Metabolic disorder in a child or parental inattention. Metabolism and its features in children of different age groups Factors affecting metabolism

In childhood and adolescence, various changes in metabolic processes (metabolism) occur. Each age period corresponds to a metabolic state that ensures an optimal state of plastic and energy processes. The main features of metabolism in children and adolescents are:

The presence of specific processes in plastic material (proteins, etc.), due to the need for growth and development of the organism;

Changes in a number of metabolic pathways and cycles, which are associated with depression of regulatory genes, induction or suppression of the synthesis of many enzymes;

Development of adequate neurohumoral regulation of metabolism;

Increased sensitivity of organs and tissues (target organs) to the activity of hormones and biologically active substances;

Heterochrony (not simultaneity in time) of growth and development of various anatomical systems of the body;

Increasing the body's energy reserves during growth;

A relative decrease in the volume of the internal environment due to an increase in the cellular mass of organs and tissues;

The presence of the phenomenon of homeoresis - maintaining constancy in developing systems, reflecting the gene regulation of growth and development processes, the anabolic orientation of metabolism (the predominance of synthesis processes).

The metabolism of amino acids in children 6-12 years of age is very active, providing support for growth and development processes. Intensive protein synthesis requires a sufficient amount of complete proteins rich in essential amino acids. The protein requirement for children aged 7-11 years is 63 g per day. The daily requirement of school-age children for essential amino acids ranges from 19 mg (histidine) to 196 mg (leucine). The absence or insufficient amount of at least one amino acid can at this age manifest itself as a slowdown in growth processes, loss of body weight, a tendency to various infectious diseases (decreased immunity), and the presence of a negative nitrogen balance, which is always positive in a growing body. The metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids in children is almost no different from that in adults. In children of preschool and early school age, there is some tendency to hypoglycemia (decrease in blood glucose concentration) when there is insufficient glucose intake from food. This is due to imperfect neurohumoral regulation of glycogen mobilization in the liver and increased utilization of glucose by tissues. Glucose utilization corresponds to its level in adults, starting from 8-14 years of age. The need for carbohydrates in children is quite high. It is equal to 305 g per day at primary school age and from 334 g to 421 g at senior school age (in the absence of additional physical activity). Fat metabolism in childhood is unstable. In children under 10 years of age, there is an increased tendency to form ketone bodies (products of incomplete oxidation of fatty acids) and ketosis (a decrease in blood pH due to the accumulation of ketone bodies). Cholesterol levels (both free and bound) rise rapidly after birth. Starting from puberty, girls have higher blood levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) than boys, which is largely due to sex differences in the hormonal regulation of metabolism. Physiological and metabolic characteristics characteristic of childhood and adolescence are important factors determining physical performance and the body’s ability to bear loads.

Aerobic and anaerobic performance in children and adolescents

Aerobic performance

At primary school age, the energy supply to muscle activity follows the path of increasing the aerobic capabilities (performance) of the body (aerobic performance - all those functions that ensure the supply, transport and utilization of oxygen). At this age, the muscle fibers in the musculature of the limbs are not completely differentiated; the composition of the muscles is dominated by slow-twitch (“oxidative”) muscle fibers. At the age of 12-13 years, their share in the muscle structure on average decreases slightly compared to 7-year-old children, increases at the age of 14, and decreases almost three times at the age of 16-17 years.

At the age of 6-12 years, a child can more easily tolerate extensive loads (high power) than intensive ones. Children of primary school age have high endurance when working at moderate intensity. With the normal course of adaptation reactions in young athletes to loads associated with endurance, a consistent improvement in the functioning of body systems is noted. This is expressed in the economization of the functions of the cardiovascular system under standard loads of varying power, in the progressive increase in the aerobic capabilities of the body. Starting from the age of 12, a certain “turning point” occurs in the energy supply of muscle activity, which is characterized by a decrease in aerobic performance. It is caused by the onset of the pubertal growth spurt and an increase in the proportion of anaerobic mechanisms of energy production. The value of maximum aerobic performance is greater in boys compared to girls. The greatest annual increase in aerobic performance is observed in boys aged 13-14 years (maximum oxygen consumption (MOC) - by 28%), in girls - 12-13 years old (MOC - by 17%) (Goldberg N.D., Dondukovskaya R R., 2007).

By adolescence, motor activity becomes economized and energy costs stabilize during physical activity (running, walking, etc.). The maximum absolute level of aerobic performance is achieved in boys at the age of 18, in girls - at the age of 15. The relative value of this indicator almost does not change with age, which determines a fairly high aerobic performance in children and adolescents, with its maximum at the age of 15-16 years (Goldberg N.D., Dondukovskaya R.R., 2007).

The main stages of metabolism and energy in children from birth to the formation of an adult organism have a number of their own characteristics. At the same time, quantitative characteristics change, and a qualitative restructuring of metabolic processes occurs. Thus, in children, unlike adults, a significant part of the energy is spent on plastic processes, which are greatest in young children.

The basal metabolic rate in children varies depending on the child's age and type of diet. In the first days of life it is 512 kcal/m2, then gradually increases and by 1.5 years it has a value of 1200 kcal/m2. By the period, energy consumption for basal metabolism decreases to 960 kcal/m2. At the same time, boys have higher energy costs for basal metabolism per 1 kg of body weight than girls. With growth, energy expenditure on muscle activity increases.

The main reason, which largely determines the state of metabolic processes in childhood, is the incomplete development of humoral and nervous regulatory mechanisms, which ensure the body’s adaptation to the influence of the external environment and a more uniform nature of responses. An expression of the immaturity of regulatory mechanisms is, for example, the insufficient ability of the liver and kidneys to detoxify and cleanse the body of various harmful products, as well as significant fluctuations in the osmotic pressure of blood plasma, a tendency to hyperkalemia, etc.

From the second week of life, the processes of anabolism over catabolism begin to predominate in the child. Protein metabolism is characterized by a positive nitrogen balance and an increased need for protein. A child needs 4-7 times more amino acids than an adult. The child also has a greater need for carbohydrates; At their expense, caloric needs are mainly covered. Metabolism is closely related to nitrogen metabolism. Glucose contributes to protein, its administration reduces the concentration of amino acids in the blood. Reaction energy is required to fully utilize fat. Fat makes up about 1/8 of a child's body and is a carrier of energy, promotes the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, protects the body from cooling, and is a structural part of many tissues. Certain unsaturated fatty acids (see Fats) are essential for the growth and normal function of the skin. At birth, the content of lipids (see) in the child’s blood is reduced, and the content of phosphatides is significantly lower than. In addition, children have a physiological tendency toward ketosis, in which low glycogen reserves may play a role.

The water content in a child's tissues is high and amounts to 3/4 of body weight in infants and decreases with age. There are regular daily fluctuations in water release. In a healthy infant, it increases in the afternoon, reaching a maximum at midnight, and decreases sharply in the morning. Therefore, weighing the child is more reasonable in the morning, which gives a correct idea of the true weight gain.

The complex of chemical reactions in the human body - the intake of nutrients, their absorption from the digestive system, fermentation and breakdown, absorption and excretion - is called metabolism, or metabolism. When a malfunction occurs at one of the levels of this complex biological system of a child’s body, they speak of impaired metabolism.

Features of metabolism in children and causes of disorders

Metabolism in a child has its own characteristics, and it differs significantly from the metabolic process in adults. A child’s body requires much more resources and energy to digest food and absorb its beneficial substances, because children develop in an intensive mode.

The peculiarities of metabolism in children are that a significant part of the energy that enters the body in the form of food is spent on the growth and development of the baby. Infants need foods rich in fats and cholesterol, which are essential for brain development and the proper formation of the nervous system.

For normal growth and development, a child’s body needs protein foods that contain all the essential amino acids. The diet of a child under 3 years of age should contain at least 75% complete proteins, from three to seven years - 60%, from seven to fourteen - 50%. The criterion for the health of a growing child’s body is nitrogen balance. Its high level is ensured by a high degree of protein absorption in the child’s gastrointestinal tract.

Lipid metabolism is regulated by the endocrine system and the central nervous system. Carbohydrate metabolism in children occurs much faster than in adults, which is due to the large expenditure of energy as plastic and energy material under conditions of intensive growth and development.

The metabolism of a child under one year of age is significantly accelerated. However, it often happens that it becomes difficult for a child’s body to regulate its own metabolic process. There are many known causes of metabolic disorders in children, but most often such a failure occurs as a result of instability of the endocrine glands and the central nervous system. In addition, any disturbances in the metabolic process can be caused by a lack of nutritional culture, when the baby begins to overeat, especially at night. Poor physical activity also often causes metabolic disorders in children.

Why do children have metabolic disorders?

Improper metabolism in a child is a serious disorder that interferes with normal development. Such a failure manifests itself at all levels of the body’s biological system, but it is most pronounced at the cellular level.

Symptoms of metabolic disorders in children can be different, since their manifestation depends on the level at which the failure occurred.

If children have metabolic disorders due to excess amounts of protein, the following signs will help to recognize deviations from the norm:

bowel dysfunction - diarrhea or constipation;
decreased appetite or complete absence of it;
development of kidney diseases, renal failure;
sudden weight gain or loss;
development of osteoporosis;
salt deposits.

Metabolic disorders in infants and adolescents

As a rule, such a metabolic disorder in an infant occurs as a result of an excess of protein-containing foods. A blood test will help confirm suspicions of protein metabolism disorders - an increased amount of these substances in the plasma is noted.

With a lack of protein in the body, metabolic disorders occur in children and adolescents, the following symptoms are observed:

swelling;
weakness;
drowsiness;
acetonic odor of urine;
significant weight loss;
developmental delay;
intellectual impairment.

Protein deficiency is a common cause of the development of many pathologies in the development of the child's body.

Parents can find out about a fat metabolism disorder, when there is not enough of it, in their child by symptoms such as:

exhaustion;
weight loss;
skin problems – rashes, peeling, inflammation;
hair loss.

Lipids perform important functions in our body - energy, thermoregulatory, protective, therefore, when their metabolism is disrupted, serious disruptions occur. Typically, a lack of fat is caused by an unbalanced diet, hereditary diseases and disorders of the digestive system.

Metabolic disorders in children due to obesity

The first signs of excess fat are a strong appetite and rapid weight gain. Excessive amounts of lipids cause metabolic disorders in children such as obesity. In addition to this disease, against the background of excess fat, the development of many other pathological processes becomes possible.

In a child, the following phenomena and processes are considered signs of metabolic disorders, namely carbohydrate metabolism:

disturbance of protein and lipid metabolism;
drowsiness;
weight loss;
poor appetite.

As a rule, such a malfunction in the body can be caused by genetic diseases and starvation.

Metabolic diseases in children: the most common diseases

With improper metabolism of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and other substances, the development of many diseases becomes inevitable.

The most common metabolic diseases in children are:

Anemia– a pathological process that occurs against the background of a lack of protein and iron. To avoid this, from the first days of life the baby must be provided with complete protein foods.
Rickets– a metabolic disease in children that occurs due to deficiency of phosphorus and calcium. Rickets can also be caused by pathologies that prevent the child’s body from absorbing calcium. Calcium and phosphorus play a primary role in the formation and development of the bone and cartilage system of the human body. It is especially important to provide these substances to newborns and infants in the first months of life, when the formation of the osteochondral system occurs.
Tetany, or spasmophilia. This is another common metabolic disease in children, caused by a failure of phosphorus-calcium metabolism or an excess of calcium. The development of spasmophilia can be recognized by such signs as convulsive syndrome and spasms.
Amyloidosis– a pathological process caused by a failure of the physiological level of metabolism. Signs of the disease include damage to the kidney and heart muscles as a result of the deposition in muscle tissue of substances such as amyloids - structurally altered proteins.
Hyperglycemia. It occurs against the background of latent diabetes mellitus in the child’s body, when glucose metabolism is disrupted.
Hypoglycemia– a pathological process that is referred to in medicine as insulin shock. This pathology is associated with low glucose levels in the child’s blood. The cause of the disease is severe stress or diabetes in the mother.
Obesity- This is one of the most common metabolic disorders in children and adolescents today. Its occurrence adversely affects the functioning of the entire organism as a whole. The consequences of obesity in childhood are changes in posture, curvature of the spine, serious psychological trauma, hormonal disorders, osteochondrosis, arthrosis, bulimia and anorexia.

How to improve metabolic disorders in children with hereditary diseases

Phenylketonuria- one of the most serious and dangerous pathologies that arose against the background of a metabolic disorder of the aromatic alpha amino acid, known as phenylalanine. This substance accumulates in the child’s body and leads to damage to the central nervous system and a noticeable delay in the baby’s development. Phenylketonuria is diagnosed extremely rarely, since the pathological process is practically asymptomatic; the first signs of the disease can be detected closer to the second half of a newborn’s life. This disorder is one of the hereditary metabolic diseases in children.

Among the hereditary metabolic disorders in children, galactosemia, caused by a failure of carbohydrate metabolism, is often found. The disease manifests itself in the form of damage to the central nervous system, eyes, liver and other internal organs. The accumulation of an enzyme such as galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase in the child’s body leads to the occurrence of pathology. It can cause gastrointestinal disorders, cerebral edema, hypoglycemia, and anemia. A long-term dairy-free diet will help improve metabolism in children with this disorder.

What to do if a child has a metabolic disorder, how to restore and speed it up

Having discovered some signs of a failure of the multi-level metabolic process, you should visit a specialist’s office and find out what to do if your child has a metabolic disorder. After laboratory tests and confirmation of the diagnosis, as a rule, doctors prescribe hormonal drugs to young patients that normalize metabolism at the level where the failure occurred.

It also becomes necessary to take vitamin and mineral complexes according to the regimen prescribed by the doctor. Almost always, when treating metabolic disorders in children, enzymes are used that neutralize the effect of hyaluronic acid.

In case of obesity, it is important to speed up the child’s metabolism. To do this, you must follow a diet prepared by a specialist. This diet, aimed at speeding up metabolism, consists of a large amount of fruits, especially citrus fruits. The diet of an obese child should also include complete protein - beef and lean pork. Among the drugs for the treatment of this disease, Strumel T can be used, but only as prescribed by a specialist.

Metabolism in children differs from that in adults (age-related characteristics). The child’s body is constantly growing and developing, and therefore requires high-quality food composition for growth. Babies and children in particular need protein for their muscles. The quality of the protein determines what the overall development will be like. Metabolic disorders in children often affect protein.

There are three main problems that contribute to slow metabolism:

False hunger.
The child consumes sweet, high-calorie foods and carbonated drinks, which contribute to a sharp jump in insulin in the blood. The body tries to quickly distribute sugar and converts it into fat. Sugar drops sharply again, and the brain again requires energy from food, and a feeling of false hunger arises. If the body cannot break down fat and turn it into energy, then it accumulates in different parts of the body. The lack of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract and their insufficient activity contribute to this process.
Lack of physical activity, which develops when the child is not active, does not engage in active games, and spends most of his time at the computer or TV. The significance of this factor is especially great if the child eats a lot of the wrong foods, and also rarely eats, but in large quantities.

A growing body requires a large amount of fluid and vitamins for proper and rapid metabolism. As well as regular meals throughout the day.

General concept of metabolic processes

Metabolism and metabolism, or metabolism, are processes in the body that decompose and remove unnecessary waste products and break down other substances necessary for the body to enter the bloodstream. Processes can be divided into two threads:

Destructive - catabolism. Breaking down complex substances into simpler ones and converting them into energy.
Creative - anabolism. Accumulation and conservation of reserves in the body.

In a calm state of the body, all processes occur in the background and do not expend much energy. During sleep, energy is expended in small quantities. In a state of movement and stress, metabolic processes in the body accelerate. Metabolism involves not only digestive processes, but also the entire coordinated work of the body as a whole. This is the coefficient of how much what enters the body through food, air and liquid is converted into energy. The main thing on this list is food. How efficiently food components are broken down and converted into energy and waste products excreted from the body is the essence of metabolism.

If food is broken down quickly and converted into useful substances, then this indicates the proper functioning of the body. Such a person will generally not suffer from excess weight or problems with eliminating toxic waste. Accelerated metabolism entails the burning of energy and calories, as well as the constant breakdown of subcutaneous fat. A slow metabolism accumulates toxic substances and metabolic products, in particular fat, and slows down the functioning of the entire body.

Factors affecting metabolism

The speed and efficiency of metabolism depends on a number of factors.

The energy generated during metabolism is spent on:

Maintaining body temperature
Physical activity
Building important components of the body.

Based on this list, it is clear which aspects of life suffer due to improper and slow metabolism.

Visible signs of slow body functioning

Parents should be able to identify symptoms of metabolic disorders in children, such as:

Overweight. The most obvious sign of a child’s body malfunctioning.
Rare chair. If a child goes to the toilet less often than he should (once every 2 days), this indicates a slow metabolism.
Large amounts of food. The child eats a lot, but is constantly hungry.
Dry skin, brittle nails and hair.
Problems with teeth, a sharp deterioration in their condition and destruction of enamel.
Swelling, indicating water retention in the body.
Pimples and blackheads on the forehead, nose, back.

All of the listed symptoms of slow metabolism have their own reasons. The causes of metabolic disorders in children are as follows:

Consumption of low quality food and “gastronomic garbage” that replaces a full meal. Food in the form of dry snacks, sweet soda, and fast food entails unpleasant consequences for the child’s body.
Insufficient amount of water in the body.
The child leads a passive lifestyle. Spends more than 50% of time sitting without activity.
Wrong diet. If a child does not eat during the day and only eats in the evening, this will affect his well-being. Likewise, eating infrequently affects your metabolism.

Consequences

The consequences of a child’s metabolic disorder are ambiguous. These include:

Vitamin deficiency is one of the common types of metabolic diseases. The body does not receive the required amount of vitamins due to the inability to break them down (malabsorption syndrome).
Slowdown of the thyroid gland. If the body does not receive enough iodine due to malabsorption, it affects the production of hormones.
Obesity. A common problem caused by slow catabolism. Undigested fat is deposited in the body.

Most often, metabolic diseases in a child’s body are the fault of the parents. The child cannot monitor his diet on his own. Adults are responsible for teaching him a proper lifestyle and food, monitoring his snacks and activity schedule.

A careless attitude towards your own child entails unpleasant consequences for him.

Ways to solve the problem

Any changes in the body's metabolic processes require adjustment. Treatment of metabolic disorders in a child requires parental control over the children’s activity and nutritional regimen.

First of all, “gastronomic garbage” and harmful drinks should be excluded from the child’s diet.

Also follows:

Stop consuming salty, fried, smoked and fatty foods.
Steam or grill food.
Meals should consist of high-quality protein from poultry, fish or meat and fresh vegetables.
The child must receive fiber. It promotes rapid digestion of food.
Water balance must be maintained.
Meals on time and often, at least five times a day.
Watch the portion. If the child is overweight, the portion should be gradually reduced and increased to half.
Increase physical activity.
Active walks, games, gymnastics and swimming, hourly use of the computer and TV.

This is the minimum a parent can do. After consultation with a pediatrician, medications with beneficial bacteria for the intestines and fermented milk products are prescribed. If metabolism is reflected in the thyroid gland, an endocrinologist is visited. Vitamins required for the body are prescribed.

Age and metabolism

Metabolism has age-related characteristics. An adult person expends much less energy than a small growing organism. The younger you are, the more energy you require. A large amount of energy requires a high-quality composition of products consumed by the body. This is especially true for protein.

The metabolism of children is significantly different from that of an adult. Hippocrates also noted that “... a growing organism has the greatest amount of natural heat and therefore requires food the most.” Indeed, in conditions of intensive growth, a child’s body requires relatively more plastic substances and energy for normal functioning, the formation of which occurs as a result of the exchange of organic compounds supplied with food. Consequently, energy and oxidative processes in the child’s body are more intense, as evidenced by the indicators of basal metabolism, the value of which depends on the age and constitution of the person, the intensity of tissue growth and metabolism, as well as other factors. In children at all ages, especially in the first years of life, the basal metabolic rate is much higher than in adults. A significant amount of energy is naturally spent on the processes of assimilation and growth. It is also necessary to note age-related imperfections in the regulation of metabolic processes both from the central nervous system and endocrine glands, and from neurohumoral mechanisms. All this determines instability and relatively easily occurring metabolic disorders in children.

Along with the indicated general features in childhood, the uniqueness of each of the main types of metabolism is also noted - protein, carbohydrate, fat. Knowledge of them makes it possible to correctly navigate the issues of nutrition of children in the first months and years of life, as well as pathology caused by metabolic disorders, which are often based on genetically determined diseases.

Protein metabolism. Proteins are the main plastic material for the construction of human tissues; they participate in the synthesis of a number of hormones, enzymes, immune bodies, and in maintaining the balance of acids and bases.

Metabolism in children. Due to vigorous growth and the formation of new cells and tissues, the need for proteins in children is much higher than in an adult, and the more significant the younger the child. Proteins should cover 10-15% of the calories of the daily diet. Vigorous plastic processes explain the fact that the nitrogen balance in young children is positive, while in older children and adults there is a nitrogen balance.

For the proper growth and development of a child, not only the quantity, but also the quality of protein introduced with food is important. The amino acids formed from it during digestion, being absorbed into the blood, must be absorbed. It is from them that the protein of the tissues of the child’s body is then synthesized; the properties of the synthesized protein are controlled by genes.

Metabolism of fat and lipids. Fats and fat-like substances are complex organic compounds that differ significantly from each other in structure and functional significance. Fat serves as one of the main sources of energy. In the first half of life, fat covers about 50% of the total daily caloric intake, in children from 6 months to 4 years - 30-40%, in school-age children - 25 - 30%, in adults - about 40%, which determines a relatively large need for it.

Regulation of fat metabolism is carried out by neurohumoral mechanisms. The leading role is played by the central nervous system, which through the food center influences the digestive organs and stimulates appetite. Insulin, thyroid hormones (thyroxine), gonads and adrenal cortex (corticosteroids) have a wide-ranging effect on fat metabolism. Insulin promotes the conversion of sugar into glycogen and fat, causing hypoglycemia and thereby stimulating the food center. In addition, it inhibits the formation of carbohydrates from fats and prevents the release of fat from the depot. Thyroxine increases basal metabolism, causing the breakdown of fats. Decreased function of the gonads causes obesity. Corticosteroids increase the conversion of carbohydrates to fats.

The most common pathology of fat metabolism in children is excessive fat deposition (obesity) due to various reasons (overfeeding, dysfunction of the endocrine glands, cerebral origin). Violations of the opposite nature are also possible, accompanied by emaciation, which is often a consequence of a febrile state with anorexia and malabsorption. The cause of weight loss in children can be hyperthyroidism, neuropathy, lipodystrophy, etc.

Carbohydrate metabolism. Carbohydrates in the human body are found both in a free state and in connection with proteins, fats and other substances. They perform very important and varied functions, the main one of which is energy. Due to the combustion of carbohydrates in infants, about 40% of the daily caloric intake is covered; with age, this percentage increases. In older schoolchildren, more than 50% of all necessary energy is formed from carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are also a plastic material, being part of the main substance of connective tissue in the form of mucopolysaccharides. In the first months of life, the child receives carbohydrates in the form of disaccharides from breast milk (lactose), and later - cane and milk sugars contained in food, starch, which is broken down in the mouth and stomach to maltose. Disaccharides have a relatively higher energy value and lower osmolarity compared to starch and other sugars, which is optimal for the resorption of nutrients. Carbohydrate metabolism in children is characterized by high intensity. Increased energy costs due to the growth and formation of a child’s body determine its high needs for carbohydrates, especially since the synthesis of the latter from proteins and fats in children is relatively low.

Metabolism and energy are the basis of the body’s vital processes. In the human body, in its organs, tissues, and cells, there is a continuous process of synthesis, i.e., the formation of complex substances from simpler ones. At the same time, the breakdown and oxidation of complex organic substances that make up the cells of the body occurs.

The growth and renewal of body cells is possible only if there is a continuous supply of oxygen and nutrients to the body. Nutrients are precisely the building and plastic material from which the body is built.

For continuous renewal, the construction of new cells of the body, the work of its organs and systems - the heart, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system, kidneys and others, a person needs energy to perform work. A person receives this energy through decay and oxidation during the metabolic process. Consequently, nutrients entering the body serve not only as plastic building material, but also as a source of energy necessary for the normal functioning of the body.

Thus, metabolism is understood as a set of changes that substances undergo from the moment they enter the digestive tract and until the formation of final breakdown products excreted from the body.

Anabolism and catabolism. Metabolism, or metabolism, is a finely coordinated process of interaction between two mutually