Vitamins are organic substances found in the natural world that the body uses in its various processes. Specifically, vitamins help in growth and development and in various metabolic processes, like blood clotting and the maintenance of a functioning immune system. People who consume a well-balanced diet do not need vitamin supplementation, but teenage boys may need extra vitamins as their growth speeds up and their diets become inconsistent and not well-balanced.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A helps in the development of good vision and maintenance of cell growth. It helps keep teeth, skin and mucous membranes healthy. Retinol, the active form of vitamin A, produces the pigment in the retina, the light sensitive part at the back of the eye. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, foods rich in vitamin A include organ meats like liver; vegetables like pumpkins, sweet potatoes and carrots; and fruits like cantaloupe. A teenage boy who does not take enough vitamin A can become more susceptible to infections and poor vision. But taking too much vitamin A can result in hypervitaminosis A, a condition that causes soft, brittle bones, blurred vision, bone pain, decreased appetite, and increases the pressure inside the skull, which can result in brain damage. It can also cause a yellow-orange tint to the skin.
Vitamin B12
Teenage boys who are vegetarians can have a vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 is important in the production of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the body's various organs and tissues, according to the Nemours Foundation. Vitamin B12 is not found in plants, but rather in meat, eggs, milk, yogurt, ice cream and fortified breakfast cereals. If the boy is a vegan and does not consume dairy products, then he might need to take vitamin B12 supplements. According to Lab Tests Online, vitamin B12 deficiency can cause macrocytic anemia, in which the body produces fewer and larger red blood cells. Symptoms of macrocytic anemia include easy fatigability, paleness, lightheadedness and shortness of breath. Other symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency include nerve damage with tingling and numbing of hands and feet, and changes in mental status, such as confusion and dementia.
Vitamin D
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that any child who is not consuming at least 32 oz. of vitamin D fortified milk should receive vitamin D supplementation. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, which is important in the development and maintenance of bone strength, a health concern in growing and active teenage boys. The body produces vitamin D through the skin after exposure to sunlight, and from food. Milk products have added vitamin D. Other foods with high concentration of vitamin D include egg yolks, saltwater fish and liver. Vitamin D deficiency leads to rickets and osteoporosis, both conditions that produce soft, weak bones.
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