General Health

Do Teens Benefit From Vitamins?

Each teenager has a different energy and nutritional requirement fit for their lifestyle.

Medically Inspected by: Loreta D. Dayco, MD, Edilberto B. Garcia, Jr., MD, and Maria Christina H. Ventura, MD

Adolescence is pivotal for biological, cognitive, social, and emotional development. It is important for young adults to support their growth by leading healthy lifestyles and ensuring they have sufficient amounts of micronutrients.

Despite this, there is common belief that teenagers do not need to rely on vitamin supplements as much as younger children or the elderly do. After all, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), young adolescents aged 10 to 14 have the lowest risk of death among all age groups. If this is the case, is there any merit for teenagers to take vitamins? Read on to learn more.

State of Nutrition among Teenagers in the Philippines

In the Philippines, several nutrition-related conditions remain prevalent among adolescents. Around 13% of teenagers in 2021 are overweight or obese, according to the Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI).

In terms of growth, 22.3% of adolescents are stunted—those that have low height-for-age ratio. Meanwhile 10.9% are wasted (have low weight-for-height ratio). Both are said to be the results of chronic undernutrition. According to some studies, stunted children and adolescents do not consume enough key nutrients to support growth and development.

So, should teenagers be taking vitamins?

Some experts say that not all teenagers will find the need to take vitamin supplements. If a teenager is healthy and is eating a balanced diet, intake of vitamin supplements can be decided upon based on personal assessment.

Some teenagers, however, have the tendency to have poor quality diets due to a busy school schedule, leading them to a lack of essential nutrients. Picky eaters may not be getting the needed amount of vitamins as well. This portion of the population may find it beneficial to take the right types of vitamin supplements for them, as advised by their doctor.

Additionally, adolescence may be the last chance to address stunting, as 15 to 20% of total height and 45% of adult bone mass are completed during this stage. This makes it vital for teenagers to get the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of nutrients they need.

Given the significance of the teenage period in a person’s overall growth, it is critical to obtain the right set of vitamins to sustain their developmental needs at this stage. If a teenager is not getting this from their dietary intake, then multivitamin supplements may help them obtain the nutrients they are lacking.

Which vitamins and minerals are best for teenagers?

Every teenager has his or her own set of nutritional needs. It is best to consult with your child’s pediatrician to determine which vitamins or minerals fit their profile. But in general, teenagers may find the following vitamins and minerals beneficial in their development:

Vitamin/Mineral	Function	RDA
Calcium	For the maintenance of strong bones	1,300 mg
Protein	For growth and muscle mass	46 - 52 grams
B-vitamins	For cell production and brain and nerve health	1.2 - 1.3 mg for Vitamin B6 2.4 μg for Vitamin B12
Vitamin D	For the proper absorption of calcium, which helps in the growth and maintenance of bones	600 IU
Vitamin E	For maintaining a strong immune system	15 mg

Although vitamins are important in a teen’s development, there is no one-size-fits-all recommendation for how much and which one they need to take. We must still keep in mind that each teenager has a different energy and nutritional requirement fit for their lifestyle. It is still best to talk to your child’s doctor for the best vitamin supplement they can take.

General disclaimer

Your doctor will always be in the best position to give the appropriate medical advice for your condition. For suspected undesirable drug reaction, seek medical attention immediately and report to the FDA at www.fda.gov.ph and UNILAB, Inc. at 8-UNILAB-1 or productsafety@unilab.com.ph. Always buy your medicine from your trusted drugstores and retailers.

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