When cells convert the calories from food into energy, a variety of B vitamins, vitamin C, iron, magnesium, zinc, and Q10 are needed. This also means that a deficiency in one or more of these substances can result in mental and physical fatigue to a greater or lesser extent. The impaired energy metabolism of the cells also increases the risk of mood swings, concentration difficulty, infections, and other diseases. Modern lifestyle, ageing processes, medications, and other factors cause serious deficiencies, but these deficiencies can be corrected with help from dietary changes and relevant supplements.

Fewer children have eczema around the age of 12 months if their mothers had higher levels of a particular B vitamin during pregnancy, according to a new study from the University of Southampton.

There is a trending global shift towards vegetarian or vegan diets. However, these diets come with a risk of lacking essential nutrients that are primarily found in animal food sources. According to a large meta-analysis of Western diets, one of them is iodine. Iodine deficiency is a worldwide problem and has serious consequences because of iodine’s vital role in the thyroid function, energy production, estrogen balance, fertility, and healthy pregnancy outcome.

- but is heavily overrated in energy beverages and breakfast cereals

Vitamin B6 is essential for the energy turnover, nervous system, hormone balance, and a number of other important functions. Vitamin B6 has been added to many energy beverages and breakfast cereals as an “energy booster” or a way of telling consumers that the product is healthy. But don’t be fooled. The same products often contain loads of sugar and caffeine, which burdens the blood sugar balance and the nervous system. It is therefore far better to get vitamin B6 by eating a balanced and healthy diet, possibly topped off with a supplement if necessary. Those who are likely to benefit from a supplement are strict vegetarians and vegans, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and seniors.