Español

The Linus Pauling Institute's Micronutrient Information Center (MIC) is a source for scientifically accurate information on the functions and health effects of all micronutrients (vitamins and nutritionally essential minerals); other nutrients like choline and essential fatty acids; dietary factors, including many phytochemicals (non-nutritive plant chemicals that may affect health); and some food and beverages, including tea, coffee, and alcohol. All of the nutrients and dietary factors included in the MIC may be obtained from the diet, and many are also available as dietary supplements; dietary and supplemental sources are discussed in each article.

Human research is emphasized in the MIC, although cell culture or animal studies may be mentioned when human studies are lacking. Most MIC articles have summaries at the beginning and include the following subsections: Function or Biological Activities, Metabolism and Bioavailability, Deficiency, The RDA or AI (for males and females of various age groups), Disease Prevention, Disease Treatment, Sources (food and supplements), and Safety (toxicity and drug or nutrient interactions). For the micronutrients (vitamins and essential minerals), the Linus Pauling Institute provides a daily intake recommendation.

For each article, Ph.D. nutrition scientists critically review and synthesize basic, clinical, and epidemiological studies in the peer-reviewed literature and provide references throughout. Each article is then additionally reviewed by an expert in the field; the names of the authors and reviewers are listed at the bottom of each article. This multiple review process minimizes bias and presents objective information.

In order to keep this website freely available (and free from ads), we rely on outside funding. This comes in part from corporate sponsorships. We provide information about corporate funders, if applicable, at the bottom of each article. We thank DSM Nutritional Products, LLC for providing general funding to develop content on health and disease topics. Financial sponsors do not have editorial control over the content on this website.

In addition to business sponsors, the Micronutrient Information Center is supported by your donations. If you value this website, please help by donating to LPI Outreach Education Fund.

We welcome your inquiries and feedback via email.

Journalists wishing to contact members of the Linus Pauling Institute can consult our media contact page. The Micronutrient Information Center staff can be contacted directly though email.