[Micronutrient supplementation and its benefits: why and when?]

Introduction: micronutrients are involved in regulating cellular functions, maintaining an adequate physiological state and ensuring the proper functioning of the immune system. Objectives: to present a synthesis of the evidences supporting the use of micronutrient supplementation and the benefits of this strategy in clinical practice. Methods: a review of the literature was performed selecting studies of interest, primarily randomized controlled clinical trials, to analyze aspects related to micronutrient deficiencies and their clinical implications. Results: there are multiple factors or situations that can contribute to micronutrient deficiency, whether due to insufficient intake, increased requirements, altered metabolism or drug interactions. Unhealthy diets or lifestyle, stress, sleep deprivation, acute or chronic diseases and their pharmacological treatments are some of the most common factors. As a result, there is a negative impact on different domains of vital energy, physical resistance, mood, immune health and general well-being, which justifies micronutrient supplementation both in healthy and diseased populations. Conclusion: the optimal intake of micronutrients is a critical factor for maintaining overall health. Micronutrient supplementation is also indicated in healthy populations in the presence of situations that may contribute to a deficiency, whether due to insufficient intake, increased requirements, altered metabolism, or drug interactions.