Essential Vitamins and Minerals for Health

The basic substances that our bodies need to grow and function normally are vitamins and minerals. A, C, D, E, and K are recognized vitamins, and B vitamins include: thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxal (B6), cobalamin (B12), biotin, and folate/folic acid. For health, a variety of minerals are essential: calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chloride, magnesium, selenium.

'Vitamin means' essential to life.