Healthcare professionals have expressed their concern about the inadequate intakes of Vitamin D and Iron in toddlers in Ireland.
Research carried out among Irish healthcare professionals reveals serious concern over the adequacy of nutrient intakes amongst Irish pre-school children. One hundred public health nurses, practise nurses and dieticians were surveyed about toddler nutrition. A mere two percent believed that toddlers had excellent diets, while 21 percent said they thought Irish toddlers had moderate to poor diets.
Iron and vitamin D were the two nutrients healthcare professionals in Ireland felt are lacking most in toddlers’ diets. 83 percent of respondents believe toddlers are lacking in iron, while 53 percent feel they are not getting enough vitamin D.
Dietician and Communications Manager, Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute, Louise Reynolds stated: “The nutrition a child receives between the ages of 1 and 3 is critical in terms of their future health and the perception of Irish HCPs that children are not getting enough Vitamin D and iron is a concern.”
Vitamin D deficiency is linked to poor growth, soft bones, rickets, heart disease and diabetes. Vitamin D is found in foods such as oily fish, egg yolk, fortified fat spreads while iron is found in lean red meat, pulses, and leafy green vegetables, as well as fortified breakfast cereals and milk.
In a study conducted by the Irish Universities Nutrition Alliance, research showed that between 70 and 84 percent of pre-school children had less than the recommended amount of vitamin D.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland suggests that all children aged one-three years receive at least 10µg per day.
They warned parents that children with a low iron intake are prone to deficiency side effects, including negative cognitive, motor and behavioural development.
Prof Ruurd Van Elburg, Chief Medical Officer at Danone Early Life Nutrition reassured parents, “Fortified kinds of milk, tailored for young children, can be considered as one option to increase vitamin D and iron along with a diet of nutrient-rich foods.”
