Vitamins

Vitamins are considered to be organic compounds that are required by organisms as a nutrient in limited amounts. Vitamins tend to be conditional for organisms, depending on their needs. As a result, vitamin C may be necessary for humans but not for animals. Most people are familiar with vitamins in the sense that they are very important for overall nutritional value and ensuring that the body is able to function properly. Vitamins are known for having diverse bio-chemical functions and some are known to have hormone-like functions, knowing for regulating mineral metabolism. Vitamins are defined as being either fat soluble or water soluble. There are 13 vitamins that are known in humans. These include vitamins A, D, E, K, C, and eight B vitamins. The first four vitamins are considered to be fat soluble, while the remaining 9 are water soluble. Vitamins that are water soluble are known to dissolve easily within the water and are excreted from the body within the urine. It is important to understand that vitamins are essential for the growth and development with a multicellular organisms. In example of this, a fetus immediately begins to absorb the nutrients that are coming from its parents. Vitamins are a large focus during this time and many doctors will recommend the use of prenatal vitamins in order to ensure that the fetus receives all of the nutrients that it needs in order to develop properly. Vitamins are generally obtained with the consumption of food. However, there are some which are gained by other means, such as having exposure to sunlight or vitamins being produced within intestines. Vitamin deficiencies are always a concern when people do not have access to proper nutrition or do not have properly balanced meals. It is important for individuals to consume vitamins regularly in order to ensure that they will not deal with a deficiency. Although it is possible to get enough vitamins from simply eating a regular diet, many people need to have supplements in order to ensure that they have been getting the required amount of vitamins that are necessary for proper function and optimal results. Although it is important to prevent vitamin deficiencies, sometimes it is possible to take too many vitamins. When someone has had too many vitamin dosages, it can begin to cause unexpected side effects and overdoses, which can provide uncomfortable results. Some side effects can involve vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and changing of the skin color. It is possible to also experience vitamin poisoning if the vitamins have been taken in too high of a dosage.