In Germany, an adequate supply of vital substances (micronutrients) is possible through a wholesome diet, taking into account the recommendations of the German Nutrition Society (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung e. V. (DGE) are possible.
However, the general availability of a rich, wholesome food supply does not always guarantee an adequate individual vital substance supply.
An individual additional requirement for vital substances (micronutrients) can be caused by, among other things:
Biographical causes
- Biochemical individuality – genetically determined different equipment, e.g. with scavenger enzyme systems (radical-catching enzymes), which also means different sensitivity to noxae (e.g. alcohol, tobacco consumption, drugs); furthermore, e.g. genetically determined absorption, transport and enzyme defects or reduced synthesis (production) of enzymes etc., partly also acquired (e.g. due to illness). This different body chemistry leads to individual nutritional needs.
- Life phases
- Children/Adolescents
- Pregnancy/breastfeeding phase
- Age: malnutrition and malnutrition in old age.
- Unbalanced and insufficient food intake.
- Decreased enzyme activity
- Impaired membrane functions and transport processes
- Resorption disorders
Behavioral causes
- Diets – vegetarianism, veganism, raw foodists.
- Irregular eating and frequent skipping of meals.
- Unbalanced eating habits
- Intake of high amounts of energy from fat, protein, carbohydrates (especially simple sugars/sugars, etc.) and alcohol.
- Low intake of dietary fiber
- Disturbed acid-base balance
- Canteen food – not enough fresh fruits and vegetables and milk and dairy products, etc.
- Diets
- Reduction diet, separation diet, other diets.
- Fasting cures – total fasting (zero diet), modified fasting, etc.
- Stimulants – such as tobacco, alcohol, coffee, black tea.
- Professional and emotional stress
- For example, double burden of work and household
- Lack of sleep
- Competitive sports or heavy physical labor
Causes related to illness
- Resorption disorders due to food intolerances
- Fructose, lactose
- Resorption disorders due to chronic diseases of the digestive system.
- Stomach – gastritis, gastric resection, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
- Small intestine – acute and chronic enteritis, celiac disease (gluten-induced enteropathy), radiation enteritis, Crohn’s disease; small bowel resection.
- Large intestine – ulcerative colitis
- u. v. a. Diseases (especially chronic diseases).
Long-term drug use Environmental pollution – Intoxications (poisoning) The determination of the individual vital substance additional requirements is carried out by means of a vital substance analysis.
