A 15-year-old girl on a vegan diet is undergoing a well-child exam. Which nutrients may this adolescent need to supplement?

A 15-year-old girl on a vegan diet is undergoing a well-child exam. Which nutrients may this adolescent need to supplement?

• A. Iron, folic acid, B12
• B. Vitamin D, vitamin C, phosphorus
• C. Calcium, vitamin C, vitamin A
• D. Magnesium, vitamin E, zinc

Answer: (A)

When a teenager follows a vegan diet, certain nutrients are more likely to be insufficient because they come mainly from animal sources. Iron needs rise during adolescence and can be especially challenging to meet for menstruating teens, making iron supplementation a common consideration. Vitamin B12 is not present in plant foods unless fortified, so vegan teens are at real risk for B12 deficiency, which can affect red blood cell production and nervous system function. Folate (folic acid) is essential for rapid growth and is especially important for women of childbearing potential, given the role of folate in neural development if pregnancy occurs. Taken together, iron, folic acid, and B12 address the most common gaps seen in vegan adolescents, which is why this set is the best answer. The other options include nutrients that are important too, but they are not as consistently deficient in vegan teens, or their needs are more variable with diet and sun exposure, so they’re not the best single trio in this context.

When a teenager follows a vegan diet, certain nutrients are more likely to be insufficient because they come mainly from animal sources. Iron needs rise during adolescence and can be especially challenging to meet for menstruating teens, making iron supplementation a common consideration. Vitamin B12 is not present in plant foods unless fortified, so vegan teens are at real risk for B12 deficiency, which can affect red blood cell production and nervous system function. Folate (folic acid) is essential for rapid growth and is especially important for women of childbearing potential, given the role of folate in neural development if pregnancy occurs. Taken together, iron, folic acid, and B12 address the most common gaps seen in vegan adolescents, which is why this set is the best answer. The other options include nutrients that are important too, but they are not as consistently deficient in vegan teens, or their needs are more variable with diet and sun exposure, so they’re not the best single trio in this context.