Adolescent Nutr

Question 1

What is menarche?

Answer 1

• First indication of menstruation
• average age in US is around 12.5 years
• age depends on interaction of genes and enviornment
• grow 2-3 inches after menarche

Question 2

What are the determinants of menarche?

Answer 2

1. begins when gonodotropin relelasing hormone system is activated
2. genetics, race, physical activity, health status, psychological factors, BMI, socioeconomic status, and enviornmental conditions all play role
3. change of 19% to 25% body fat, and almost 1/2 of bone mass accumulates during this time (peak bone mass by age 30)

Question 3

What is early “precocious” puberty? And when does it occur?

Exam question!

Answer 3

Occurs: before 8 in girls, before age 9 in boys
Incidence: 10x more common in girls, especially aftican american girls. 1 in 5,000 children affected
Contributors:
* Small for gestational age, and rapid growth 0-2 months
* obesity and inactivity
* Endocrine disruptors

Question 4

What are the positive and negative health implications of early menarche?

Answer 4

• Positive: higher bone mineral density
• Negative: higher BMI and associated comorbidities, marker for breast cancer, earlier sexual intercourse, stress

Question 5

Do adolecents meet Ca needs? And what is the calcium requirement for 9-18 years of age?

Test question!

Answer 5

• most adolescents don’t meet the daily calcium requirement
• 1300 mg daily
• actual calcium intake is around 600-800 mg

Question 6

What are the most common nutrient deficiencies in adolescents?

Test question!

Answer 6

Ca, iron, Vit A, Vit C, fiber, and folic acid

Question 7

What causes acne?

Answer 7

1. overactive sebaceous glands producing excess oil
2. more skin cells produced than normal
3. proliferation of normal bacteria in anaerobic enviornment

Question 8

How can diet effect or help acne?

Answer 8

• Strong associations: high glycemic load food intake results in hyperinsulinemia and elevated levels of insulin growth factor (IGF-1) causing increase in androgen hormones and sebum
• weak associations: dairy (thought to be due to not absorbing vit D & A)
• More research needed: Omega 3 FAs, dietary fiber, antioxidants, vit A, Vit C, zinc, and iodine