Interaction between nutrition and lead in children

Abstract

Lead is a commonly found environmental toxic element that deteriorates health, especially that of children. Sixteen percent of daily intake of lead comes from foods, and 40% of that is due to adherence of dust on surfaces of foods during preparation. Low socioeconomical level and long-term malnutrition are the most important risk factors for lead contact in infant feeding. Decrease in calcium, iron, zinc and protein in the diet increases the gastrointestinal absorption of lead. Lead absorption can be decreased in children by adequate intake of calcium. Lead level in breast-milk is about ten percent of the blood lead level and it shows correlation with the blood lead level of the mother. Lead level in breast-milk of smoking mothers is twice that of non-smoking mothers. In order to decrease lead absorption, children should be fed with a diet rich in vitamin and minerals without skipping meals; milk and milk products enriched with calcium should be present in the diet and adequate iron should be included in the diet. It is necessary to follow-up the children at risk periodically and monitor blood lead levels regularly in order to develop early prevention strategies against lead intoxication.