Parents, here are 10 signs of Vitamin C deficiency in kids you should watch out for

Is your child getting enough Vitamin C? Here are some symptoms of Vitamin C deficiency you should watch out for.

In this article, you’ll read:

• Benefits of taking vitamin C
• Symptoms of Vitamin C deficiency in kids
• Natural sources of vitamin C

Here’s a fun fact: did you know that the body doesn’t naturally store vitamin C? This means that if your kids don’t eat enough foods with vitamin C daily, then there’s a chance that they can suffer from a vitamin C deficiency.

Dealing with Vitamin C deficiency is actually easy since vitamin C supplements (in syrup or chewable tablet form) are easy to buy in drugstores, and we have an abundant supply of fruits that are rich in Vitamin C here in the country.

The hard part is knowing whether or not your child has a vitamin C deficiency since the signs aren’t always that easy to spot.

But before we find out what the symptoms of vitamin C deficiency are in kids, let’s discuss why vitamin C is very important for our bodies.

Benefits of taking Vitamin C

We grew up taking vitamin C supplements and we were taught that eating fruits and vegetables is important to get our daily dose of vitamin C. But do we really know why this certain nutrient is such an important staple in any person’s diet?

According to the Cleveland Clinic website, vitamin C is important so that your body can form:

• Collagen, blood vessels, cartilage and muscle. Vitamin C helps to maintain many body tissues, including your skin. According to one study, this nutrient also aids with connective tissue repair and wound healing. This helps booboos and scrapes heal faster.
• Neurotransmitters, the chemicals that are important for signaling in the nervous system.
• Carnitine, a chemical that supports the transport and breakdown of fatty acids to generate energy.
• Healthy bones and teeth, which are super important during your child’s formative years. It also helps keep your child’s gums strong.
• Vitamin C is also important in the absorption of iron, another essential nutrient that the body needs.

More importantly, the main reason why parents would always make their child take their daily dose of vitamin C is because of its role in strengthening the immune system.

 “Because vitamin C is an antioxidant and vital to maintaining overall health, it actually can help boost your little one’s immune system if they have the sniffles,” says Dr. Kadakkal Radhakrishnan, a pediatric gastroenterologist from the Cleveland Clinic.

In fact, some studies say that having the recommended amount of vitamin C can help prevent a cold, or at least reduce the duration of the infection.

“Although the medical evidence is not overwhelming, this vitamin may help reduce the duration of common cold,” said Dr. Radhakrishnan.

Because of this, it’s very important that our children (and us too) get our daily dose of Vitamin C. According to Baby Center, children ages 1 to 3 years old should have 15 milligrams of vitamin C while kids ages 4 to 8 should have 25 mg every day.

Symptoms of Vitamin C deficiency in children

Because of the abundance of resources for this amazing nutrient, severe vitamin C deficiency (also known as scurvy) is rare and can take months to develop.  Symptoms of severe vitamin C deficiency can start as a feeling of weakness, reduced appetite, and leg pain but can later advance to serious health complications such as jaundice, internal hemorrhage, and organ failure.

For this reason, it is best to know what the early signs are to prevent severe vitamin C deficiency. Want to know if your child has a vitamin C deficiency? Here are some of the subtle signs to watch out for.

1. Bleeding gums

Gums are particularly sensitive to a drop in vitamin C levels, so checking your child’s gums is a good way of knowing if they have a vitamin C deficiency or not. Kids who have a vitamin C deficiency tend to have bleeding gums since the gums are more sensitive and the lower vitamin C levels mean that wounds don’t heal as fast.

2. Frequent nosebleeds

Another sign of a vitamin C deficiency is if your child suffers from frequent nosebleeds. Low vitamin C levels can cause blood vessels to become weaker, and nosebleeds are mainly caused by blood vessels bursting inside the nose. Weaker blood vessels mean that nosebleeds can become more common.

3. Dry hair

In general, hair is a good way of knowing whether or not your child is healthy. Having dry hair with a lot of split ends means that the body isn’t producing enough collagen, and vitamin C plays a role in collagen production.

4. Wounds that aren’t healing quickly

Vitamin C helps immensely when it comes to wound healing. This means that if your child’s wounds don’t seem to heal as quickly as before, chances are, their vitamin C levels might be low.

5. Iron deficiency

Vitamin C helps your body absorb iron better. This means that even if you’re eating enough iron-rich foods, if you don’t have enough vitamin C, then you might suffer from a deficiency of both iron and vitamin C. You can check the symptoms of iron deficiency in children here.

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6. Dry, red, or wrinkled skin

Vitamin C helps with collagen production, and thus also contributes to your child’s skin. Dry, reddish, or wrinkled skin can be a sign of vitamin C deficiency, especially if your child didn’t have dry skin before.

7. They easily bruise

Vitamin C helps keep blood vessels strong and prevents them from rupturing. This means that if your child easily bruises, even just from a slight bump, they could be suffering from a vitamin C deficiency.

8. They get sick easily

Vitamin C does a lot to boost your child’s immune system. A lack of vitamin C means that your child’s immune system might be compromised, and they could possibly get sick more easily.

9. Fatigue or moodiness

Vitamin C also plays a role in the body’s energy production and helps stabilize your child’s mood. A lack of vitamin C can cause your child to get tired, frustrated, or angry easily.

10. They become less active

A vitamin C deficiency can mean that your child becomes less active because they feel fatigued more easily. They can also suffer from weight gain as a result since their metabolism slows down due to the lack of physical activity.

If you’re worried that your child doesn’t get enough vitamin C, ask your child’s pediatrician whether you need to boost your child’s intake.

Sources of vitamin C

There are different kinds of Vitamin C supplements for kids in the market, but it’s best to consult your child’s doctor on what she thinks is the best one to give your child and what the right dosage is.

Vitamin C is water-soluble, so any excess is flushed from the body in your child’s urine. However, excess or high doses can still cause complications like nausea, diarrhea, kidney stones, and gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining). Take note that vitamin C is highly acidic, so it’s best if you take the supplement after a meal to avoid nausea or acid reflux.

Also, if your child has a G6PD deficiency, consult her pediatrician on which supplement to take and the right dosage, as high amount of vitamin C can trigger anemia.

If you want to take the natural course, here are some foods that are rich in vitamin C and other important nutrients to give to your child:

• Guava
• Blackcurrants
• Kiwi
• Lychee
• Lemon
• Orange
• Strawberry
• Papaya
• Broccoli
• Parsley
• Grapefruit
• Mango
• Malunggay

Vitamin C is essential in your child’s health and development. So try your best to give him his daily dose of this nutrient. Should you have any questions about the symptoms of Vitamin C deficiency in children, don’t hesitate to consult your child’s pediatrician.

Additional information by Camille Eusebio

Source:

Healthline, Cleveland Clinic, Baby Center

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