GLOSSARY

Multivitamin–Mineral Supplement (MVM) combines several vitamins and minerals in product-dependent amounts and ratios that require label review.

Alongside separate iron or vitamin products, check duplication; a longer ingredient list is not necessarily more appropriate.

Multivitamins have no universal formula, and mineral versions add mineral ingredients; some products also contain herbs or stimulants. Read label percentages with units and servings rather than assume adequacy or necessity for everyone. Supplements do not replace food energy, fibre or protein. Selection should address a defined gap and account for other products instead of judging quality by the ingredient count.

Check supplement amount per serving, daily servings and units; a vitamin name alone does not specify exposure. Combining a multivitamin, single-vitamin product and fortified drink requires adding their contributions. Therapeutic doses for defined conditions cannot automatically become routine prevention for healthy athletes, and larger package numbers do not establish better outcomes.

Nutrient interactions may occur during absorption or later function. C's effect on non-haem iron and folate-B12 pathway dependence are different mechanisms. A large supplement can also change the balance. Varied ordinary meals are usually practical; the existence of an interaction does not mean every nutrient must be separated in time or consumed together at high doses.

A varied food pattern is more useful than reliance on one food or capsule. Fruit, vegetables, grains, pulses, dairy or fortified alternatives and protein foods make different contributions. Long-term exclusions, very low energy intake, travel and restricted access can create gaps in sports diets; food records help identify which sources are actually missing.

High intake, increased stores and toxicity are not identical. Risk depends on vitamin, chemical form, amount, duration and underlying conditions. Overlapping supplements, fortified drinks and pre-workout products can supply the same substance repeatedly. Add contributions from all sources rather than evaluating each package's dose separately or assuming that more products improve coverage.

Correcting a confirmed deficiency can restore normal function, but improvement in deficient people does not establish benefit for adequately supplied athletes. Sleep, energy intake, training and illness also need consideration. These descriptions explain forms and sources; treatment choices, especially with medication or underlying disease, remain dependent on individual assessment rather than extrapolation from a general example.