Can't Be Careless, Giving Misguided MPASI Can Trigger Iron Deficiency Anemia To Children

JAKARTA - Anemia is still a serious challenge in the world of health, especially in groups that are prone to iron deficiency anemia, namely children and pregnant women. Children are very susceptible to anemia from the womb to the end of the baby's life.

One of the things that needs to be considered to prevent anemia in children is intake during the MPASI (Smilent Food Companion). Pediatrician and Consultant Grow Kembang, Prof. Dr. dr. Rini Sekartini, Sp.A(K) said that iron intake is very important for children during the MPASI period, in order to prevent anemia.

"Usia is vulnerable to iron deficiency anemia in children aged 6 to 23 months. Krucial is given the first MPASI, where mothers are not right to choose iron sources in MPASI foodstuffs," said Prof. Rini in the Pasar Baru area, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday, November 26, 2024.

Iron deficiency anemia is strongly influenced by diet. Especially during the MPASI period, children will begin to get to know various flavors and it is time to introduce many foods, especially those containing high iron.

Professor Rini said iron is divided into two forms, namely heme and non-heme. Iron heme comes from animals, while non-heme iron comes from vegetable.

Some types of foods that contain iron are meat, ranging from cows, sheep, deer, and poultry meat such as chicken, ducks, ducks, birds. Then chicken liver, beef liver, seafood, green vegetables are mainly thick in colors such as green mustard and broccoli, tofu and tempeh, nuts, to seeds.

In addition to providing foods that contain high iron, parents must also prevent their children from eating foods that inhibit the absorption of iron. These foods contain fitat acid, tannin or polyphenol, calcium and oxalic acid, which are commonly found in tea and coffee.