Question

Discuss the micronutrient requirements for infants, children, and older adults. What health disparities will occur if there is an excess or deficiency in micronutrients for each age group?

Answer 1

MICRONUTRIENTS

There are 2 types of micronutrient

1. Vitamins

2. Minerals

Micronutrient	Infant	Children	Older adult
Vitamin A in mcg	300-400 mcg	400-600 mcg	800-1000 mcg
Vitamin D in mcg	7.5-10mcg/day	7.5-10mcg/day	5-10 mcg
Vitamin E in mg	3 to 4 mg	6 to 7 mg	8 to 10 mg
Vitamin K in mcg	5 to 10 mcg	6-7 mcg	45 to 80 mcg
Vitamin B1	0.9 mg	1.00 mg	1.1 mg
Vitamin B2	0.9 mg	1.0 mg	1.1 mg
Vitamin B3	12 mg	14 mg	14 mg
Vitamin B5	4 mg	5 mg	5 mg
Vitamin B6	1.0 mg	1.2 mg	1.5 mg
Vitamin B12	1.8 μg	2.4 μg	2.4 mg

Other Minerals Requirement

Minerals	Requirement
Boron	More than 20 mg
Calcium	210-1000 mg
Iron	6-27 mg
Magnesium	30-320 mg
Manganese	0.003-2.6 mg
Phosphorous	100-1.250 mg
Zinc	2-12 mg
Cadmium	50-150 μg
Chromium	5.5-45 μg
Copper	200-1300 μg
Mercury	40 μg

Deficiency and overdose any micronutrient causes same form of illness in all ages

Micronutrient deficiency

Nutrient	Deficiency diseases
Vitamin A	Vision and eye disorders Xerophthalmia Night Blindness
Thiamine	Beri-beri
Niacin	Pellagra
Folate and Vitamin B12	Megaloblasic Anemia
Vitamin D	Rickets and osteomalacia
Vitamin C	Scurvy
Copper	Anemia and mental retardation
Flouride	Dental caries
Iodine	Goiter, Cretinism
Zinc	Development retardation and congenital malformation Neuropsychiatric disorders Delayed wound healing Cancer Dwarfism
Selenium	Cardiovascular diseases Crohn’s diseases
Calcium	osteoporosis

Micronutrient Overdose

Nutrient	Diseases
Vitamin C	Gastrointestinal disturbances, nausea, and vomiting including diarrhea, cramps,. Migraines
Vitamin B3 (niacin)	High blood pressure, abdominal pain, impaired vision, and liver damage
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)	Severe neurological symptoms, skin lesions, sensitivity to light, nausea, and heartburn
Vitamin B9 (folate)	Affect mental function, negatively impact the immune system
Vitamin A	Vitamin A toxicity, or hypervitaminosis A
Vitamin D	Weight loss, appetite loss, and irregular heartbeat Raise blood calcium levels, which can lead to organ damage
Vitamin E	Hemorrhages, and lead to hemorrhagic stroke
Sodium	Seizures and death
Iodine	Hyperthyroidism