Patient's question:
The baby is shorter than their peers and has poor appetite, always eating only a little. A few days ago, I read in a book that if a child lacks calcium or other nutrients, it can affect their growth. After that, I took the child to the hospital for a check-up and found that they are deficient in both calcium and zinc. I am now worried about whether it is safe to take medicine for both at the same time, but I am also afraid of potential side effects.What kind of help do I need: Should I start by supplementing calcium or zinc first? What is the reason for this?
Doctor's answer:
I took the child to the hospital for a thorough examination, and found that the child is deficient in calcium and zinc. I am currently worried about whether taking medication can supplement both at the same time, but I am also afraid of potential side effects. I speculate that zinc should be supplemented first, followed by calcium. Calcium and zinc should absolutely not be supplemented together. The reason is that when calcium and zinc enter the human body simultaneously, calcium is a macroelement with high activity, and the two will compete for carrier proteins, resulting in a inhibitory effect. This prevents zinc from being absorbed, while the main physiological effects of calcium and zinc are to promote the formation of enzymes and enhance the differentiation of body cells, such as bone cells. If bone cells do not differentiate, it is easy to imagine where calcium will deposit. This is the reason why many people take calcium supplements but see no effect.