Vitamin-Mineral Supplement Enhances Aerobic Capacity and Endurance

Supplementation with a combination of vitamins and minerals including B vitamins, iron and vitamin C enhances aerobic capacity and endurance in children, a recent clinical trial has found.

Micronutrients are important in physical work capacity and performance, a fact reinforced by a new study that included 300 healthy children between seven and 10.5 years of age. The researchers placed the children into one of three treatment groups: chocolate-malt beverage powder fortified with 19 key vitamins and minerals; unfortified chocolate-malt beverage; or nothing in the control group. The study authors evaluated the children at the beginning of the study and again after 120 days of supplementation.

Researchers assessed the subjects for endurance and aerobic capacity using a 20-meter shuttle test and step test. Other physical performance measures included a 40-meter sprint, visual reaction time, maximal handgrip and forearm static endurance. Researchers also determined the subjects’ micronutrient status including thiamine (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), niacin (vitamin B3), folate, iron, pyridoxal phosphate (active form of vitamin B6), vitamin B12 and vitamin C.

Children receiving the micronutrient supplementation had significant improvement in aerobic capacity and endurance after 120 days compared to the assessment at the beginning of the study and compared to changes in the other two groups. In addition, the children in the micronutrient group significantly improved in the status of iron, thiamin, riboflavin, pyridoxal phosphate, folate, vitamin C and vitamin B12.

The study authors concluded that micronutrient supplementation may be beneficial in enhancing micronutrient status and aerobic capacity and endurance in children.

Reference:

Vaz M, Pauline M, Unni US, Parikh P, Thomas T, Bharathi AV, Avadhany S, Muthayya S, Mehra R, Kurpad AV. Micronutrient supplementation improves physical performance measures in Asian Indian school-age children. J Nutr. 2011 Nov;141(11):2017-23.