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Review
. 2020 Jan 16;12(1):228.
doi: 10.3390/nu12010228.

Vitamins and Minerals for Energy, Fatigue and Cognition: A Narrative Review of the Biochemical and Clinical Evidence

Anne-Laure Tardy  1 , Etienne Pouteau  1 , Daniel Marquez  2 , Cansu Yilmaz  3 , Andrew Scholey  4
Affiliations
Review

Vitamins and Minerals for Energy, Fatigue and Cognition: A Narrative Review of the Biochemical and Clinical Evidence

Anne-Laure Tardy et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Vitamins and minerals are essential to humans as they play essential roles in a variety of basic metabolic pathways that support fundamental cellular functions. In particular, their involvement in energy-yielding metabolism, DNA synthesis, oxygen transport, and neuronal functions makes them critical for brain and muscular function. These, in turn, translate into effects on cognitive and psychological processes, including mental and physical fatigue. This review is focused on B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B8, B9 and B12), vitamin C, iron, magnesium and zinc, which have recognized roles in these outcomes. It summarizes the biochemical bases and actions of these micronutrients at both the molecular and cellular levels and connects them with cognitive and psychological symptoms, as well as manifestations of fatigue that may occur when status or supplies of these micronutrients are not adequate.

Keywords: B vitamins; anemia; cognition; energy production; iron; magnesium; mental and physical fatigue; mood.; vitamin C; zinc.

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Conflict of interest statement

A.-L.T., E.P., D.M. and C.S., are current employees of Sanofi. AS has not received fees or funding in relation to this publication. However, he has received research funding and/or consultancy/travel/speaker fees from several government research councils and several food and pharmaceutical companies, including a 2013/14 research grant from Sanofi, which was unrelated to this publication.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Overview of the involvement of vitamins and minerals in the major pathways of cellular energy production. This figure displays a simplified scheme of energy metabolism. Briefly, macronutrients are oxidized (part A) into acetyl-CoA through several pathways including glycolysis, which produces pyruvate from glucose, and vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5 and C play important roles Then acetyl-CoA enters the citric acid cycle (part B), which generates energy as NADH and FADH2 through a series of eight oxidations that involve vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B8 and B12 as well as iron and magnesium. Finally, the electrons of NADH and FADH2 are transferred to the electron transport chain (part C), where they provide energy used to generate ATP molecules; this step needs the input of vitamins B2, B3, B5 and of iron.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Metabolic and functional interactions of vitamins B9, B12 and B6.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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