Vitamins

Micronutrients are vitamins and/or mineral substances required by the body for carrying out various normal bodily processes. These micronutrient deficiencies cannot be created by eating foods; they must be obtained through dietary sources.

Vitamins are organic compounds that are usually classified as either fat soluble (such as vitamin A) or as nonfat soluble (vitamin C). Fat-soluble nutrients (such as retinol, cholecalciferol, alpha-tocopherol, and vitamin K) dissolve in fats and usually accumulate in the body. Water-soluble nutrients (such as the B-complex group of nutrients, including folic acid, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, and choline), which include the B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12, and folates, must dissolve in water.

Vitamins are essential nutrients that support healthy living. They're needed by the body to function properly. Below we have listed the top 13 most important vitamins.

Vitamin A

There are two main types of vitamin A in the diet: preformed vitamin A (such as retinols) and provitamin A carotenoids (beta-carotenes). Preformed vitamins come from animal products, fortified food, and dietary supplements. Carotenoids are natural pigments found in plant foods. Other than beta-carotene, there are other kinds of carotenoids that aren't converted into retinol but have health-promotional properties. These include lycopene, Lutein, and Zeaxanthin.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an important vitamin for some animals including humans. Vitamin C includes several different types of vitamins that have vitamin C activity for humans. Some vitamin C supplements contain ascorbic acid (sodium acerbate) or dehydroascorbic acid (calcined ascorbic acid). They help break down fats into usable energy. Both acerbate and ascorbic acid are naturally present in the body. However, they don't stay there for long because they convert into each other depending on the pH level. Acerbate (vitamin C) is oxidized into dehydroascorbate (DHA). DHA is reduced back to acerbate by reducing agents.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D obtained from sunlight, foods, and supplements requires two hydroxylation steps before becoming active. The first hydroxymethylation, which takes place in the liver, converts vitamin D into 25-hydroxyvitamind (25(OH)D), also known as calcitriol. The second hydroxyl methylation takes place mainly in the kidneys and produces the biologically active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dioxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)(2)D), also known calcitriol.

Vitamin E

Alpha-tocopheol is the form of vitamin E used by the human body; however, there are several different types of vitamin E. The antioxidant properties help protect against free radical formation. They also enhance immunity and prevent blood clots from forming in the heart arteries. Free radicals were first discovered in the 1980s when researchers started to understand that they may be involved in the development of heart disease, cancer, and a number of other diseases. Vitamin E has the power to prevent cell damage caused by free radicals as well as reduce the creation of free radicals in some cases.

Vitamin K

There are two types of vitamins K: one is water-soluble, and the other is fat soluble. The main type is vitamin K2, which is present in green leafy veggies like collards, kale, and spinach, among others. Menaquinone (MK) is another name for vitamin K2. It’s found in some animal foods, including liver, egg yolks. Bacterial menaquinone production may also occur naturally within the human body.

Vitamin B1 (thiamine)

Thiamin (vitamine B1) is a water-solublue nutrient found naturally in some foodstuffs, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. Vitamin B1 (thiamin) helps maintain healthy nerves, muscles, heart, lungs, skin, eyes, and blood vessels. It also aids digestion and promotes proper metabolism. A daily intake of vitamin B1-rich foodstuffs is necessary for good health.

Vitamin B2

It's important for your body to get enough vitamin B2 because it's a soluble vitamin, meaning it dissolves in liquids. Vitamins are either water-soluble or fatty soluble. Vitamins that dissolve in water pass through the blood stream, and anything that isn't needed gets excreted via urination.

Vitamin B3 (niacin)

Vitamin B3, or niacin, is a water-soluble vitamin found naturally in some foodstuffs, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. There are two main types of niacin found in food and dietary supplement products: nicotinic acid (also known as vitamin B3) and nicotinamide (also known as vitamin PP). Niacin is water-soluble, which means that if you take too much, it won't stay in your blood for long.

Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)

Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) is naturally present in foods; it’s often found in fortified cereals, breads, meats, dairy products, and eggs. It’s also commonly Coenzyme A (Coa) is a type of enzyme that helps cells use energy from nutrients. Pantothenic Acid is found in a wide range of foods. Some bacteria in the intestine can produce vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) but not enough to meet daily requirements.

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)

Vitamin B6, which is also known as pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), is a natural substance that occurs in many foods, as part of some vitamins, and is added to others. It is an important cofactor for hundreds of different enzymes involved in metabolism, protein synthesis, DNA replication, cell division, neurotransmitter production, and hormone regulation.

Vitamin B7 (Biotin)

You might know vitamin B7 by its common name of biotin. Vitamin B12 is a fat-soluble vitamin that is found naturally in some foods (such as meat) and also in supplements. Biotin helps to assist certain types of digestive processes by breaking down foods into their basic components. It also regulates cell signaling and gene activity.

Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin)

Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient found in certain foods, added to others (such as milk), and available as a dietary supplements and a prescribed medication. Cobalamin (vitamin B12) has the ability to bind to cobalt ions, so compounds containing cobalamin are collectively called "cobalamins." Methionine and adenine are the biologically active forms of folate. These two forms, however, become biologically active only when they're metabolized into methylcobalamin or adenosylcobalamin (also known as "methyl folate").

Vitamin B9 (Folate)

Folate is the natural version of vitamin B9, and is used as a dietary supplementation. It is known to help prevent birth defects and neurological disorders, and is often given to pregnant women to reduce the risk of neural tube defects. It may also be helpful in preventing cancer and heart disease.

Vitamins - Frequently Asked Questions

What are vitamins?

Vitamins are organic chemicals that people need in small amounts. Vitamins usually need to be obtained through food because the body either cannot synthesize them or makes very little of them.

What are the 4 main vitamins?

These are the 4 main vitamins:

• Vitamin B
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin A

Why do we need vitamins?

Our bodies don't naturally produce all the vitamin we require; therefore, we must consume certain foods, or supplements to obtain them.

What vitamin do you need every day?

It's important to speak to your physician or nutritionist before beginning to use dietary supplements. They can help determine whether you need them, and they can also advise you on which ones to choose. You might be able to get advice from your pharmacist too. If you're taking prescription medication, your pharmacist can also let you know if there could be an interaction between the two.