Micronutrients like magnesium, vitamin K, and calcium are essential for metabolic pathways that are important for both short-term survival and long-term health. However, micronutrient deficiencies are very common in the United States and can affect the body's ability to adequately perform essential processes, including those that mitigate aging. The triage theory proposes that the body prioritizes micronutrients for metabolic processes that are necessary for short-term survival, leaving those that are important for long-term health at risk.