Multivitamins are used by millions of people every day. Not every multivitamin is good for every individual. Even though a teenager's body is still growing and developing, there is no scientific evidence promoting the idea of vitamins made specifically for them. Many brands of multivitamins are suitable and choosing the right one can be somewhat confusing at times. Learning about the various needs of teenagers can help you choose the right one.
Benefits
According to Science Daily, teenagers who take multivitamins are more physically active, participate in more team and organized sports, and are less likely to spend a lot of time watching television. These teenagers are also more likely to eat a healthier diet.
Types
Most over-the-counter multivitamins will be appropriate for teenagers. Several are available that may help with certain issues that you may be concerned with. Teenage boys generally wish to take vitamins that will help in muscle development such as GNC Mega Teen Vitamins. Teenage girls may wish to take supplements that promote healthy-looking skin by taking One-A-Day Teen Advantage in the pink box. One-A-Day Teen Advantage is also available in a blue box for teenage boys. A healthy supply of vitamin D will offer muscle building while vitamins A and C work well for healthy-looking skin.
Considerations
There are many things to consider when choosing the right type of multivitamin for your teenager. An active lifestyle may be the biggest factor. If your teen is active in sports but has developed a less-than-stellar diet, a multivitamin will help. It is important to remember that no matter what the reason for beginning a vitamin regimen, vitamins should never take the place of meals. Kidshealth.org offers a chart detailing how much of each vitamin your teen may need (see Resources). Keep in mind that many vitamins are going to be provided in the food they eat and a teenage-specific multivitamin may not be needed.
Misconceptions
According to David Schardt, senior nutritionalist at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, most teenagers do not need a special vitamin and adult multivitamins will work fine. He claims that exceeding the recommended daily allowance in thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 will not provide teenagers with an energy boost. In addition, there is no evidence that multivitamins for teenage boys are any different than those for teenage girls. However, teenage girls do need more iron than boys.
Warning
According to Dr. Lawrence D. Rosen, a New Jersey pediatrician, certain vitamins should not be taken in excess. Vitamin A can cause headaches if the dosage is too high. He also states that some vitamins can cause internal metabolic problems that may not show up until years later if the dosage is too high.
Tags: choosing right, dosage high, healthy-looking skin, multivitamins will, One-A-Day Teen