Lopresti, A. L. (2020). The effects of psychological and environmental stress on micronutrient concentrations in the body: a review of the evidence. Advances in Nutrition, 11(1), 103-112.
In this review, the effects of physical and mental stress on micronutrient concentration in animals as well as human studies is summarised. The micronutrients magnesium, zinc, calcium, iron, and niacin are discussed most extensively. In short, it appears that both types of stress affect magnesium and zinc negatively and also have an effect on calcium and iron. Physical but not emotional stress resulted in elevated excretion of niacin metabolites, which was supported by only one study. More systematic research should be performed to validate these results and to eliminate the many variables that are present in the studies such as origin and intensity of stressors. Evident results may help in unraveling the complex association between stress and mental and physical disease and the role of micronutrients in this.