[Nutrient and energy intake in adolescents from a public school]

OBJECTIVE: To assess the average intake of energy, protein, calcium, iron, vitamins A and C in adolescents. METHODS: Cross-sectional study in a high school in São Paulo, Brazil, with 92 students, both males and females, aged between 11 and 17. The sample was chosen by a systematic statistical selection. The food intake was determined by 24-h diet recall and compared with the National Research Council recommendation (1989). RESULTS: The average intake of energy, proteins and vitamin C by both males and females was higher than the recommendation. The average iron intake by males was higher than the recommendation and more than 80% in females. The average calcium intake by males was less than 70% and less than 50% in females. CONCLUSIONS: Low average intake of calcium and high average intake of energy were observed.