Nutrition and the adolescent: an update.

This article reviews selected nutrition research pertinent to adolescent health care. Protein--calorie malnutrition affects 25% of hospitalized adolescents studied, which correlates, as in adults, with increased morbidity and mortality. Some subgroups of adolescents, notably Asian immigrants, have been shown to be at high risk for developing vitamin D deficient rickets. On the other hand, excessive vitamin D intake has been linked to arteriosclerosis in animal models. Calcium supplementation is not likely to be indicated in U.S. adolescents. Iron deficiency prevalence in adolescence is not well documented, owing to the confusion between anemia and iron deficiency. Serum ferritin and free erythrocyte protoporphyrin measures should help to clarify this issue. Zinc nutrition must be assessed in high-risk groups such as those with short stature or Crohn's disease. Oral contraception effects on vitamin B6 and on serum lipids need to be considered in the risk-benefit equation when prescribing this method of birth control for adolescents.