Complémentation ou supplémentation en oligo-éléments : qui, pourquoi, comment ?

Trace elements (TE) are essential for biological and physiological functions. They come from food or artificial nutrition. Maintaining or restoring an optimal status is an objective that participates in the nutritional prevention of chronic pathologies. In the hospitalized patient, detecting and fighting deficits will promote faster recovery and reduce infectious complications. In the case of deficient dietary intakes which cannot be corrected by the one nutrition or artificial feeding, the use of suitable trace element supplements is essential. This review presents the main causes and consequences of trace element deficiencies in the general population and in hospital patient, as well as the biological and clinical markers of these deficits. It provides, on the basis of the current recommendations, a practical overview of the conditions for complementation or repletion by oral, enteral or parenteral route, avoiding toxicity with proposals for diagnostic methods and therapeutic interventions.