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Vitamins and minerals, although only accounting for a small amount (measured in mg), play a very important role in the body’s activities. They act as catalysts in biochemical reactions, from metabolism to building the immune system in the body. They play a particularly important role in energy production, maintaining the body’s vital functions. Therefore, supplementing vitamins and minerals is extremely necessary.
The emergence of vitamins
In 1905, the English scientist named William Fletcher became the first person to determine that removing certain factors, called vitamins, from food would lead to disease. Dr. Fletcher discovered this while studying the cause of Beriberi disease. Eating rice from unpolished rice seemed to prevent Beriberi disease, while eating rice cooked from polished rice did not. Therefore, Fletcher suspected that there were special nutrients contained in the bran of rice that played a role.
In 1906, the English biochemist Frederick Gowland Hopkins also discovered that some food factors are important for health. In 1912, the Polish scientist Cashmir Funk named the special nutritional components of food “vitamine”. According to Latin, “vita” means “life” and “amine” is the essential chemical component for life. Vitamine were later shortened to vitamins.
Origin and classification of vitamins
The human body cannot synthesize vitamins on its own but absorbs them through natural foods, sunlight…
Fat-soluble vitamins:
- Vitamin A: Essential for vision and immune function.
- Vitamin D: Very important for bone health and calcium absorption.
- Vitamin E: An antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage.
- Vitamin K: Important for blood clotting.
Soluble in fat, these vitamins can be stored in the body’s fat tissues and liver. Therefore, they do not need to be consumed daily, but it is necessary to maintain regular intake to avoid deficiencies.
Water-soluble vitamins:
These vitamins are soluble in water and are usually not stored in the body.
- Vitamin C: Important for collagen formation, wound healing and antioxidant.
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): Supports energy production form carbohydrates.
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): Essential for energy production and fat metabolism.
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin): Important for DNA repair and energy production.
- Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid): Essential for coenzyme A synthesis.
- Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine): Helps metabolize amino acids.
- Vitamin B7 (Biotin): Important for fat and carbohydrate metabolism.
- Vitamin B9 (Folic acid): Very important for DNA synthesis and cell division.
- Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin): Essential for nerve function and red blood cell formation.
Since water-soluble vitamins are not stored in the body, they need to be consumed regularly in the diet. Among these, while most water-soluble vitamins function through their related coenzymes, only one type of fat-soluble vitamin is Vitamin K, identified to act as a coenzyme.