Micronutrients and non-nutritive health-promoting factors
Micronutrients are those elements that we require in very small quantities for a variety of biological functions . The full range of micronutrients encompasses vitamins and trace elements. A balanced diet of all required nutrients, including micronutrients, is the difference between achieving food security (getting enough calories) and nutrition security (ensuring a sufficient intake of all nutrients for optimal health).
Micronutrient fertilization can enhance the presence of non-nutritive health-promoting factors like anti-oxidants in crops. Some of the best known of these substances are flavonoids, isoprenoids (such as lycopene and carotene), isoflavones and carotenoids (like lutein).
One of the challenges related to micronutrient intake is the relatively small margin of error between beneficial and toxic application rates. This is a challenge both for micronutrient fertilization and for the use of dietary supplements, especially when people self-medicate.
Further reading
Bell, R.W. and B. Dell (2008) Micronutrients for Sustainable Food, Feed, Fibre and Bioenergy Production . International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA): Paris, France.
IFA (2007) “ How Can the Fertilizer Industry Contribute to the Nutrition Security Challenge through Micronutrient Applications? ”
IPNI and CSA-SSA-ASA (2002) Proceedings of the symposium: “ Fertilizing Crops for Functional Foods ” held in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA: 11 November 2002.