Ph.D. | Product Development, Scientific Affairs, and Regulatory Compliance | Dietary Supplements, Ingredients and Health Education
To be classified as a vitamin, a compound generally must meet 5 key criteria: 1. Essentiality: The substance must be essential for normal physiological function (growth, repair and maintenance processes) 2. The body cannot synthesize the compound in adequate amounts to fulfill necessary growth maintenance and repair processes 3. Deficiency syndrome: The absence or deficiency of the substance leads to a specific deficiency disease or health disorder (oftentimes predictable but not always) 4. Organic Nature: Vitamins are organic compounds, meaning they contain carbon. This distinguishes them from inorganic minerals. However, vitamins are distinct from other organic compounds like macronutrients (protein, carbohydrate, fat) 5. Required in minute amounts: vitamin are required in small amounts to perform their functions. Unlike macronutrients, which are needed in larger amounts, vitamins are needed in much smaller amounts.
Good overview! Another criteria to help distinguish vitamins from from other nutrients and substances could be: Vitamins do not provide energy, unlike carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Also, could add vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) to this list. It is essential for the synthesis and metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. This vitamin is found in various foods, including meats, broccoli, avocados, and yogurt. Deficiency in B5 is rare but can lead to symptoms like fatigue, irritability, and numbness.
Good summary William Wallace, Ph.D. Vitamin D is probably the least similar to all other vitamins in that it’s primarily made by the body (synthesized in the skin through interaction with UV light) rather than solely obtained from the diet. Importantly, beyond its role in calcium / phosphate metabolism and bone health, Vitamin D also functions as a (pro)hormone with immunomodulatory effects. More info in this review: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/7/2097
Good ready reckoner to the Pharmacist. One more column to show with-which Antibiotics they should be avoided, would have been more helpful. 👍
Thanks for sharing. Check out Ty Beal’s publications for the most nutrient dense foods, also taking into account bioavailability.
So " vitamin " and " nutrient "definitions slightly different. A mineral is a nutrient because it is nutriment to the body, so is H2O, as is oxygen, nitrogen etc, also hormones anything I missed.
Very helpful!
B12 has a strong link with nerve health, I think that's also important
Good point!
Very informative
Vice President, Strategic Brand Sales & Marketing at Stauber
3wIs it time to split K1 and K2?