Can A 14 Year Old Take Vitamins

It is important to promote a healthy diet and lifestyle in children and encourage positive eating and exercise habits for later in life. Food supplements are of course not a substitute for a healthy balanced diet! Vitamin D is needed for the normal growth and development of bones in children, as well as contributing to the normal function of their immune system. A multivitamin combining these key nutrients can be a convenient way to safeguard any gaps in your child's diet. Our Wellkid range, suitable from 3-14 years, includes multivitamins, minerals, and single Vitamin D supplements.

Although more supplementation studies are needed, ensuring vitamin D adequacy throughout childhood and adolescence seems prudent. The Linus Pauling Institute recommends that adolescents aged 14 to 18 years should have a daily intake of 600 to 1,000 IU (15 to 25 μg) of vitamin D, consistent with the recommendations of the Endocrine Society . According to the Endocrine Society, at least 600 IU/day may be required to maximize bone health, and 1,000 IU/day may be needed to increase serum levels above 30 ng/mL (75 nmol/L) . Given the average vitamin D content of the diets of adolescents, supplementation may be necessary to meet this recommendation.

Vitamin B6 is required for heme synthesis and in the synthesis and metabolism of amino acids— the building blocks of proteins. Thus, the vitamin has obvious relevance to adolescent growth and health. Dietary intake recommendations of vitamin B6 for adolescents were established by extrapolating data from adults, using metabolic body weight and accounting for growth. The RDA for boys aged 14 to 18 years is 1.3 mg/day, and the RDA for girls aged 14 to 18 years is 1.2 mg/day . Only a few studies have evaluated vitamin B6 status specifically in adolescents. The same investigators found more than 40% vitamin B6 inadequacy when a group of 112 adolescent girls (12- and 14-year-old) were followed for two years .

For information on dietary sources of the vitamin, see the article on Vitamin B6. About 99% of calcium in the body is found in bones and teeth . Specifically, data used by the FNB to determine calcium accretion came from a recent longitudinal study in 642 Caucasian adolescents aged 14 to 18 years .

Thus, the RDA was set at 1,300 mg/day; this level of calcium intake is expected to cover the needs of 97.5% of adolescents. Vitamin C has a number of important roles during growth and development, including being required for the synthesis of collagen, carnitine, and neurotransmitters . Vitamin C is also a highly effective antioxidant and is important for immunity . Further, vitamin C strongly enhances the absorption of nonheme iron by reducing dietary ferric iron (Fe3+) to ferrous iron (Fe2+). Specifically, iron absorption is two- to three-fold higher with co-ingestion of 25 to 75 mg of vitamin C . This has special relevance to adolescent health, considering the fact that iron deficiency is prevalent among adolescents, especially girls .

The RDA for adolescents aged 14 to 18 years, which was extrapolated from recommendations for adults based on relative body weight, is 75 mg/day and 65 mg/day of vitamin C for boys and girls, respectively . The RDA for vitamin A is based on the amount needed to ensure adequate stores of vitamin A in the body to support normal reproductive function, immune function, vitamin A-dependent gene expression, and vision . Vitamin A intake recommendations for adolescents were derived by extrapolating the recommendation for adults using metabolic body weight, accounting for growth. For information on vitamin A content in foods, see the article on Vitamin A.

The RDA of magnesium for those aged 14 to 18 years, 410 mg/day for boys and 360 mg/day for girls, was derived from results of balance studies in adolescents. Good dietary sources of magnesium include nuts, and green leafy vegetables because magnesium is part of chlorophyll — the green pigment in plants. Meats and milk have an intermediate magnesium content, with milk providing mg per cup . Although data are limited, some studies have found that a large percentage of adolescents have magnesium intakes below recommended levels ( ). In an analysis of NHANES data, US adolescents who consumed milk had higher daily magnesium intakes than adolescents who did not drink milk .

However, NHANES data show that US adolescents (12-19 years) on average only consume about 1 cup of milk daily . Low-fat milk, nuts, whole grains, and green leafy vegetables are important sources of magnesium for adolescents. If adolescents do not meet the RDA through dietary sources, LPI recommends a combined magnesium-calcium supplement. Severe iron deficiency leads to iron-deficiency anemia; anemia affects more than 30% of the global population . Adolescents have increased requirements for iron due to rapid growth. In particular, adolescent girls are at a heightened risk of iron deficiency due to inadequate intake of dietary iron, especially heme iron; increased demands of growth; and iron loss that occurs with menstruation.

Following puberty, adolescent girls have lower iron stores compared to adolescent boys . At what age should my child switch from children's to adult vitamins? If you choose to have your child take vitamins, at age 14 they should probably switch to an adult formula.

That is the age when the Recommended Dietary Allowances take a big jump. But if a younger adolescent girl has begun menstrual periods and lacks iron in her diet, it could be appropriate to switch her to an adult RDA-level supplement at a younger age. Calcium is the exception to the major nutrient-need increase at age 14. This amount can be obtained from a balanced diet with three-and-a-half to four servings of dairy products or other high-calcium foods daily. If your child can't meet this goal, calcium-fortified foods or a separate calcium supplement is in order beginning at age nine. Also, if you drink well water or other nonfluoridated water, fluoride supplements are recommended through age 16.

Adequate levels of Vitamin D is vital for babies, as it is required for the normal growth and development of bones in children, as well as contributing to their normal immune system function. This is why the UK Department of Health recommends that babies, from birth to one year old, are given a daily supplement of 8.5 to 10 micrograms (µg) of vitamin D. Unless they are being fed more than 500 ml of infant formula per day, as this is already fortified with vitamins. Despite the abundance of iron in the United States food supply through natural, enriched and fortified food sources, teens may be consuming less of this mineral than their developing bodies require. Adolescent girls, especially, tend to have lower intakes of foods that provide iron.

Children and adolescents from food-insecure households are at greater risk of not getting enough iron than their peers who have easier access to food. Girls are also at increased risk of iron deficiency due to iron loss during menstruation. If teens are following calorie-restrictive diets to lose or manage weight, that may affect iron intake, and vegetarian or vegan teens may also be at risk of not getting enough iron.

In general, multivitamin/mineral supplements contain only a small percentage of the RDA for calcium and magnesium; therefore, intake of calcium and magnesium from dietary sources, such as low-fat milk, is important. The amount of bioavailable iron in food is influenced by the iron nutritional status of the individual and also by the form of iron . Individuals who are anemic or iron deficient absorb a larger percentage of the iron they consume than individuals who are not anemic and have sufficient iron stores .

Although heme iron generally accounts for only 10-15% of the iron found in the diet, it may provide up to one third of total absorbed dietary iron . The absorption of nonheme iron is strongly influenced by enhancers and inhibitors present in the same meal. For instance, vitamin C strongly enhances the absorption of nonheme iron by reducing dietary ferric iron (Fe3+) to ferrous iron (Fe2+) and forming an absorbable, iron-ascorbic acid complex.

Organic acids, such as citric, malic, tartaric, and lactic acids, also enhance nonheme iron absorption. Further, consumption of meat, poultry, and fish enhance nonheme iron absorption, but the mechanism for this increase in absorption is not clear . Inhibitors of nonheme iron absorption include phytic acid, which is present in legumes, grains, and rice.

Polyphenols found in some fruit, vegetables, coffee, tea, wines, and spices can also markedly inhibit the absorption of nonheme iron, but this effect is reduced by the presence of vitamin C . Soy protein, such as that found in tofu, has an inhibitory effect on iron absorption that is independent of its phytic acid content . However, when accounting for intake from fortified foods, less than 5% of individuals in that age group have intakes below the EAR .

The US Food and Drug Administration implemented legislation in 1998 requiring the fortification of all enriched grain products with folic acid . Globally, more than 50 countries have mandatory programs of wheat-flour fortification with folic acid, but flour fortification is not common in Europe . Dietary folate inadequacy is common among adolescents in European nations, especially girls . While many young children are picky eaters, that doesn't necessarily mean that they have nutritional deficiencies. Many common foods — including breakfast cereal, milk and orange juice — are fortified with important nutrients, such as B vitamins, vitamin D, calcium and iron.

So your child may be getting more vitamins and minerals than you think. Although myelination primarily occurs during fetal development and early infancy, it continues through childhood, adolescence, and stages of early adulthood . Because of the role of vitamin B12 in myelination and other metabolic processes, it is important for adolescents to meet dietary intake recommendations.

The RDA of vitamin B12 for adolescent boys and girls aged 14 to 18 years is 2.4 μg/day , extrapolated from the recommendation for adults. The B vitamin, folate, is required as a coenzyme to mediate the transfer of one-carbon units. Folate coenzymes act as acceptors and donors of one-carbon units in a variety of reactions critical to the endogenous synthesis and metabolism of nucleic acids and amino acids . Thus, folate has obvious importance in growth and development.

Moreover, higher intakes of folate in adolescents have been linked to better academic achievement . Like other B vitamins, adolescent intake recommendations for folate were extrapolated from adult recommendations, using metabolic body weight and accounting for growth. The RDA for adolescents aged 14 to 18 years is 400 μg/day of dietary folate equivalents . Adding a variety of foods to a teen's diet can help her get what she needs, and supplementing with multivitamins may benefit some teens. Anyone who struggles to eat a healthy, varied, and balanced diet may benefit from taking supplements. For teenagers, it may be helpful to take iron, calcium, and vitamin D if you feel you are lacking these essential vitamins and minerals.

Before you or your teenager start taking any new supplements it's a good idea to check with your GP or a pharmacist. Certain vegetables and grains also provide calcium, but their bioavailability is lower compared with dairy. For more information on dietary sources of calcium and calcium bioavailability, see the article on Calcium. The Nutrition Facts label of packaged foods lists calcium content in one serving as a percent of the Daily Value , with the DV being 1,000 mg.

Can a 14 year old take vitamins Since the RDA for adolescents is 1,300 mg/day, the percentage of the DV listed on the food label would be an overestimation of the percentage of the RDA. If adolescents do not meet the RDA through diet alone, LPI recommends supplemental calcium. Multivitamin/mineral supplements generally provide no more than 200 mg of calcium. Vitamin C helps your body absorb iron, a mineral that facilitates the transportation of oxygen through your blood stream and helps regulate cell growth. Vitamin C helps to keep your cells healthy and, as an antioxidant, may protect you from illness.

The recommended daily intake is 75 milligrams of vitamin C for teen boys and 65 milligrams for teen girls. Vitamin A promotes proper bone growth and tooth development, making it a vital nutrient for all children and adolescents. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, teens in industrialized countries tend to have low intakes of vitamin A, which is a necessary nutrient for adolescent development. Teen boys should get 900 micrograms, or 3,000 international units, of vitamin A per day, while teen girls need 700 micrograms, or 2,333 international units of vitamin A daily.

A yummy chewable multivitamin, the Solgar Kangavites Vitamin tablets are available in a sweet berry flavor. A blend of multivitamins and minerals, the Solgar multivitamin tablets give your teens the recommend DV every day. Like other multivitamins, these are just dietary supplements and are best taken just before or after food. Teenagers can take one tab in the morning with breakfast, and the other in the evening for optimal results. This is whether or not you are taking a supplement containing Vitamin D yourself. - babies fed infant formula shouldn't be given a Vitamin D supplement if they're having more 500ml of infant formula a day, as infant formula has vitamins added to it.

- children from one to 4 years should be given a daily supplement containing 10µg of vitamin D. - children aged 6 months to 5 years are given vitamin supplements containing Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin D every day. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for maintaining normal calcium metabolism and is therefore necessary for bone health.

The growth plates of bones continue to enlarge, but in the absence of adequate mineralization, weight-bearing limbs become bowed. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for growth and development, normal vision, the expression of selected genes, immunity, and reproduction . Vitamin A deficiency in children and adolescents is a major public health problem worldwide, especially in less developed countries . Even marginal or subclinical deficiencies in vitamin A may have adverse effects on bone growth and sexual maturation of adolescents . Because of its role in immunity, inadequate intake of this vitamin also increases risk for infectious diseases .

The Maxi Teen Supreme dietary supplement is a doctor-formulated multivitamin for girls. The powerful antioxidants present in the tablets cleanse the impurities in the body. This multivitamin will be an added advantage in boosting growth in adolescence. The tablet helps with memory function, improves muscle health, and strengthens bones and organs.

In addition, these tablets are infused with a digestive enzyme that enhances the absorption of the nutrients in the pill, thereby maximizing its benefits. MegaFood is a blend of organic farm fresh fruits that delivers the missing vitamins and minerals in your teen's diet. Elements like vitamins D, K, and Calcium strengthen the bones and teeth of growing teens. It serves as a whole food multivitamin and mineral dietary supplement. Despite parents' attempts to provide healthy foods, their teenagers may not necessarily get nutrition from the food they eat.

When your teens' eating habits aren't giving them the right nourishment, you can rely on vitamin supplements to fill the gap. It's important for teenagers to get all the necessary vitamins daily. However, several vitamins are particularly important for growth, development and sustained energy levels.

Fill your diet with a variety of vitamin-rich foods to get plenty of vitamins, as well as other nutrients, without having to worry about taking dietary supplements. Vitamins in small quantities are essential for normal metabolism. Our bodies don't make them, so we must get them from a well-balanced diet. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that children who receive a well-balanced diet do not need extra vitamin intake over and above the recommended dietary allowances . More than one-third of children in the U.S. take dietary supplements routinely.