After years of observation, experiments, and trial and error, they were able to distinguish that some diseases were not caused by infections or toxins—a common belief at the time—but by vitamin deficiencies. Soon after, researchers determined specific amounts of vitamins needed to avoid diseases of deficiency.

The discovery of all vitamins occurred by Vitamins were obtained only from food until the s when commercially made supplements of certain vitamins became available.

The U. S government also began fortifying foods with specific nutrients to prevent deficiencies common at the time, such as adding iodine to salt to prevent goiter, and adding folic acid to grain products to reduce birth defects during pregnancy.

In the s, most vitamins and multivitamins were available for sale to the general public to prevent deficiencies, some receiving a good amount of marketing in popular magazines such as promoting cod liver oil containing vitamin D as bottled sunshine.

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Home Nutrition News What Should I Eat? References Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium, Phosphorous, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Fluoride ; Dietary Reference Intakes for Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and Choline ; Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, and Carotenoids ; Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc ; and Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D These reports may be accessed via www.

Semba RD. The discovery of the vitamins. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. Piro A, Tagarelli G, Lagonia P, Tagarelli A, Quattrone A. Casimir Funk: his discovery of the vitamins and their deficiency disorders.

Ann Nutr Metab. Loading Comments Email Required Name Required Website. Thiamin vitamin B1. Riboflavin vitamin B2. Niacin vitamin B3; nicotinic acid. The skin also produces vitamin D after direct sunlight exposure, but the use of sunscreen, poor skin absorption, and weak winter sunlight may work against the production of this important nutrient.

Another benefit of taking vitamins is that they may help improve brain function. It may also promote better mental health as other conditions like depression and anxiety may be due to nutrient deficiencies.

Just ensure to take quality vitamins only. B vitamins, such as riboflavin, thiamin, B6, B12, biotin, and folate collaborate with some enzymes in your body to metabolize energy from fats, carbohydrates, and protein.

Eating a healthy diet and staying physically active also help maintain a healthy metabolism, which are essential factors for your overall health and healthy aging. One of the benefits of taking vitamins is that it promotes healthier hair and skin.

Taking vitamins can do great things for your health and overall well-being. They can complement the nutrients you get from your food and bring you a step closer to your wellness and health goals. However, you can only reap those listed benefits above if you remember to take your vitamins regularly and combine them with a healthy balanced diet.

Posted on March 8, 11 Benefits of Taking Vitamins. Below are some of the many benefits of taking vitamins: 1. Promotes Healthy Aging As much as you want to stay young forever, nobody is exempted from aging.

Reduces Anxiety and Stress The minerals and vitamins in your daily multivitamins can significantly reduce levels of anxiety and stress.

Boosts Your Cardiovascular Health Specific vitamins, such as magnesium, C0Q10, and B vitamins, all contribute to a healthy cardiovascular system. Covers Your Nutritional Bases Everyone does their best to eat healthily, but other nutrients can be difficult to get from food alone.

Keeps Body in Good Working Order One of the best benefits of taking vitamins regularly is that it keeps the body in good working order. Improves Your Eyesight Taking particular vitamins has been known to support your eye health. Keeps Your Bones Strong You probably know that calcium is vital for healthy bones.

Aids Brain Function Another benefit of taking vitamins is that they may help improve brain function. Supports Healthy Metabolism B vitamins, such as riboflavin, thiamin, B6, B12, biotin, and folate collaborate with some enzymes in your body to metabolize energy from fats, carbohydrates, and protein.

Promotes Healthier Skin and Hair One of the benefits of taking vitamins is that it promotes healthier hair and skin. Conclusion Taking vitamins can do great things for your health and overall well-being. Our Awards From GHP Discover our entire library.

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If you had to check, you may want to…. Vitamins and other nutrients from whole foods have many health benefits. The same may not apply to synthetic nutrients from supplements. Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that plays many critical roles in the body. Learn about its many health benefits, symptoms of a deficiency, and….

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Vitamins are for athletes to stay healthy. You may get all you need from the food you eat. Some athletes may benefits from vitamin supplements. A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic? How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect.

Nutrition Evidence Based Do Multivitamins Work? The Surprising Truth. Medically reviewed by Alan Carter, Pharm. What they are Ingredients Heart disease Cancer Other benefits Downsides Recommendation Bottom line Comments.

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We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness. Read more about our vetting process. Was this helpful? What are multivitamins? What do multivitamins contain? Multivitamins and heart disease. Multivitamins and cancer.

Do multivitamins have any other health benefits? Multivitamins may be harmful in some cases. Should you take multivitamins? The bottom line. How we reviewed this article: Comments.

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Share this article. Evidence Based This article is based on scientific evidence, written by experts and fact checked by experts. related stories 8 Foods That Beat a Multivitamin.

Vitamin B6. Food Sources : Vitamin B6 is found in a wide variety of foods. The richest sources of vitamin B6 include fish, beef liver, potatoes and other starchy vegetables, and fruit other than citrus.

Vitamin B Food Sources : You can get this vitamin from meat, fish, poultry, milk, and fortified breakfast cereals. Some people over age 50 have trouble absorbing the vitamin B12 found naturally in foods. They may need to take vitamin B12 supplements and eat foods fortified with this vitamin.

Vitamin C. Food Sources : Fruits and vegetables are some of the best sources of vitamin C. Citrus fruits, tomatoes, and potatoes can be a large source of vitamin C. Food Sources : Calcium is a mineral that is important for strong bones and teeth, so there are special recommendations for older people who are at risk for bone loss.

You can get calcium from milk and other dairy, some forms of tofu, dark-green leafy vegetables, soybeans, canned sardines and salmon with bones, and calcium-fortified foods. Vitamin D. Food Sources : You can get vitamin D from fatty fish, fish liver oils, fortified milk and milk products, and fortified cereals.

Vitamin E. Food Sources : Vitamin E can be found in nuts like peanuts and almonds and can be found in vegetable oils, too. It can also be found in green vegetables, like broccoli and spinach.

Food Sources : Folate can be found in vegetables and fruit, such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, spinach, and oranges. It can also be found in nuts, beans, and peas. Vitamin K. Food Sources : Vitamin K can be found in many foods including green leafy vegetables, like spinach and kale and in some fruits, such as blueberries and figs.

It can also be found in cheese, eggs, and different meats. Food Sources : This mineral, generally, is found in foods containing dietary fiber, such as green leafy vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts and seeds. Breakfast cereals and other fortified foods often have added magnesium.

Magnesium is also present in tap, mineral, or bottled drinking water. Food Sources : Many different fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy foods contain potassium. Foods high in potassium include dried apricots, lentils, and potatoes. Adults get a lot of their potassium from milk, coffee, tea, and other nonalcoholic beverages.

Food Sources : Preparing your own meals at home without using a lot of processed foods or salt will allow you to control how much sodium you get. Office of Dietary Supplements National Institutes of Health ods nih. gov www. Vitamin C can then disarm the free radicals.

Antioxidants are able to neutralize marauders such as free radicals by giving up some of their own electrons. When a vitamin C or E molecule makes this sacrifice, it may allow a crucial protein, gene, or cell membrane to escape damage. This helps break a chain reaction that can affect many other cells.

Each of the nutrients that has antioxidant properties also has numerous other aspects and should be considered individually.

The context is also important—in some settings, for example, vitamin C is an antioxidant, and in others it can be a pro-oxidant. Articles and advertisements have touted antioxidants as a way to help slow aging, fend off heart disease, improve flagging vision, and curb cancer.

And laboratory studies and many large-scale observational trials the type that query people about their eating habits and supplement use and then track their disease patterns have noted benefits from diets rich in certain antioxidants and, in some cases, from antioxidant supplements.

But results from randomized controlled trials in which people are assigned to take specific nutrients or a placebo have failed to back up many of these claims. One study that pooled results from 68 randomized trials with over , participants found that people who were given vitamin E, beta carotene, and vitamin A had a higher risk of death than those who took a placebo.

There appeared to be no effect from vitamin C pills and a small reduction in mortality from selenium, but further research on these nutrients is needed. These findings suggest little overall benefit of the antioxidants in pill form.

On the other hand, many studies show that people who consume higher levels of these antioxidants in food have a lower risk of many diseases. The bottom line? Eating a healthy diet is the best way to get your antioxidants. Eating right to look and feel your best at every stage of your life.

Tips to help you and your family eat delicious, healthy food on a tight budget. How focusing on the experience of eating can improve your diet.

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Return Relationships. Return Aging Well. Return Handbook. Healthy Living Aging in Place Sleep Online Therapy. About Us Meet Our Team Our Story Jeanne Segal, Ph. Harvard Health Partnership Audio Meditations Newsletter. Are you getting the vitamins and minerals you need? Healthy Eating Vitamins and Minerals There so many different vitamins and mineral supplements available, it can feel overwhelming trying to decide what you should take.

In collaboration with Harvard Health. Copy Link Link copied! Download PDF. By Harvard Health. Essential nutrients for your body Micronutrients with a big role in the body A closer look at water-soluble vitamins A closer look at fat-soluble vitamins A closer look at major minerals A closer look at trace minerals A closer look at antioxidants.

Essential nutrients for your body Every day, your body produces skin, muscle, and bone. Micronutrients with a big role in the body Vitamins and minerals are often called micronutrients because your body needs only tiny amounts of them.

Here are a few examples of diseases that can result from vitamin deficiencies: Scurvy. Old-time sailors learned that living for months without fresh fruits or vegetables—the main sources of vitamin C—causes the bleeding gums and listlessness of scurvy.

In some developing countries, people still become blind from vitamin A deficiency. A deficiency in vitamin D can cause rickets, a condition marked by soft, weak bones that can lead to skeletal deformities such as bowed legs.

Partly to combat rickets, the U. has fortified milk with vitamin D since the s. Some examples of these benefits: Strong bones.