Nutrition During Adolescence
The transition from childhood to adulthood is called adolescence. This
period (13-18 years) is characterized by rapid growth and development at all
levels i.e., physical, physiological, psychological and social as described below.
RECOMMENDED NUTRIENT ALLOWANCES
1. Energy
The metabolic demands of growth and energy expenditure increases the
calorie needs. The ICMR committee has suggested that energy should be provided
on the basis of ideal weight for age. The energy requirements for boys is more
than that of girls which is 2450 k.cal. and 2640 k.cal for boys 13-15 years and
16-18 years respectively and 2060 k.cal for girls of 13 to 18 years. The
difference in energy requirements can be attributed to the rapid increase in
weight for boys.
2. Protein
The protein requirements are computed in the same way as for adults. The
protein needs represent 12-14 percent of the total energy requirements. This
meets the need for growth, for pubertal changes in both sexes and for
developing lean body mass in boys.
3. Calcium
Bone
growth requires calcium. Calcium requirements are based on calcium accretion
during the period of growth. About 150 mg of calcium should be retained for
increasing bone mass. Hence the allowance for boys is more than girls because
of their increased skeletal growth.
4. Iron
The increase in body mass during adolescence correspond to 4.3 kg/year
in boys and 4 kg/year in girls. The haemoglobin concentration increases by 2g
/dl in boys and 1g/dl in girls. Therefore the iron required for growth alone is
0.7 mg / day in boys and 0.45 mg/day in girls. Moreover there is additional
loss of iron in girls during menstruation which is significant from 13 years
onwards which amounts to 0.45 to 0.5 mg/day. Hence considering the additional
requirement for
1.
growth spurt
2.
expansion of blood volume
3.
increase in haemoglobin concentration
4.
additional iron to compensate menstrual losses
in girls and
5.
adding the basal loss of iron,
the requirements for iron have been arrived at
41 mg/day and 28 mg/day for boys and girls 13 - 15 years of age, and 50 mg /day
and 30 mg / day for boys and girls 16-18 years of age respectively. The higher
requirement of iron for boys than girls may be attributed to the low percentage
of iron absorption in adolescent boys (3 percent) than adolescent girls (5
percent).
5. Vitamins
The requirement for B vitamins namely thiamine,
riboflavin and niacin increases in direct proportion with increase in calorie
intake. Folic acid and vitamin B12 requirements also increase when
there is rapid tissue synthesis as they participate in synthesis of DNA and
RNA.
Transamination to synthesize non-essential amino
acids requires more vitamin B6. The structural and functional
integrity of newly formed cells depends on the availability of vitamins A, C
and E.
Balanced
diet for adolescents (13 - 18 years)
S.No.
Food Groups Quantity (g) : Boys Girls
1. Cereals and Millets : 420 300
2. Pulses : 60 60
3. Milk (ml) : 500 500
4. Roots and Tuber : 200 100
5. Green leafy vegetables : 100 100
6. Other vegetables : 100 100
7. Fruits : 100 100
8. Sugar : 35 30
9. Fats / oils (visible) : 25 25
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