Difference Between Vitamins And Minerals

Difference Between Vitamins and Minerals

Jan 6, 2011 | By Laura Niedziocha

Everyone knows that vitamins and minerals are an essential part of a healthy diet. When part of a well-balanced diet, they provide the structure for a healthy, functioning body. You may be unaware that taking extra vitamins and minerals is unnecessary if you maintain a nutritious diet -- it may even be unsafe. You also may not know what differentiates vitamins from minerals.

Composition

Vitamins and minerals vary mostly in their composition. Vitamins are naturally occurring organic nutrients. Minerals are inorganic compounds and are smaller particles that come mostly from natural geological processes. This makes them much simpler than vitamins. Another difference in their composition lies with their solubility. Vitamins are either fat or water soluble, minerals are not.

Working Together

Any healthy and well-balanced diet assures that you are getting adequate vitamins and minerals. Although they are two different substances, many vitamins and minerals work together to maintain bodily processes. For instance, without vitamin D, calcium would not be able to promote proper bone growth.

Major Vitamins

Vitamins -- such as A, C, D, E, K and the B vitamins -- are given a letter and number to correlate with their function. Most vitamins facilitate processes inside your body. They aid in the absorption, digestion and metabolism of other nutrients. Other vitamins play more specialized roles, such as keeping your eyes and nerves functioning properly. Daily recommendations are different for each vitamin.

Major Minerals

Major minerals include calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and sulfur. Trace minerals such as chromium, iron, iodine, copper, selenium and zinc are needed in very small amounts in your diet. Minerals are responsible for maintaining the acid-base and electrolytic balance of your blood and cells. Other minerals have specialized roles; for example, calcium helps bone growth. Iron, a trace mineral, has the special job of maintaining healthy red blood cells.