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Why are vitamins and minerals called micronutrients?

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A woman with curly hair and a handbag shops at a busy outdoor farmer's market in Bulgaria, surrounded by stalls filled with fresh fruits and vegetables. — nutrition Vegetables are an important part of a balanced diet.

Vitamins and minerals are classified as micronutrients because they are required by the body in relatively small amounts compared to macronutrients like carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins.1

While macronutrients are consumed in large quantities to provide the body with fuel and raw materials for tissue maintenance, micronutrients are not sources of energy themselves. Instead, they play a vital role in facilitating essential metabolic processes throughout the body. For example, minerals function as electrolytes to regulate fluid balance, serve as components of enzyme systems, and contribute to the structural integrity of bones and teeth.12

Because they are needed in such small quantities—often measured in milligrams or micrograms per day—they are distinguished from the bulk nutrients that make up the majority of our daily dietary intake.21