Vitamins & Minerals

Vitamins and minerals — micronutrients — are compounds the body needs in small amounts for energy metabolism, oxygen transport, bone structure, immune function and nerve signalling. The body cannot make most of them, so they must come from food.

What published research reports

The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements publishes a fact sheet for every vitamin and mineral, each listing the recommended dietary allowance, food sources, deficiency signs and safe upper limits, based on the Dietary Reference Intakes. The joint ACSM/Academy/Dietitians of Canada position statement (2016) reports that athletes who eat enough calories from varied foods generally meet micronutrient needs without supplements, and names iron, vitamin D and calcium as the micronutrients most often found low in athletes — particularly in female athletes and those restricting energy intake.

References

• National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets. ods.od.nih.gov
• Thomas DT, Erdman KA, Burke LM. Position statement: Nutrition and Athletic Performance. 2016. PubMed