Staying Healthy and Safe

2 min read /
保持健康與安全

03/31/2020

Wyeth Nutrition Hong Kong is committed to providing nutritional support to babies, parents as well as everyone else. That does not only limit to providing our nutritious products like formula products for children or maternal supplements but also nutrition tips. We believed there are much more every one of us can do by ourselves to stay healthy during this critical period.

As per current evidence, there are no specific food or supplement that can prevent us from catching COVID-19 but good hygiene practice remains the best means of avoiding infection. And, nutrition experts suggested that a healthy and balanced diet, which provides copper, folate, iron, selenium, zinc and vitamins A, B6, B12, C and D1, helps support immune functions.

However, insufficiency of some nutrients supporting immune functions was reported in local populations, for example – iron and vitamin D.

Intake of iron for children (30-60 months) is lower than the recommended intake level set by Chinese Nutrition Society (12 mg/day2), while the dietary intake of iron of over 80% adult population was found below the recommended intake3 in a local studies. Therefore, it is important for us to take a balance diet which includes meats like pork and beef, green leaves vegetables, such as choy sum and bok choi, and nuts such as almond and cashew. These are all good sources of iron4.

Another nutrient that is insufficient is vitamin D as per local reports. The intake of vitamin D for children aged 30 to 60 months is lower than the recommended intake level set by Chinese Nutrition Society of 10 mcg/day2. 72% of young adults from 18 to 26 years showed also vitamin D deficiency5 in another local study. Vitamin D can be synthesized by skin through exposing the hands, face and arms to sunlight for 5 to 15 minutes a day, 2 to 3 times a week during the summer months. Vitamin D5 can also be found in fatty fish (such as salmon, sardines, eel), eggs and liver.

Good hygiene, balanced diet and healthy lifestyle are all important for us to fight against diseases. Wyeth Nutrition Hong Kong will always stay committed to providing support to all of you, let’s win this fight together!

WYE-EM-064-MAR-20
 

References:

  1. British Dietetic Association (BDA). https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/covid-19-corona-virus-advice-for-the-ge…; Accessed on 19Mar2020.
  2. Yip PS et al. Diet quality and eating behavioural patterns in preschool children in Hong Kong. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2017 Mar;26(2):298-307. (full article available at http://apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/APJCN/26/2/298.pdf)
  3. Centre for Food Safety. The First Hong Kong Total Diet Study: Minerals. 2014. (Full article available at: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_firm/files/Report_on_the_1st_HK_Total_Diet_Study_Minerals_e.pdf)
  4. Wang EW et al. Vitamin D status and cardiometabolic risk factors in young adults in Hong Kong: associations and implications. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2018;27(1):231-237. (Full article available at: http://apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/APJCN/27/1/231.pdf)
  5. HK DoH. https://www.fhs.gov.hk/english/health_info/woman/20036.html  Accessed on 19Mar2020.