The effect of vitamin and mineral supplements and health foods on physical endurance and performance

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

A nutritionally-adequate diet is one that provides sufficient nutrients and energy to meet metabolic needs for optimal functioning of the body.Optimal nutrition is also necessary for the development and maintenance of top physical performance.Nutritional conditioning, like physical conditioning, is a continuous quest, not something to be practised I or 2 d before competition.Sports competitors often experiment with fad diets, protein supplements and megavitamin therapy in order to achieve the 'competitive edge'.There is, however, no conclusive evidence that such regimens improve performance.Nutrition has become a topic of interest, but much of the information is inadequate, inaccurate and filled with misconceptions.In order to investigate the effects of protein, mineral and vitamin supplementation as well as any positive effects of some health food products, the Swedish Sports Federation appointed an expert group which should:( I ) Evaluate the scientific findings on protein, vitamin and mineral requirements of different physical activities.(2) Evaluate the different scientific studies on various effects of protein, vitamin and mineral supplementation on physical capacity.(3) Evaluate the scientific literature on some health-food products and their effects on sport competitors.The report is entirely in Swedish and was presented in 1982 (Sveriges Riksidrottsforbund, 1982).The present paper is a summarized and updated version of the report.The chapter on protein is excluded and this presentation will mainly concentrate on ascorbic acid, vitamin E and iron as well as some health-food products. VitaminsThe purpose of this presentation is to review the research relevant to vitamin supplementation and human physical performance.The presentation emphasizes their potential physiological roles in relation to exercise metabolism and performance in competitions.More vitamins are taken in search of better performance and health than any other nutrients.This practice is followed in spite of the fact that very few scientifically-controlled studies have shown vitamin intake in excess of the recommendations to have any beneficial effects.Many clinical mineral and vitamin deficiencies are characterized by an impaired