Table 1.

Critical micronutrients for tumor patients (selection)

Micronutrient group (esp. antioxidants and immune modulators)	Substance
Vitamins	vitamin D, vitamin B12, vitamin C, tocopherols, carotenoids, vitamin A
Minerals and trace elements	selenium, zinc (e.g. head and neck cancer), iron, magnesium, calcium
Vitaminoids	L-carnitine (esp. cisplatin or ifosfamide therapy and fatigue syndrome)
Amino acids	L-cysteine, L-glutathione (GSH)
Essential fatty acids	omega-3 fatty acids (EPA, DHA) (esp. in cancer cachexia)
Micronutrients with low tissue storage capacity (SC)	vitamin Bl (SC 4–10 days); vitamin K (SC 2–6 weeks); vitamin B complex (esp. folie acid, vitamin B6), vitamin C and D (SC 2–4 months); vitamin E (SC 6–12 months)