccoli, sweet potatoes, wheat germ, mushrooms, nuts, eggs, and dairy products.
The recommended daily intake of vitamin B5 for children is 1.7-5 mg. If you want to give this vitamin in supplement form, take it according to the directions.
3. Vitamin B9
Vitamin B9, or folic acid, can help relieve constipation by encouraging the formation of digestive acids such as stomach acid.
Low acid production in the digestive tract can make the digestive process run slowly and trigger constipation.
You can find vitamins for children who are constipated in various foods, such as eggs, green vegetables, nuts, and bananas.
If you want to give it in supplement form, children are only recommended to get about 150-400 milligrams (mg) of folic acid per day.
4. Vitamin B12
Lack of vitamin B12 can trigger constipation. Therefore, if your child is constipated, you need to increase your daily intake of vitamin B12.
This defecation-smoothing vitamin can be found in various foods, such as beef liver, salmon, tuna, eggs, and dairy products.
If you want to give it in supplement form, the recommended daily intake of vitamin B12 for children is only 0.4-2.4 micrograms (mcg).
5. Vitamin B1
Vitamin B1, or thiamine, is also a vitamin for constipated children by helping smooth the digestive process.
Children are advised to consume this vitamin of about 0.5-1 mg per day. Vitamins to launch a child’s bowel movements are found in beef liver, edamame, asparagus, and nuts.
6. Vitamin D
Research has found that prolonged constipation is associated with vitamin D deficiency. Therefore, children who are often constipated are advised to increase their vitamin D intake.
You can give some foods rich in vitamin D, such as salmon, sardines, tuna, egg yolks, mushrooms, milk, and processed products fortified with this vitamin.
In addition, spending time in the morning sun also helps meet the need for vitamin D.
Other nutrition for constipated children
In addition to vitamins for children who are constipated, several other nutrients can help overcome this problem, namely:
Magnesium
Magnesium plays several essential roles in the body. Specific forms of this mineral, such as magnesium oxide, magnesium citrate, and magnesium sulfate, may even help with constipation symptoms.
Research in the journal Nutrients in 2020 showed that magnesium citrate and mineral water containing magnesium sulfate could help treat constipation.
However, there are possible side effects. Therefore, you should consult a doctor or nutritionist before giving it to children.
Fibre
It’s no secret that eating fibre is one way to launch a child’s bowel movements. Fibre supplements for children can stimulate the mucous membrane of the large intestine to soften the stool and speed up faeces’ transit time through the large intestine.
Meanwhile, gelling soluble fibre, such as psyllium, can retain water and help improve stool consistency. As a result, these nutrients can increase the frequency of bowel movements.
Supplements to avoid when a child is constipated
No vitamins need to be avoided when a child has difficulty defecating. However, some mineral supplements are not recommended because they can cause or worsen constipation. These mineral supplements are:
Calcium
Taking too many calcium supplements can cause constipation. However, calcium consumption in the form of food, such as milk and its processed products, fish, and vegetables generally does not trigger constipation.
Iron
Taking too many iron supplements can cause various digestive disorders, including constipation.
Some supplements, such as ferrous sulfate, are more likely to cause constipation than others.
Need to see a doctor?
If constipation in children heals quickly, you don’t need to worry too much. While common, constipation can sometimes be a sign of a severe condition that requires medical attention.
It may be a symptom of an underlying health condition, such as hypothyroidism, colorectal cancer, or bowel disease.
If constipation in children does not improve after changing their diet, you should consult a doctor.
Meanwhile, immediately consult a doctor if there are other symptoms, such as:
- Bleeding from the rectum
- Constant stomach pain
- The presence of blood in the stool
- Can’t fart
- Lower back pain
- Throw up
- Fever
- Weight loss for no apparent reason.
