Patient's question:
Detailed medical condition and consultation purpose: Breastfeeding, never supplemented with vitamin D. Previously, the baby did not cry at night, but recently has been crying at night. Sometimes the crying is due to a full diaper. The hair on the back of the head grows slower. Is it possible to be calcium deficient? For trace element tests, is blood testing more accurate or hair testing more accurate? First follow-up question: Dear expert, if the baby is not calcium deficient, will a breastfed baby still be calcium deficient? What about other trace elements, such as iron and zinc? Thank you, and Merry Christmas!!! Second follow-up question: Thank you for the expert's reply! Dear expert, the baby currently eats one quail egg yolk per day as supplementary food. Should shrimp skin or jujube paste be added?Doctor's answer:
Hello: The correct way to supplement calcium is under the guidance of a doctor, starting with vitamin D first. Generally, 5000 to 10000 units are taken orally daily. Patients with severe rickets or diarrhea can switch to vitamin D injections while taking calcium tablets orally, 0.5 grams each time, 1 to 3 times a day. This can meet the child's calcium deficiency while ensuring their safety. Children are in a period of growth and development, requiring a larger amount of calcium than adults, so calcium should be supplemented in a timely manner to prevent deficiency. When it comes to how to supplement calcium correctly, the following points should be noted.(1) Whether or not there is a calcium deficiency should be determined by a doctor, not self-diagnosed.
(2) Healthy children with normal diets and well-balanced meals do not need additional calcium supplementation.
(3) Calcium deficiency in children can show obvious symptoms within two months after birth, such as night crying, excessive sweating, reduced appetite, susceptibility to respiratory infections, anemia, and baldness at the back of the head. Severe cases may lead to tetany in the hands and feet. In such cases, calcium supplements should be used for treatment.
(4) When taking calcium supplements, they should be combined with vitamin-rich medications, such as cod liver oil, as they can promote calcium and phosphorus absorption, reduce urinary phosphorus excretion, and increase blood citrate levels. Citrate combines with calcium to form high-concentration complexes, which is beneficial for the calcification of new bones. However, it should be noted that vitamin D should not be taken in excess, as this may lead to persistent hypercalcemia, followed by calcium salt deposition in various organs and tissues, impairing their function. In severe cases, it may affect intellectual development.
(5) During calcium supplementation, children should avoid eating spinach and dairy products, as the oxalates in spinach can form calcium oxalate precipitates. Additionally, taking calcium supplements with dairy products may cause curdling, both of which can affect