Multivitamin supplements improve teen lifestyle: study

New York -- Teenagers who take multi vitamin supplements have a healthier diet and lifestyle than those who don't, says a study.

Researchers led by Lindsay Reaves of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health analysed data on height, weight, diet and health behaviour of over 2,500 US high school seniors, reported health portal Medical News Today.

The study, which appeared in the December journal of the American Dietetic Association, found that teens taking vitamins were also more physically active, including in team sports and other organized sports.

Vitamin use was also linked to a lower rate of television watching - less than 60 percent of vitamin users watched an hour of TV per day compared with 70 percent of nonusers.

Taking vitamins was also associated with a healthier diet, as reflected by an overall "food index score". Adolescents who took vitamins actually consumed more calories but got more of their calories from carbohydrates and protein and less from fats.

Vitamin users ate more fiber, had more daily servings of whole grains, fruits, juices and vegetables, and ate more fish.