Can glucose cure jaundice?

Jaundice is a common phenomenon in newborns. It is a manifestation of abnormal hormones in the newborn's body and has a certain impact on the health of the newborn. However, it can be completely resolved and will not have much impact on the health of the newborn. If parents find that their newborn has jaundice, they must not panic. They must deal with it calmly and find some simple methods to deal with it. For example, can eating glucose cure jaundice? Let’s take a look at the explanation.

Glucose can relieve physiological jaundice. Please note that it is "relief" rather than "cure"; it refers to "physiological" jaundice, not all jaundice. This is the correct relationship between glucose and jaundice. The principle is that glucose can be directly used and absorbed by the human body into the blood circulation. The increase in blood volume causes osmotic diuresis, thereby increasing the osmotic diuretic effect of the kidneys, and the excessive bilirubin and its atypical fragments in the blood are filtered out of the body through the glomeruli by the driving effect of osmotic pressure, thereby reducing jaundice. Therefore, glucose can relieve the symptoms of jaundice through the effect of osmotic pressure and is still effective for physiological jaundice. Pathological jaundice (manifested by persistent jaundice lasting for more than a week, jaundice in the limbs, yellowing of the whites of the eyes, irritability and refusal to eat) requires professional examination and treatment.

Glucose is an indispensable substance for the human body and an important source of energy. As for babies’ consumption of glucose, we should decide based on the actual situation. Glucose can be taken appropriately, but it cannot be used as the main source of nutrition for babies. Breast milk is the best nutrient for babies. Glucose can be used as a way to help babies provide energy and relieve symptoms of physiological jaundice. Generally speaking, babies who are breastfed normally do not need special glucose supplementation. However, for babies in the following special conditions, supplementing with an appropriate amount of glucose has many benefits:

1. Glucose supplementation for newborns can help relieve jaundice, enhance myocardial function, promote bone development, and prevent diarrhea;

2. After the baby has exercised a lot and sweated a lot, adding an appropriate amount of glucose to the drinking water can quickly replenish physical energy and eliminate fatigue;

3. For sick or weak babies, glucose can ensure the calorie needs of the baby's basal metabolism;