Vitamins are essential organic nutrients required in very small amounts for normal metabolism, growth and physical well-being. Most vitamins are not made in the body, or only in insufficient amounts, and are mainly obtained through food. When their intake is inadequate, vitamin deficiency disorders are the consequence. Vitamins are present in food in minute quantities compared to the macronutrients protein, carbohydrates and fat. The average adult in industrialized countries eats about 600g of food per day on a dry-weight basis, of which less than 1 gram consists of vitamins.
No single food contains all of the vitamins and, therefore, a balanced and varied diet is necessary for an adequate intake. Each of the 13 vitamins known today has specific functions in the body, which makes every one of them unique and irreplaceable. Vitamins are essential for life!
Of the 13 vitamins, 4 are fat-soluble, namely vitamins A, D, E and K. The other vitamins are water-soluble: vitamin C and the B-complex, consisting of vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, folic acid, biotin, pantothenic acid and niacin.
To learn more about vitamins, download the vitamin basics brochure or visit our vitamin basics website.
