Vitamin-mineral supplements for correction of multiple micronutrient deficiency

Abstract

Multiple micronutrient deficiency (simultaneous insufficient supply of the organism with several vitamins at once (vitamin D, B group), as well as calcium, magnesium, zinc and iodine, and not an isolated deficiency of any one micronutrient is characteristic of a significant part of the Russian population throughout the year, regardless of places of residence. The growing need of the organism at different periods of life (puberty, pregnancy, breastfeeding, aging), various diseases, drug therapy, the period of convalescence, stress, the use of various diets, enrichment of the diet with polyunsaturated fatty acids and dietary fiber, religious observance, adverse environmental factors further increase the risk of multiple micronutrient deficiencies. Micronutrients (vitamins and essential minerals) are closely interconnected into complex metabolic networks, which provide maintaining homeostasis and health. Deficiency of each of the essential micronutrients is a risk factor for the development of a particular disease, and simultaneous multiple micronutrient deficiency creates a “causality network” of not just one, but several diseases at once. Conversely, an adequate or optimal sufficiency of the body with all micronutrients, respectively, creates a “network of conditions ensuring the prevention of the disease”, due to the full implementation of all processes dependent on them in the body. This means that replenishing inadequate food intake of scarce micronutrients is an important way to maintain health and longevity. Given the variety of vitamin-mineral supplements, it is important to choose the right supplement. The maximum effectiveness to maintain the body’s vitamin and mineral status at the optimum level will be ensured by the intake of not individual micronutrients, but vitamin and mineral supplements containing a complete set of vitamins in doses close to the physiological needs of the body and basic minerals (calcium, magnesium, zinc and iodine), the deficit of which is characteristic for the Russian population.