Vitamin and mineral supplements are frequently used by competitive and recreational athletes. Dietary deficiencies of most vitamins are not very common among athletes except in those who restrict their food intake in order to maintain body weight. Vitamins most likely to be deficient in the diet are folate, B,, B,,, and E. Biochemical evidence of vitamin deficiencies in some athletes have been reported for thiamine, riboflavin, and B,. When the diet is deficient, vitamin supplements may improve performance but are not likely to be effective if the dietary intake is adequate. Some female athletes' diets are low in calcium, iron, and zinc. Low calcium intake may reduce peak bone mass in young women. Iron deficiency may impair performance and needs to be corrected with an iron supplement. Zinc supplements that exceed the RDA interfere with the absorption of copper and lower HDLcholesterol.The use of vitamin and mineral supplements by athletes is widespread, especially in the United States. According to recent surveys of supplement use among athletes, more than 50% of elite women distance runners, nonelite women marathon runners and triathletes, and Ironman triathletes of both sexes consume vitamin and mineral supplements regularly (22,32,76,109,164). Thirty percent of nonelite men competing in marathons and triathlons report daily use of vitamin and mineral supplements (109, 164). Use of vitamin supplements is also prevalent among high school and college athletes-56% of males and 33% of females (1 18 In competitive events where the difference between winning and losing is measured in seconds or even a fraction of a second, poor nutrition could have a negative effect. Many athletes take vitamin and mineral supplements to ensure adequate nutrient intake. Other athletes believe that certain vitamins or minerals have ergogenic properties that will improve performance. In this review we will examine whether athletes need additional vitamins and minerals. There are three primary reasons why supplementing the diet with specific vitamins and/or minerals might be beneficial to athletes: (a) The athlete's diet is deficient in one or Emily M. Haymes is with the