Vitamins, Minerals and Water

Abstract

Vitamins are organic compounds required in small amounts ( or µg, see Appendix 1) for the correct functioning of the body. They vary greatly in chemical structure and are not usually made in the body. They were discovered early in the twentieth century, when they were found to be responsible for various deficiency diseases, if they were not present in the diet. In recent times it has been possible to reduce the occurrence of deficiency diseases by more careful consideration of the diet. Vitamins can be divided into two main groups:

• (i) Fat soluble — these include the vitamins A, D, E and K, which can, because they dissolve in fat, be easily stored in the body. In extreme cases fat soluble vitamins can be stored to toxic levels, resulting in illness or even death.

• (ii) Water soluble — these include all the vitamins of the B group and vitamin C, which are less easily stored in the body, since excesses are excreted in the urine.

  Only the more important vitamins—A, B, C and D—are discussed in this chapter.