Health Tips

Does it bother you that your child often refuses to eat fruits and vegetables? Even endless nagging won’t get them to eat a proper meal? Worrying that your children’s low appetite may reduce their nutritional intake? You’re not alone as there are many parents who share similar concerns. 

Many nutritional supplements for children today contain a substance called lysine, and it has been marketed as an appetite stimulant for children who don’t seem to have a healthy appetite. 

What may have caused the lack of appetite in my children?

To know the how let’s figure out the why. Your child may lose his or her appetite due to any of the following reason(s):

• Illness: Your child may have suffered from stomach wind, diarrhoea or fever that prevent him or her from eating food.

• Stress

• Prescription medications

• Tapered growth rate: Your child’s growth and appetite will vary based on their age, energy levels, nutritional diet, and environment.

• Constipation 

• Lack of physical activity

• Distractions such as TV, smartphone or tablet during eating

• Drinking too much sweetened beverages or snacking too much

• Anaemia: This would require seeing a doctor to run a blood test on your child.

• Intestinal worms: Get a healthcare professional’s advice on the details of deworming treatment for your child. 

What is lysine?

Image credit: https://www.lazada.com.my/products/alpro-pharmacy-appeton-multivitamins-lysine-syrup-120ml-exp-date122021-i100236419.html 

Lysine is an essential amino acid -- our body cannot synthesize lysine and it has to be obtained through diet or nutrition supplements. The human body needs lysine for healthy functioning. It is a crucial component of proteins that play a role in helping body tissue grow and recover from damage.

Lysine is especially important in a child’s development. Studies have confirmed that children with lower levels of amino acids in their blood are more likely to experience stunting growth. In addition to helping with growth, lysine helps in the production of carnitine, a nutrient responsible for converting fatty acids into energy and helping to lower cholesterol. Lysine helps produce collagen, and may also help the body absorb calcium, which children need for strong bones and teeth. 

Can lysine boost my children’s appetite?

Besides its significance in growth, some parents also believe that multivitamin supplements containing lysine can also boost children’s appetite. While there isn’t enough studies on the effect of lysine on children, a study on the effect of lysine on the growth of chicken may help to explain why lysine seems to boost appetite in some human children. In this study, lysine is found to increase the level of satiety- and appetite-mediating hormones in chicken, leading them to ingest more food and thus achieving a higher growth. 

Nevertheless, scientists are unsure whether lysine is really the one that boosts children’s appetite, since many children’s supplements often contain other nutrients in addition to lysine. Many of these food-based studies also failed to show improved growth among children who received supplements that included protein along with other nutrients, suggesting that protein was not a unique factor limiting their growth. More scientific studies are needed to investigate the true value of incorporating lysine to help boost a child’s appetite.

The more lysine the merrier?

Lysine supplements usually come in the form of chewable tablets or liquids, and it is often formulated alongside multivitamins. Children ages 2 to 12 can take 23 mg per kg body weight per day. Children under 2 should not take lysine without a doctor's supervision. Children 13 and older can take the recommended adult dose of 12 mg per kg body weight per day. 

Too much lysine is unnecessary and may even be harmful in children with liver or kidney problems. It is important that you consult your children’s paediatrician first before initiating any supplements, including lysine. 

Natural source of lysine

Do you really need to splurge on a nutrition supplement for your children? Chances are you do not need to do so, as a well-balanced diet should contain adequate lysine already. You may also focus on the techniques that can get your children to eat a well-balanced meal:

• Practice family behavior modification. Familial stress, unrealistic parental expectations, and threats, pressure, or bribes can have a negative impact on a child’s eating.

• Avoid force eating 

• Offer smaller, frequent meals.

• Offer a wide variety of foods and food textures at a young age, usually starting around 6 months.

• Discuss your concerns with your child’s doctor.

• Make mealtimes pleasant, enjoyable experiences. Ask your child questions about their day and tell them about yours. Even if they don’t yet have the vocabulary to participate in conversation, feeling included may make them more excited for mealtime.

• Have regular family mealtimes. Eating together as a family whenever possible models positive eating behavior. It also provides a social environment that most children desire.

• Let your children help out in the kitchen

• Don’t allow distractions, such as TV, phones, and toys, at the table.

• Limit a toddler’s time at the table to about 20 minutes per meal.

• Ensure your child is getting enough exercise and playtime.

• Limit excessive snacking and drinking of milk or juice between meals.

• Work with a behavioral or occupational therapist to modify your children’s eating behaviour

Written by

Ms Joyce Toh