What Vitamins Should An 18 Year Old Female Take

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. Although more supplementation studies are needed, ensuring vitamin D adequacy throughout childhood and adolescence seems prudent. 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. 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 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. 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.

Following puberty, adolescent girls have lower iron stores compared to adolescent boys . 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 . Meat, chicken, fish, eggs, nuts and legumes (e.g. beans and lentils) are good sources of iron and protein. Iron is needed to make red blood cells, which carry oxygen around your body.

During your teenage years, you'll start to menstruate, or get your period, and this leads to loss of iron. If you don't get enough iron, you can develop anaemia, a condition that can make you feel tired and light-headed and short of breath. Protein is needed for growth and to keep your muscles healthy. Not eating enough protein when you are still growing, or going through puberty, can lead to delayed or stunted height and weight. Include meat, chicken, fish or eggs in your diet at least twice a day. 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 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 . 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. 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. The best way to get these vitamins and other nutrients is by eating a healthy, balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, lean meats, healthy fats, and low-fat dairy.

But if you're not, you may not be getting adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals to keep you feeling your best. A specially formulated multivitamin for your age and gender, like Nature Made Multi for Him or Multi for Him 50+, provides nutritional support to fill in nutrient gaps missing from your diet. Among other things, you need calcium to build healthy bones and teeth, keep them strong as you age, regulate the heart's rhythm, and ensure your nervous system functions properly. Calcium deficiency can lead to, or exacerbate, mood problems such as irritability, anxiety, depression, and sleep difficulties. If you don't get enough calcium in your diet, your body will take calcium from your bones to ensure normal cell function, which can lead to weakened bones or osteoporosis.

Women are at a greater risk than men of developing osteoporosis, so it's important to get plenty of calcium, in combination with magnesium and vitamin D, to support your bone health. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for maintaining normal calcium metabolism and is therefore necessary for bone health. Rapidly growing bones are most severely affected by rickets. The growth plates of bones continue to enlarge, but in the absence of adequate mineralization, weight-bearing limbs become bowed. 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 . The eight B vitamins are crucial to the production of energy and red blood cells. A 2016 review of studies said they're "absolutely essential for every aspect of brain function." And they have a number of full-body benefits.

What Vitamins Should An 18 Year Old Take "Biotin, or B7, is a B vitamin that helps keep hair healthy." 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. 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.

Folate or vitamin B9 is another nutrient that many women don't get enough of in their diets. Folate can greatly reduce the chance of neurological birth defects when taken before conception and during the first few weeks of pregnancy. Folate can also lower a woman's risk for heart disease and certain types of cancer, so even if you're not planning on getting pregnant , it's an essential nutrient for every woman of childbearing age. In later life, folate can help your body manufacture estrogen during menopause.

Vitamin D becomes even more important in your forties, Dr. Steinbaum says. Low levels of vitamin D have been linked to a host of diseases—from cancer and autoimmune conditions to diabetes and obesity—and our risks for many of these tend to increase with advancing age. "Get your blood levels of vitamin D tested to see where you stand and supplement accordingly," she suggests. This holds for men and women in their fourth decade—you may be low and not even know it. It's almost impossible to get all the D you need from food alone and almost none of us gets enough sun in the era of sunscreen, so D supplements may be necessary. And don't forget your omega-3s either, as heart disease risk climbs with age for men and women, she shares.

For many women, "these tend to be the childbearing years," says Suzanne R. Steinbaum, DO, director of Women's Cardiovascular Prevention, Health, and Wellness at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. If you're planning to get pregnant, start taking a prenatal vitamin with folic acid and B-complex. Folic acid reduces the risk of neural tube birth defects and other B vitamins help support a healthy pregnancy.

Taking these vitamins may also reduce your babies' autism risk. Women with heavy menstrual periods may need extra iron too, says Dr. Steinbaum. Vitamin D is a nutrient that helps the body use calcium and phosphorous to build and maintain strong bones and teeth. Vitamin D is unique in that it can be synthesized by the body after exposure to ultraviolet rays from sunlight. Too little vitamin D can cause calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood to decrease, leading to calcium being pulled out of the bones to help maintain stable blood levels.

This can cause rickets in children and osteomalacia or osteoporosis in adults. However, too much vitamin D can cause too much calcium to be deposited in the body, which can lead to calcification of the kidney and other soft tissues including the heart, lungs and blood vessels. 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 . The formulas also contain vitamin D, magnesium and zinc which contribute to the maintenance of normal bone health. 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. The human body requires 13 vitamins and at least 16 minerals essential to your health.However, while all adults need a variety of key vitamins and minerals every day, men and women have different requirements. For instance, women of reproductive age require more iron than men of the same age, so women's supplements typically include iron and men's supplements don't.

If you're asking yourself, "What vitamins should I take daily for a man? " keep in mind that it varies depending on your age and lifestyle. 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. 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. An optimum nutritional intake during adolescence and young adulthood can help set the stage for lifelong health. Teenagers need to have sufficient vitamins and minerals to ensure healthy development during growth spurts, plus as they undergo significant physical and biochemical changes in their bodies.

So the importance of obtaining the right nutrients in the diet is vital, just at a time when this may not be a top priority for some busy teenagers. Getting enough calcium is critical to keeping our bones healthy, not to mention the heart, nerves, and muscles. The NIH recommends that women 19 to 50 years old and men 19 to 70 get 1,000 mg a day. That goes up to 1,200 mg a day for women starting at age 51 and for men after 70. As with many nutrients, getting calcium through your diet, and not a supplement, is ideal. Good choices include low-fat dairy , fortified cereals and juices, and sardines.

Although there's no doubt it's important for our health, the exact amount we need can be somewhat confusing. The recommended daily allowance calls for about 75 milligrams daily for women and 90 mg for men, yet not everyone agrees. If you prefer to get your vitamin C through food, Brill recommends a half-cup of raw red sweet pepper , a medium kiwi , or a medium orange . Other foods rich in vitamin C include strawberries, kiwi, cantaloupe, and broccoli.