The Daily Pill is a series of very short daily posts where I share the definition of a medical term I think we should all know. Read it every morning and build up your medical vocabulary.
Vitamins
Vitamins are organic compounds - meaning carbon based, that are crucial for overall well-being and health. Interestingly, vitamins do not fall into a single chemical category like alcohols or amino acids. Instead, they are classified as essential compounds - that’s a technical term that means they must be obtained from the diet (our bodies cannot produce them in sufficient amounts). They are also classified as micronutrients - a.k.a. needed in small quantities, unlike macronutrients such as proteins, carbs, and fats, which are needed in large amounts.
Each vitamin plays a specific role in maintaining health, supporting processes such as energy production, immune function, blood clotting, and cell growth and repair. There are 13 essential vitamins, including vitamins A, C, D, E, K, and the B-complex vitamins.
🤔Why you need to know:
Because deficiencies can occur and may require supplementation. Ensuring adequate vitamin intake is vital for maintaining health and preventing various diseases.
A multivitamin is in most people’s supplement list because they are cheap and they are a nice way to cover all your bases despite your diet.
Here is more on the subject:
🧠Trivia:
The global vitamin and supplement industry is a massive market, valued at over $150 billion in 2020. This industry has seen consistent growth due to increasing health consciousness and the rising demand for dietary supplements worldwide.