Nutrition

1. Nutritions for Infants (Below 2Years
Old) Related to COVID-19
Nutrition for Specific Groups Assignment - 2022

2. Importance of Nutrition for Children Related to COVID-19
- It is important for infants to have nutritious diet
-
-
Protect immunity
Ensure future growth and development
- Viral infections -> more severe symptoms in malnourished
children
- In the case of COVID-19, malnutrition results in:
-
-
-
-
Reduced immune function
Weakness in muscles that regulate breathing
Changes in normal lung growth
Increased likelihood in developing pneumonia post
infection

3. NUTRITION FOR INFANTS
(0-6 months)
Energy requirement
Male: 526 - 598 kcal/day
Female: 478 - 550 kcal/day
-
- WHO recommend mother with suspected or confirmed
COVID 19 to initiate or continue breastfeeding
Formula Milk
-
-
-
skimmed milk powder with added fats and nutrients
satisfied baby’s entire nutritional requirement
fortified with enough Vit A and D to provide immunity
- Breastmilk donor
-
-
woman with healthy medical record
provide better immunity to fight infection:
immunoglobulin

4. NUTRITION FOR INFANTS
(6-12 months)
Energy requirement
Male: 598 - 694 kcal/day
Female: 550 - 646 kcal/day
- Weaning food with milk feeding
- 6-9 months
-
-
mashed food with soft lumps, soft finger foods
4-3 milk feeds and 3 meals
- 9-12 months
-
- hard finger foods, minced and chopped family
foods
3-2 milk feeds and 3 meals

5. NUTRITION FOR INFANTS
(12-18 months)
Energy requirement
15% Protein, 35% Fat, 50% Carbohydrates
Male: 765 - 1004 kcal/day
Female: 717 - 932 kcal/day
- Solid foods and milk feeding
- 3 meals and 2-3 nutritious planned snacks
-
-
Water: 6-8 drinks of 100-120 mL
Supplement of Vit. A and D

6. NUTRITION FOR INFANTS WITH
SEVERE CASES OF COVID-19
Need to stay in Intensive Care Unit
Nutrient requirement:
-
-
-
IV (intravenous) fluids: vital fluids and electrolyte
Parenteral nutrition or hyperalimentation
Contain
-
-
calories, fats, proteins, and vitamins
electrolytes : sodium, potassium, chloride,
magnesium, calcium
Nutrient requirement can be tested by using blood
test
Milk feeding should start with small amount through
tube feeding

7. NUTRITION TO
BOOST IMMUNE SYSTEM
1. Protein -> AA: arginine and glutamine
2. Retinol and Carotene (Vit A)
3. Calcitriol (Vit D)
4. Vitamin C
5. Vitamin E
6. Vitamin B -> B6
7. Iron
8. Zinc
9. Phytochemical : carotenoids

8. - Helps to repaired the infected body cells
and tissues
-
-
Amino acids: arginine and glutamine
- required for lymphocyte formation
Source: milk, eggs, meat and fish
Protein
-
Vitamin A
Antioxidant: fight infections and illness
- IgA antibody
- Retinol : from animal foods
- butter, egg, full-fat milk
- Carotene : from fruits and vegetables
- dark green vegetables, pumpkin, carrot

9. -
-
Calcitrol: boost immune system by
preventing autoimmune response in the
body
Source: oily fish, meat, egg
Vitamin D
-
Vitamin E
Tocopherol : antioxidant
-
-
protects cell structure in the body by
modulating T cell function to fight viral
infection
Source: vegetable oil, fish

10. -
-
Improve production and activity of natural
killer cells
Source: meat, avocado, banana
Vitamin B
-
-
-
-
Vitamin C
Antioxidant : protect cells from damage
(oxidative stress)
Clean up cellular mass or old cells
Stop multiplication of virus cells
Source: citrus fruits

11. - Strengthen immune system
-
-
-
provide oxygen to damage cells,
tissues, organs -> healing and fight
infection
Proliferation and maturation of immune
cells -> lymphocytes
Source: beans, lentils, tofu, baked potato
Iron Zinc
-
-
-
Helps healing wound, needed for immune
cell development
Plays role in inflammatory response
Source: whole grains, nuts
-
-
-
Phytochemicals
Remove free radicals before they damage
cells
Enhance immune system
Source: citrus fruits, carrots, pumpkins,
green tea, apples

12. Nutritional Advice For
Infants with COVID-19
1. Breastfeeding your Baby
- 0 to 6 months
-
-
mothers should continue to breastfeed their baby
exclusively within 1 hour of birth until the first 6 months
6 - 24 months
- breast Milk need to be complemented with a variety of
adequate, safe and nutrient-dense foods
- low or not excessive in sugar and salt content

13. 2. Eat Fresh and Unprocessed Foods Everyday
Fruits Vegetables
Protein and
Healthy Fat Source

14. - 6 months → mashed fruits like
banana or avocado
- 9 months → sliced and quartered
fruits or small pieces of fruits
- 12 to 24 months → small pieces of
soft and easy to chew fruits
Fruits
-
Vegetables
Vary vegetable consumption
- leafy greens, brightly colored vegetables
and legumes
- 6 months → cooked and pureed vegetables
(sweet potato, squash)
- 9 months → cooked vegetables, cut into
small pieces (squash, green beans, carrots,
sweet potato)
- 12 to 24 months → small pieces of cooked
vegetables (carrots, peas)
- Other sources: olive oils, non-hydrogenated
margarine

15. Protein and Healthy Fat Sources
Fish : served twice a week, one of these should be oily fish
-
-
6 months: well cooked and pureed
9 months: well cooked and finely chopped
12 - 24 months: well cooked, soft, shredded
Milk : 3 portions per day
- Children under 2 years old should be given a whole milk or yoghurt
Dairy products: yoghurt
Cereals and Grains
- Children under 2 years old: cooked, ground, single-grain cereal with
addition of mother’s breast milk
- easier to chew, swallowed, digested

16. 3. Drink Enough Water Everyday
Enough Water Everyday
- Water is essential for life
-
-
-
-
Transports nutrients and compound in blood
Regulates body’s temperature
Get rid of waste
Lubricants and cushions of joints
-
-
Toddlers needs 8 - 10 cups of water every day
If water is not available:
-
-
Unsweetened Milk
Fruits and vegetables that contain water → cucumber, tomatoes,
spinach, mushroom, melon, oranges, apples, blueberries
- Avoid giving toddlers drinks that contains sugar
Source: WHO, 2019

17. BASIC PROTECTIVE
MEASURES
For baby or young child that are suspected or
confirmed COVID - 19, the following are the
basic protective measures
1. Regularly and thoroughly wash hands with
soap and water / cleaned them with an alcohol-
based hand rub
2. Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or
sneeze with your bent elbow or tissue →
dispose the used tissue immediately
3. Stay at least 1 meter away from anyone who is
coughing or sneezing
4. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
5. Stay at home if your child feels unwell until fully
recovered

18. CONCLUSION
•
•
•
COVID 19 may transmit or occur to infants.
It can be avoided by providing infants with nutritious
foods to boost their immune system, have enough
water everyday, do preventive and basic protective
measures to reduce the risk of getting COVID 19.
Nutritions that can help to improve immune system
include protein, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin
B, vitamin C, iron, zinc, and phytochemicals.

19. References
Beck, Melinda A. “The Role of Nutrition in Viral Disease.” Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry 7 (1996): 683–690. http://
citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.418.8268&rep=rep1&type=pdf.
Budhwar, S., K. Sethi and M. Chakraborty. “A Rapid Advice Guideline for the Prevention of Novel Coronavirus Through
Nutritional Invention.” Current Nutrition Reports, (2020): 1-10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7308604/
# ffn_sectitle.
Gombart, A.F., A. Pierre and S. Manggini. “A Review of Micronutrients and the Immune System-Working in Harmony to Reduce
the Risk of Infection.” Nutrients 12, no. 1(2020): 236. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12010236:
More, J. Infant, Child and Adolescent Nutrition: A Practical Handbook. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2013.
Staff, Mayo Clinic. “COVID-19 (Coronavirus) in Babies and Children.” Last modified 2020. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-
conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-in-babies-and-children/art-20484405.
Standford Children's Health, “Nutrition and Fluids in the NICU,” Standford Children’s Health. https://www.standfordchildrens.org/
en/topic/default?id=nutrition-fluids-in-the-nicu-90-P02391
WHO, “Breastfeeding and COVID-19,” World Health Organization, June 2020. https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/
detail/breastfeeding-and-covid-19
“Feeding Babies and Young Children during the COVID-19 Outbreak.” WHO. Last modified 2020. http://www.emro.who.int/
nutrition/nutrition-infocus/feeding-babies-and-young-children-during-the-covid-19-outbreak.html.
“Eating and Drinking When Recovering from COVID-19.” NHS Foundation Trust. Last modified 2019. https://www.bda.uk.com/
uploads/assets/6a95644d-f8a1-4103-b934da36a7d2c9e8/Homerton-COVID19-Eating-drinking-on-recovery.pdf.