Vitamins and Minerals Health Channel

	Feature Article Illustrations for this article Click on an image below to enlarge Fruits and vegetables Vitamins Definition Vitamins are a group of substances essential for normal cell function, growth and development. There are 13 essential vitamins. That means they are needed for the body to function. They are: Vitamin A Vitamin C Vitamin D Vitamin E Vitamin K Vitamin B1 (thiamine) Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) Vitamin B3 (niacin) Pantothenic acid Biotin Vitamin B6 Vitamin B12 Folate (folic acid) Vitamins are grouped into two categories: Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the body's fatty tissue. Water-soluble vitamins must be used by the body right away. Any left over water-soluble vitamins leave the body through the urine. Vitamin B12 is the only water-soluble vitamin that can be stored in the liver for many years. Function Each vitamin has specific functions. You can develop health problems (deficiency disease) if you do not get enough of a particular vitamin. Vitamin A helps in the formation and maintenance of healthy teeth, bones, soft tissue, mucous membranes, and skin. Vitamin B6 is also known as pyridoxine. The more protein a person eats, the more vitamin B6 is needed to help the body use the protein. Vitamin B6 helps form red blood cells and maintain brain function, among other things. Vitamin B12, like the other B vitamins, is important for metabolism. It also helps form red blood cells and maintain the central nervous system. Continue reading this article

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Vitamin C (3 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that is necessary for normal growth and development. Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water. The body cannot store them. Leftover amounts of the vitamin leave the body through the urine. That means you need a continuous supply of such vitamins in your diet. Reviewer: William McGee, M.D., M.H.A., Assistant Professor of Medicine and Surgery, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, and Chairman, Nutrition Committee, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 01/02/2007
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Vitamin K (2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in blood clotting. The body can store fat-soluble vitamins in fatty tissue. Reviewer: William McGee, M.D., M.H.A., Assistant Professor of Medicine and Surgery, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, and Chairman, Nutrition Committee, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 01/02/2007
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Vitamin A (2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin. Reviewer: William McGee, M.D., M.H.A., Assistant Professor of Medicine and Surgery, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, and Chairman, Nutrition Committee, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 01/02/2007
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Vitamin E (2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that acts as an antioxidant. Reviewer: William McGee, M.D., M.H.A., Assistant Professor of Medicine and Surgery, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, and Chairman, Nutrition Committee, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 01/02/2007
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Vitamin B12 (2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin. Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water. After the body uses these vitamins, leftover amounts leave the body through the urine. Typically, water-soluble vitamins can not be stored by the body. Vitamin B12 is special, because the body can store it for years in the liver. Because of this, a vitamin B12 deficience is very rare. Reviewer: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: Greg Juhn, M.T.P.W., David R. Eltz, Kelli A. Stacy. Previously reviewed by William McGee, M.D., M.H.A., Assistant Professor of Medicine and Surgery, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, and Chairman, Nutrition Committee, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. (1/2/2007)Date: 05/03/2007
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Folic acid (folate) (2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Folic acid is a type of B vitamin. It is water-soluble, which means it cannot be stored in the body. Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water. Leftover amounts of the vitamin leave the body through the urine. That means you need a continuous supply of the vitamin in your diet. Reviewer: William McGee, M.D., M.H.A., Assistant Professor of Medicine and Surgery, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, and Chairman, Nutrition Committee, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 01/02/2007
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Thiamine (2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Thiamine is one of the B vitamins, a group of water-soluble vitamins that participate in many of the chemical reactions in the body. Reviewer: William McGee, M.D., M.H.A., Assistant Professor of Medicine and Surgery, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, and Chairman, Nutrition Committee, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 01/02/2007
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Riboflavin (2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Riboflavin is a type of B vitamin. It is water soluble, which means it is not stored in the body. You must replenish the vitamin every day. Reviewer: William McGee, M.D., M.H.A., Assistant Professor of Medicine and Surgery, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, and Chairman, Nutrition Committee, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 01/02/2007
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Niacin (3 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Niacin is a type of B vitamin. It is water-soluble, which means it is not stored in the body. Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water. Leftover amounts of the vitamin leave the body through the urine. That means you need a continuous supply of such vitamins in your diet. Reviewer: William McGee, M.D., M.H.A., Assistant Professor of Medicine and Surgery, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, and Chairman, Nutrition Committee, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 01/02/2007
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Multiple vitamin overdose (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Multiple vitamin overdose occurs when someone accidentally or intentionally takes more than the normal or recommended amount of multivitamin supplements. Reviewer: Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 10/29/2007
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Chromium in diet (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Chromium is an essential mineral that is not made by the body and must be obtained from the diet. Reviewer: William McGee, M.D., M.H.A., Assistant Professor of Medicine and Surgery, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, and Chairman, Nutrition Committee, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 01/02/2007
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Magnesium in diet (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Magnesium is an essential mineral for human nutrition. Reviewer: Patrika Tsai, MD, MPH, Assistant Clinical Professor, Pediatric GI, Hepatology, and Nutrition, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMedHealthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 02/27/2008
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Potassium in diet (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Potassium is a mineral¿involved in electrical and cellular body functions. In the body, potassium is classified as an electrolyte. Reviewer: William McGee, M.D., M.H.A., Assistant Professor of Medicine and Surgery, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, and Chairman, Nutrition Committee, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA. and Alice O'Connor, MS, RD, LDN, CNSD, Clinical Dietitian, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 03/02/2007
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Heart disease and vitamin E (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Vitamin E and heart disease; Tocopherol and heart disease Antioxidants such as vitamin E (also called tocopherol) protect cells in the body from oxidation. Oxidation is a process that leads to cell damage. It may play an important role in atherosc...Reviewer: Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 11/06/2006
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Balanced diet (3 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
A balanced diet means getting the right types and amounts of foods and drinks to supply nutrition and energy for maintaining body cells, tissues, and organs, and for supporting normal growth and development. Reviewer: Patrika Tsai, MD, MPH, Assistant Clinical Professor, Pediatric GI, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 02/27/2008
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Zinc in diet (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Zinc is an important trace mineral. This element is second only to iron in its concentration in the body. Reviewer: William McGee, MD, MHA, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Surgery, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, and Chairman, Nutrition Committee, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 01/02/2007
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25-hydroxy vitamin D test (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
The 25-hydroxy vitamin D test is the most accurate measure of the amount of vitamin D in the body. In the kidney, 25-hydroxy vitamin D changes into an active form (called 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D. The active form helps control blood levels of calcium and phosphate. This article discusses the blood test used to measure the amount of 25-hydroxy vitamin D. Reviewer: Robert Hurd, MD, Professor of Endocrinology, Department of Biology, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, and physician in the Primary Care Clinic, Cincinnati Veterans Administration Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 07/17/2007
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