ABSTRACT
Vitamins and minerals are essential for many metabolic processes and are critical for growth and development. These micronutrients are incorporated in several biochemical reactions involved in exercise and sports, including carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism, oxygen transport and delivery, as well as tissue remodeling. Estimating micronutrient requirements is a methodological process based on the available scientific and statistical data. A consensus statement specified that multivitamin/mineral supplements (MVMS) should contain vitamins and minerals in a dose relative to the recommended intakes for individuals living in the particular region of interest. The daily use of MVMS appears to reduce the prevalence of inadequate intakes of many micronutrients. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and plays a critical role in bone health, whereby 99% of total body calcium is stored in the skeleton and teeth. Iron is a mineral present in many cells of the body and is best known for its role as a constituent of the haemoglobin molecule.
