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Review
. 2024 Sep 5;16(17):3008.
doi: 10.3390/nu16173008.

Is Micronutrient Supplementation Helpful in Supporting the Immune System during Prolonged, High-Intensity Physical Training?

Affiliations
Review

Is Micronutrient Supplementation Helpful in Supporting the Immune System during Prolonged, High-Intensity Physical Training?

Francesca Felice et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

It is well known that during prolonged, high-intensity physical training, athletes experience a state of immunosuppression and that balanced nutrition can help maintain immunity. This review summarizes the effects (amplified by virus infection) of high-intensity, long-term exercise on immunity, critically presenting key micronutrients and supplementation strategies that can influence athletes' performance and their immune system. The main conclusion is that micronutrient supplementation with diet could help to protect the immune system from the stress effects induced by intense physical activities. The importance of personalized supplementation has been also recommended.

Keywords: immune susceptibility; intensive exercise; micronutrients; nutrition; physical activity; sports nutrition.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Risk of illness in response to exercise: “J-shaped Curve”. Strenuous endurance exercise (>70–75% VO2max) increases the risk of illness; conversely, moderate physical activity decreases the risk of illness compared with sedentary individuals [9].

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