Question
A two-year-old and four-month-old child, besides drinking milk normally, consumes very little in terms of staple foods, often eating only a few mouthfuls before refusing to eat more. It is said that poor appetite may be due to zinc deficiency, but the child’s formula milk, which should contain sufficient zinc, still results in poor appetite. I would like to know what could be the cause? Thank you! Additional information to the first question: He drinks the An’erbao formula milk, which should have a reasonable combination of trace elements.
Answer
If a child is deficient in zinc, they may show symptoms such as loss of appetite, picky eating, or selective eating. You can try supplementing the child with zinc by administering zinc gluconate oral solution or calcium zinc iron oral solution. Loss of appetite in children is often related to zinc deficiency. Saliva contains taste buds that contain zinc, so a zinc deficiency can affect taste and appetite. It is recommended to have the child undergo a trace element test to determine if there is a zinc deficiency, and consider using Simo Decoction, zinc gluconate, or licorice zinc for opsonize.