micronutrient intake in athletes

Vitamins and minerals are needed in the body for several important processes, including but not limited too...

1) The growth and repair of body tissues,
2) Cofactors in enzyme catalyzed metabolic reactions,
3) Oxygen transport and oxidative metabolism
4) For immune function, and as antioxidants.

Any sustained deficiency of an essential vitamin or mineral will cause ill health and an unhealthy athlete is extremely unlikely to perform to the best of his or her potential.

Vitamins are needed in very small quantities in the diet. They are essential for specific metabolic reactions in the body and to promote normal growth and development. With the exception of vitamin D, which can be synthesized in the presence of sunlight, and vitamin K and some B-vitamins, which can be produced by the bacterial microflora of the gastrointestinal tract, vitamins are not produced by the human body and must be consumed in the diet.

Although vitamins do not directly contribute to energy supply, they play an important role in regulating metabolism, acting as reusable coenzymes in intermediary metabolism.

A deficiency of some of the B-group vitamins, which act as cofactors of enzymes in carbohydrate (e.g., niacin, pyridoxine [B6], and thiamin [B1]), fat (e.g., riboflavin [B2], thiamin, pantothenic acid, and biotin), and protein (pyridoxine) metabolism, results in premature fatigue and inability to maintain a heavy training program.

Other vitamins play a role in red and white blood cell production (folic acid and cobalamin [B12]) or assist in the formation of bones, connective tissue, and cartilage (e.g., vitamins C and D).

[