Why do we need to do trace element testing?

In recent years, due to the publicity and popularization of eugenics policies, everyone has begun to pay attention to the nutritional supplements of children before and after birth. Living conditions are getting better and better nowadays, so children should not lack nutrition. However, in life, too many children are picky eaters and have partial eating problems. If the nutrients are not comprehensive, it will cause sequelae such as short stature and slow growth. Therefore, it is necessary to do trace element testing.

1. Inspection items

The human body is composed of more than 60 elements. Although trace elements are not present in large amounts in the human body, they are closely related to human health. Excessive, insufficient or deficient intake of trace elements is not good for health. Trace elements combine with amino acids, proteins or other organic matter in the human body to form a variety of biological enzymes, vitamins, hormones, etc., which are closely related to the body's nutrient absorption, immunity, genetics, endocrine, growth and development, and anti-infection abilities. Among the trace elements essential to the human body, calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium and copper are particularly important. The heavy metal element lead is present in high levels in daily life. If babies consume too much lead, it will cause great harm to their bodies. Checking these six elements is something doctors often recommend for health care.

2. Misunderstandings of Inspection

Some mothers think that checking the baby's trace elements is a way for the hospital to make money and it is unnecessary to do it. Some mothers think that it is better to check the baby according to the doctor's requirements so that they can know the baby's health status. So should we do it or not? If we do it, how should we view the inspection results? In fact, the two views mentioned above are not quite correct. The purpose of trace element examination is to help doctors and parents understand the proportion of major trace elements in the baby's body during a certain period of time, so as to make correct judgments about the baby's health. It can be seen that it is necessary.

3. The importance of inspection

Currently, trace element checks for babies are mainly conducted during regular physical examinations, usually after six months of age. Checks are very important and should be done once a year. Babies under 6 months old are generally fed mainly with breast milk, which can ensure that they are adequately supplemented with various trace elements and there is no need for testing. After 6 months, the baby starts to add complementary foods, and the supplement may be untimely or insufficient. At this time, the doctor will ask the parents about the feeding situation and combine the baby's physical performance to decide whether to conduct a test. For older babies, doctors will conduct tests based on whether they are picky eaters, have repeated illnesses, or have congenital deficiencies. Therefore, the baby's trace element test is not a "royal decree" issued by the doctor - it must be done, but the doctor recommends parents to do it according to the baby's condition.

4. Inspection method

Different hospitals and institutions may have different methods for detecting trace elements. Generally speaking, venous blood testing is the most accurate, but it can be painful for young babies, so the most widely used screening method is a finger prick blood test. The method of detecting trace elements using hair is too affected by external environmental factors and has poor accuracy.