Vitamins are good for bones, but children are prone to deficiency during their 'growing' years

When it comes to calcium supplementation, many people often think of drinking milk and sunbathing to get more vitamin D. But few people know that for calcium to be truly effective and help strengthen bones, vitamin K2 is also needed.

Children need to supplement many micronutrients to develop height - Illustration: AI

Sharing at a recent conference in Hanoi , Dr. Truong Hong Son - director of the Vietnam Institute of Applied Medicine - said that vitamin K2 plays a role in regulating calcium in the body.

According to Dr. Son, vitamin K2 is a form of vitamin K, commonly found in two forms, MK-4 and MK-7. These two types have been studied extensively in nutritional medicine, especially in supporting bone development and preventing mineral metabolism disorders.

Vitamin K2 helps activate important proteins such as osteocalcin - which binds calcium to bones, and MGP (matrix Gla protein) - which prevents calcium from accumulating in places where it shouldn't. Thanks to this mechanism, K2 contributes to protecting both bones and the cardiovascular system, a function that not everyone knows about.

According to Dr. Son, a number of recent studies, including one in China, have shown that vitamin K2 deficiency is associated with stunting in children. In particular, children in the age of rapid growth are at the highest risk of vitamin K2 deficiency due to the increased demand for bones and height.

According to this expert, vitamin D deficiency is also quite common in Vietnamese children. A 2022 study in Southeast Asia showed that more than 50% of infants are deficient in vitamin D - a nutrient necessary for the body to absorb calcium.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Xuan Ninh, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Institute of Applied Medicine, also said that D3 and K2 are two important micronutrients for the process of height development and immunity in children. However, the difference in effectiveness between products lies not only in the ingredients but also in the quality of raw materials, production technology and stability.

According to experts, vitamin K2 can be supplemented with foods such as natto (fermented soybeans), hard cheese, animal liver, egg yolks, red meat... Meanwhile, vitamin D3 is abundant in salmon, mackerel, milk, eggs and can be synthesized through morning sunbathing.

Parents need to supplement a balanced diet, diversify foods and have enough time for outdoor exercise.

During periods of rapid growth, parents can consult a doctor to supplement nutrition and micronutrients for their children.

LINH HAN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/loai-vitamin-tot-cho-xuong-nhung-tre-de-thieu-o-tuoi-dang-lon-20250625145523591.htm