Vitamin Knowledge

Vitamins are organic molecules essential for proper metabolic function that cannot be synthesized in sufficient quantities for survival and must be obtained through the diet.

Vitamins have diverse biochemical functions, acting as enzyme cofactors or precursors, antioxidants, or regulators of growth and differentiation.

There are 13 major vitamins, and most are not single molecules but groups of related molecules called vitamers.

The term vitamin does not include minerals, essential fatty acids, and essential amino acids.

Both deficient and excess intake of a vitamin can potentially cause clinically significant illness.

All vitamins were discovered between 1913 and 1948, and commercially produced vitamin supplements became available in the 1950s.

Vitamins were actively promoted in articles and advertisements in the mid-20th century, leading to the term "vitamania."

Vitamins are classified as either water-soluble or fat-soluble, and there are four fat-soluble and nine water-soluble vitamins.

Anti-vitamins are chemical compounds that inhibit the absorption or actions of vitamins.

Vitamins are essential for fetal growth and childhood development, and remain essential for the healthy maintenance of the body throughout life.

Vitamins are obtained from the diet, but some are acquired by other means, such as microorganisms.Vitamins: Deficiencies, Excess Intake, Effects of Cooking, Recommended Levels, Supplementation, and Governmental Regulation

• The human body can produce some vitamins, but others must be obtained from food.
• Vitamin deficiencies can be primary (not getting enough in food) or secondary (due to underlying disorders or lifestyle factors).
• Deficiencies in vitamins A, D, B12, niacin, vitamin C, and folate can lead to various diseases.
• Some vitamins can be toxic at high levels, and excessive intake can occur from dietary supplements.
• Cooking can cause the loss of some vitamins, while making others more bioavailable.
• Recommended vitamin intake levels vary by country and organization.
• Dietary supplements may have benefits for certain health conditions but can also have unwanted effects.
• Governmental regulation of dietary supplements varies by country.
• The naming of vitamins skips from E to K because some letters were reclassified or renamed.
• The missing B vitamins were reclassified or determined not to be vitamins.
• There is no consensus on the existence of some vitamins, and some substances once named as vitamins are now recognized as other substances.
• The table provides detailed information on recommended vitamin intake levels and tolerable upper intake levels.