RDAs for Vegetarian Children
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| Age (years)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Source: National Resource Council, Recommended Dietary Allowances.
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Recognizing Signs of Vitamin Deficiency
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Parents should be aware of the signs of vitamin deficiency in any child. Regular doctor's visits should include questions about the child's diet and food intolerances and an examination of the child for signs of nutritional deficiencies or disorders that interfere with nutrition, such as malabsorption, kidney disease, diarrhea, and metabolic or genetic diseases. A doctor evaluates a child's growth by observing changes in height and weight and comparing them to normal growth curves. Most vitamin deficiencies are rare among infants and children in industrialized countries, but the most common ones are deficiencies of vitamin E, vitamin C, or essential fatty acids. RDAs for children are listed in the following table.
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Vitamin E deficiency is relatively common in premature infants. Vitamin E deficiency also may occur in children who have disorders that interfere with fat absorption, such as cystic fibrosis and certain genetic abnormalities. Excessive amounts of iron also may aggravate vitamin E deficiency. The deficiency can be corrected by giving vitamin E supplements.
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Infantile scurvy is a condition caused by an inadequate intake of vitamin C, usually resulting from receiving cow's milk formulas, which are deficient in this vitamin and need supplementation. This disease usually occurs between six and twelve months of age. Early symptoms include irritability, poor appetite, and failure to gain weight. Because vitamin C is necessary for the
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