STORY AT-A-GLANCE
Most adolescents are not getting adequate nutrient intake from diet alone — a finding confirmed from other studies in developed countries such as Spain, France, Portugal and Germany
Three-quarters of adolescents consumed less than 54% of the recommended amounts of healthy foods like fruits, vegetables and dairy products
Nearly three-quarters of the youth exceeded the recommended limit for sweet and salty snacks — by 453%
When nutrient intake was considered from diet alone, adolescents often consumed less than recommended amounts of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D and E along with the water-soluble vitamins folate, biotin and pantothenic acid
The use of dietary supplements helped to increase the adolescents’ intake of vitamins and minerals, particularly magnesium and vitamin C, but this isn’t a replacement for a healthy, nutrient-rich diet