What are Vitamins?

Vitamins are substances that the body needs to grow and develop normally, as they promote its proper functioning.

The body can produce some of the Vitamins it needs on its own, but most of them must be obtained through food.    

There are 13 Vitamins: Vitamin A (Retinol), Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine), Vitamin B8 (Biotin), Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid), Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin), Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Vitamin D (Calciferol), Vitamin E (Tocopherol), and Vitamin K (Quinone).

Vitamins are classified as water-soluble (soluble in water), which means that their residues are eliminated primarily through urine, and fat-soluble (soluble in lipids), these Vitamins are absorbed along with fats in the diet and stored in the liver and fatty tissues.

9 Vitamins are water-soluble (all the B complex and Vitamin C), and 4 are fat-soluble (Vitamins A, D, E, and K).

Each Vitamin has specific functions, so if you have low levels of any Vitamin (Hypovitaminosis), or total lack of it (Avitaminosis), this causes health problems. However, very high doses of some Vitamins (Hypervitaminosis) can also cause health problems.   

The best way to get the Vitamins you need is to maintain a balanced diet with varied foods and take a good multivitamin like Mega Multi.