Vitamins are organic molecules, even in small quantities, are essential for the proper functioning of our body. No single food contains them all, but all provide some.
1. What are they?
Vitamins are organic molecules essential for the proper functioning of our body.
The vast majority of vitamins are essential nutrients needed in small quantities, but must be made through a rich and balanced diet because our body can not synthesize them.
However, there are exceptions, such as vitamin D, which is formed in the skin of niacin or nicotinic acid, formed in liver from an essential amino acid (tryptophan) and vitamin K synthesized by bacteria from the intestinal flora.
2. Functions of vitamins
Vitamins are not used as fuel and provide no energy. However, their presence is essential for the agency to adopt and utilize the energy it needs and to provide other nutrients in the diet as carbohydrates, lipids and proteins.
In addition, vitamins help regulate the nervous system, as well as processes involved in formation of genetic material, protein, red blood cells and hormones.
The lack thereof may cause complex disorders and diseases, most of which are corrected with an adequate supply of them.