Abstract
Provision of adequate amounts of vitamins and trace elements is indispensable for prevention of clinical deficiency states and simultaneously inadequate supply may lead to the important effects (metabolic disturbances, free radical damage, insufficient repair of tissue etc.). Adequate intake of vitamins and trace elements is necessary in general healthy population as well as in groups at the risk (elderly individuals, children) and in seriously ill patients in hospital with increased requirements for protein and energy.
All essential micronutrients (except of the some water soluble vitamins) could be toxic at high levels of intake and patients or healthy subjects should not take nutrient supplements unless they are clinically indicated.