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The History Of Vitamins

THE HISTORY, USE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF

VITAMINS AND NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENTS

A Vitamin is any organic compound required by the body in small amounts for metabolism, to

protect health, and for proper growth in children. Vitamins also assist in the formation of

hormones, blood cells, the chemicals of the nervous-system, and genetic material. The

various vitamins are not chemically related, and most differ in their physiological

actions. They generally act as catalysts, combining with proteins to create metabolically

active enzymes that in turn produce hundreds of important chemical reactions throughout the

body. Without vitamins, many of these reactions would slow down or stop. The intricate ways

in which vitamins act on the body, however, are still far from clear. The 13

well-identified vitamins are classified according to their ability to be absorbed in fat or

water. The fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K are generally consumed along with

fat-containing foods, and because they can be stored in the body's fat, they do not have to

be consumed every day. The water-soluble vitamins, the eight B vitamins and vitamin C,

cannot be stored and must be consumed frequently, preferably every day. The body can

manufacture only vitamin D, all others must be derived from the diet. Lack of them causes a

wide range of metabolic and other dysfunction's. In 21"the U.S., since 1940, the Food and

Nutrition Board of the National Research Council has published recommended dietary

allowances for vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients". Expressed in milligrams or

international units for adults and children of normal health, these recommendations are

useful guidelines not only for professionals in nutrition

(Pg 18) but also for the growing number of families and individuals who eat irregular meals and rely on prepared foods, many of which are now required to carry nutritional labeling.

A well-balanced diet...