Nutrient synergy: definition, evidence, and future directions

Jeremy R Townsend; Trevor O Kirby; Philip A Sapp; Adam M Gonzalez; Tess M Marshall; Ralph Esposito

doi:10.3389/fnut.2023.1279925

Nutrient synergy: definition, evidence, and future directions

Front Nutr. 2023 Oct 12:10:1279925. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1279925. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Jeremy R Townsend^{1

2}, Trevor O Kirby¹, Philip A Sapp¹, Adam M Gonzalez³, Tess M Marshall¹, Ralph Esposito^{1

4}

Affiliations

¹ Research, Nutrition, and Innovation, Athletic Greens International, Carson City, NV, United States.
² Health & Human Performance, Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, IL, United States.
³ Department of Allied Health and Kinesiology, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, United States.
⁴ Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health, New York University-Steinhardt, New York, NY, United States.

Abstract

Nutrient synergy refers to the concept that the combined effects of two or more nutrients working together have a greater physiological impact on the body than when each nutrient is consumed individually. While nutrition science traditionally focuses on isolating single nutrients to study their effects, it is recognized that nutrients interact in complex ways, and their combined consumption can lead to additive effects. Additionally, the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) provide guidelines to prevent nutrient deficiencies and excessive intake but are not designed to assess the potential synergistic effects of consuming nutrients together. Even the term synergy is often applied in different manners depending on the scientific discipline. Considering these issues, the aim of this narrative review is to investigate the potential health benefits of consuming different nutrients and nutrient supplements in combination, a concept we define as nutrient synergy, which has gained considerable attention for its impact on overall well-being. We will examine how nutrient synergy affects major bodily systems, influencing systemic health. Additionally, we will address the challenges associated with promoting and conducting research on this topic, while proposing potential solutions to enhance the quality and quantity of scientific literature on nutrient synergy.

Keywords: micronutrients; minerals; phytonutrients; polyphenols; potentiation; supplementation; synergy; vitamins.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. Open access publication fees were paid by the Athletic Greens International. The funder was not involved in the study design, collection, analysis, interpretation of data, the writing of this article or the decision to submit it for publication.