ABSTRACT
Abstract .................................................................................................................. 104 Vitamin Beginnings................................................................................................ 104
Vitamin A and Provitamin A Carotenoids ......................................................... 106 Vitamin D .......................................................................................................... 107 Vitamin E .......................................................................................................... 108 Vitamin K .......................................................................................................... 109 Thiamin ............................................................................................................. 109 Riboflavin .......................................................................................................... 109 Niacin ................................................................................................................ 110 Pantothenic Acid ............................................................................................... 111 Vitamin B6 ......................................................................................................... 111 Biotin ................................................................................................................. 112 Folacin ............................................................................................................... 112 Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)................................................................................... 113 Vitamin C .......................................................................................................... 114
Minerals Are Not Just Rocks ................................................................................. 114 Calcium ............................................................................................................. 115 Phosphorus ........................................................................................................ 116 Magnesium ........................................................................................................ 117 Sodium .............................................................................................................. 118 Potassium .......................................................................................................... 118 Chloride ............................................................................................................. 119 Iron .................................................................................................................... 119 Copper ............................................................................................................... 120 Zinc ................................................................................................................... 121 Manganese ......................................................................................................... 122 Iodine................................................................................................................. 122 Fluoride ............................................................................................................. 123 Molybdenum ..................................................................................................... 123 Selenium ............................................................................................................ 123 Chromium .........................................................................................................124
Conclusions and Study Topics ...............................................................................124 Note ........................................................................................................................ 125 Bibliography .......................................................................................................... 125
The history of the discovery of vitamins and essential minerals has been reviewed, including particularly significant findings from the seventeenth to the late twentieth century. Current knowledge of functions, absorption, metabolism, and dietary sources of 4 fat-soluble vitamins, 9 water-soluble vitamins, and 15 mineral elements required by humans and many animals is included. Quantitative requirements for these nutrients at various ages, physiological states, levels of physical activity, and environmental circumstances are regularly revised based on new data. Ranges of currently recommended allowances for these nutrients in human diets are presented.
