Table 1 Micronutrient levels in serum/plasma before and after supplementation are shown

Vitamin C in plasma [μmol/L] N=31

61.22 ± 20.32

63.33 ± 12.0

45-80

n.s.

Vitamin A in plasma [μmol/L] N=35

2.21 ± 0.52

2.27 ± 0.40

> 1.05

n.s.

Vitamin E in plasma [μmol/L] N=31

36.55 ± 8.35

40.30 ± 8.68

> 16.2

p<0.05

α-Carotene in plasma [μmol/L] N=37

0.13 ± 0.12

0.15 ± 0.09

0.05–0.1

p<0.05

β-Carotene in plasma [μmol/L] N=35

0.58 ± 0.35

0.69 ± 0.47

0.3-0.6

p<0.01

Lutein in plasma [μmol/L] N=35

0.35 ± 0.16

0.40 ± 0.15

0.10–0.3

p<0.01

Lycopene in plasma [μmol/L] N=35

0.53 ± 0.22

0.45 ± 0.23

0.5–1.0

p<0.05

Vitamin B₁ in serum [mmol/L] N=33

155.52 ± 49.22

187.73 ± 32.89

66–200

p<0.001

Vitamin B₆ in serum [mmol/L] N= 32

83.72 ± 39.84

185.91 ± 65.56

35–110

p<0.001

Vitamin B₁₂ in plasma [pmol/L] N=30

349.37 ± 117.08

382.40 ± 125.73

141–489

p<0.05

Folic acid in plasma [nmol/L] N=30

21.06 ± 8.64

39.8 ± 5.87

7–39.7

p<0.001

Zinc in plasma [μmol/L] N=12♀ / N=18♂

11.34± 1.45♀ 11.36 ± 1.46♂

11.83 ± 1.54♀ 11.03± 1.49♂

9.0–22.0♀ 12.0–26.0♂

n.s.