This article is meant as an introductory general overview and will not go into the details of vitamin activity. There is a great deal of talk about vitamins and the word vitamin is often used loosely. Herbs, minerals, and enzymes are not vitamins. It is important to make the distinctions between taking nutritional supplements that are comprised of vitamins only and those, which are more than a multivitamin in that they contain other ingredients. Please look for our upcoming articles on the history, actions and uses of selected vitamins, herbs, enzymes and minerals.

When was the term vitamin coined?

In 1911 the term vitamine was proposed by Funk as a contraction of the words vital and amine. Vitamin was initially spelled ending in "e" (vitamine) but that has now been dropped in favor of vitamin. This new term was to designate food constituents that were necessary for life. Vitamins were named via a letter system designating their order of discovery or description and starting with A. Vitamins may also be named as their chemical complement such as ascorbic acid for vitamin C or Thiamine for vitamin B1 (part of the B-complex group).

What is a vitamin?

Vitamins perform specific and vital functions in the tissues and sells of the body. They are organic compounds, which cannot be synthesized (made) by the organism (We do manufacture an inactive form of vitamins D but we need light to convert it to the active form; Our own friendly colon bacteria do synthesize vitamin K for us, but we require additional amounts from an outside source.) Inadequate absorption or absence of vitamins may result in specific diseases. As we have gained further knowledge of the vitamins, some such as vitamins A in D, are now actually classified as hormones (Hormones assist in regulation of body function.).

Are vitamins necessary?

Early symptoms of vitamin deficiencies often go unnoticed. Vitamins were first brought to recognition by certain diseases. These diseases were caused by an absence or low level of a particular vitamin. Our diets today are often deficient even in the Recommended Daily Allowance (a bare bones minimum needed to prevent "diseases of antiquity" and not to be confused with optimal daily recommendations). To compound the problem, we have found that our natural foods are containing lower concentrations of vitamins and minerals. This is felt to be due to a lack of replenishment of soil nutrients (soil depletion).

The roles of vitamins in metabolic processes are quite complicated and there is still much to learn. In 1913 the first fat-soluble vitamin, vitamin A., was recognized by McCollum and Davis at the University of Wisconsin and Osborne and Mendel at Yale.

Expensive urine? Should you take vitamin supplements?

When a chemical compound will fully dissolve in a fluid, that compound is said to be soluble in that fluid. Vitamins have been divided into two groups, fat-soluble and water-soluble. The storage of water-soluble vitamins in the body is minimal. It is therefore extremely important to maintain an adequate daily intake of these vitamins. Fat-soluble vitamins on the other hand can be stored to a large extent. Vitamin A. is stored in the liver and may last for up to six months. Vitamin D is also stored in the liver may be sufficient for one to two months without any additional intake. The fat-soluble vitamins include A., D., E and K. While vitamin K is fat-soluble, storage of this vitamin is relatively small. 

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