When children are anorexic, slow to grow, should they eat more digestive enzymes?

The article was professionally consulted with Specialist Doctor II Bui Thu Huong - Pediatric Center - Vinmec Times City International Hospital

To avoid negative consequences for the digestive system and the child's growth, parents need to understand about preparations to support digestion. It is not always good for children to be anorexic, slow to grow, to eat more digestive enzymes.

Digestive enzymes or enzymes are essentially proteins. These are catalysts for the breakdown of food. Under the action of digestive enzymes, the food is broken down and the bonds in the food become emulsions that help the intestinal lining to be easily absorbed into the bloodstream, nourishing the body. Most of the foods we eat including proteins, lipids, carbohydrates... cannot be absorbed into the blood by themselves, so we need the action of active enzymes to help convert food into nutrients. nutrients that the body can absorb.
Digestive enzymes are secreted from organs in the digestive part of the body such as salivary glands, stomach, pancreas, liver. Each type of digestive enzyme has different functions. The enzyme alpha amylase is secreted by the salivary glands and pancreas to help break down cooked starches into sugars for the body to absorb. Protein digesting enzymes such as: Trypsin, chymotrypsin, pepsin. Break down protein from meat, fish, eggs, milk... supply into the body. Digestion of fats by lipase enzymes and bile salts produced by the liver. Without these enzymes, the body will be afraid to eat fat, have a greasy stool, slow digestion... Some enzymes digest cellulose substances (fiber) such as cellulose, hemicellulose, phytase, beta-glucanase.. .

The abuse of digestive enzymes for children with anorexia, growth retardation will unintentionally make the child's digestive condition not improve, even worse. When taking yeast for a long time, but anorexia does not improve, even the child has acute diarrhea, fatigue, and weakness. The "lazy" body does not produce digestive enzymes, and over time, it will reduce its capacity and become stagnant. At this time, the baby's body will have to depend for life on digestive enzymes to be introduced. Time to use digestive enzymes for each batch should not exceed 10-15 days.
Digestive enzymes should only be used for children when:
Baby is anorexic with malnourishment, raw stools, ... then we can use digestive enzymes. In cases of decreased secretion of digestive enzymes, patients with acidosis, reduced acid in the stomach, patients with atrophic gastritis, ... using digestive enzymes is really useful. In case of frequent digestive disorders, bloated stomach, long digestion, a little digestive enzyme may be beneficial. People who have just woken up, who are physically weak in the first days, should use digestive enzymes for normal digestion, helping the body recover quickly.

Digestive enzymes should not be used when:
For normal children with anorexia, digestive enzymes should not be used in the form of drugs because they have little effect. If necessary, follow the doctor's prescription. Children under 6 months of age should not take digestive enzymes because at this age the child's digestive system is not stable. Do not use continuously, for a long time, the maximum duration is 2 weeks. Should not be used before meals, also Should not be used about 2 hours after eating. Best taken with a meal or immediately after a meal. In case of live stools or diarrhea accompanied by abdominal pain, bloody stools or vomiting blood, digestive disorders caused by toxic chemical compounds or acid burns, also absolutely stay away from the product. this product.

Note: This article is part of the Vinmec International General Hospital System's Awareness Program on Growth Retardation, with the support of Novo Nordisk