Recommended Dietary Intakes for the Adolescent

The recommended dietary intakes for adolescents are listed in Table 

Recommended Dietary Intakes for the Adolescent 

If you look at the table carefully, you would notice the high RDIs for energy, protein, iron and calcium. This is necessary to support the rapid growth of all body tissues. Adolescents, like school children, are generally very active. This pushes up energy needs. The increasing blood volume and growing skeleton accounts for the increase in. iron and calcium needs. In the case of the girl, loss of iron through the monthly blood loss is also considered when working out' the iron needs. Can you explain why? The discussion on differences between boys and girls in Highlight 5 is also relevant here. 

Thiamine, riboflavin and niacin RDIs are specified, as you know, according to energy needs. The more the energy need, the more would be the need for these B complex vitamins. 

Iodine is a mineral not mentioned in Table. This is because the exact RDIs for the trace elements have not been worked out. However,it is very important for the adolescent to be provided with sufficient iodine in the diet. Iodine is, as you know, a part of the hormone thyroxine produced by the thyroid gland. Thyroxine re elates the rate of metabolism and is crucial for proper physical and mental growth. This makes it important particularly in high growth phases such as infancy and adolescence. 

We have so far taken a look at the recommended dietary intakes for adolescents. You would realize how high these RDIs are even in comparison with the adult. Let us consider the adolescent girl. Her nutrient needs are close to that of the adult, sedentary woman and even exceed them in the case of several nutrients such as energy, protein, calcium, and the B vitamins. Now  how would these RDIs change if the adolescent girl becomes pregnant? You will find the answer in Highlight 6.