ABSTRACT
The dietary reference intakes (DRI) for daily supply of vitamins and mineral nutrients apply to healthy, normal weight individuals. They account for individual variations and distinguish between age groups and sex [17,18], but they do not apply to patients with metabolic alterations or other disease, or individuals using pharmaceuticals on a regular basis. Hence, DRI do not necessarily meet the metabolic needs of obese individuals. Especially in physiologic stress situations like signifi cant weight loss or periods of weight cycling, obese patients potentially need different amounts of micronutrients.
