Nutrition and vitamins and minerals availability in children with recurrent respiratory infections in Kazan

Introduction . Recurrent respiratory infections in childhood are a pressing medical and social problem. Nutrition is important for the functioning and development of the child’s immune system. Aim . To assess the diet and provision of children with recurrent respiratory infections with vitamins (A, E, D, C, B6, B12, folic acid) and minerals (Zn, Fe, Mg, Ca, P). Materials and methods . The study included 65 children aged 3 to 8 years, including 50 children with recurrent respiratory infections, 15 children – the control group. Results . The study among children with recurrent respiratory infections aged 3–8 years revealed a high frequency of deficiency of vitamins D (69%), A (40%), E (35%) and minerals Zn (70%) and Fe (44%). Moreover, the deficiency of vitamins D, A and Zn was most pronounced in children of the main group, compared with the control group (p < 0.05). The results of the survey of parents showed that children with recurrent respiratory infections often (82%) have a low and selective appetite. When assessing the actual nutrition in the structure of the diet, a low frequency of consumption of fish, meat and dairy products, vegetables was noted. Most children of the main group had violations in the diet, such as lack of breakfast, excess carbohydrates and fast food. Conclusion . The dietary features we have established can negatively affect the vitamin and mineral status of children with recurrent respiratory infections. According to the results of the study of the levels of vitamins and minerals in children with recurrent respiratory diseases, the most frequent violations were found for zinc, vitamin D, A and iron.