Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients the human body requires to function properly. Nutrient deficiencies can cause serious problems, some of which are irreversible. Adequate vitamin and mineral consumption is especially important for infants, children and pregnant and nursing women. Recommended intake levels for essential vitamins and minerals have been established by the Institute of Medicine's Food and Nutrition Board since the 1940s.
Deficiencies
When you don't consume enough vitamins and minerals in your diet or through supplementation, nutrient deficiencies can develop. Some deficiencies cause permanent problems and others can cause problems that are reversible. Iron, folic acid or vitamin B-12 deficiencies can result in anemia, which is most common in women, especially pregnant women, and children. Vitamin D deficiency can result in rickets -- especially in children -- and cause soft or weak bones. Iodine deficiency can lead to hypothyroidism, and is the leading preventable cause of mental retardation in babies, according to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Severe vitamin C deficiency can cause scurvy, and zinc deficiency can lead to stunted growth in children.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
According to the American Dietetic Association, important nutrients during pregnancy include iron, folic acid and calcium. Iodine is another important nutrient during pregnancy and breastfeeding. However, due to salt iodization programs iodine deficiency is not common in the United States or Canada. Due to increased iron requirements during pregnancy, iron-deficiency anemia is common without supplementation. Folic acid deficiency during pregnancy has been linked with neural tube defects in babies.
Vegetarianism
Vegetarian diets do not include meat; therefore, a vegetarian diet should be properly planned to help prevent nutrient deficiencies. Vegan diets omit eggs, dairy products or both. The American Dietetic Association notes that important nutrients for vegetarians and vegans include omega-3 fatty acids mainly found in fish, zinc, iron, iodine, calcium and vitamins B-12 and D. Iodine, calcium and vitamin D are most important for vegans who do not consume milk products. Supplementation may be necessary to help meet all vitamin and mineral requirements.
DRIs
The United States Department of Agriculture website provides Dietary Reference Intakes, or DRIs, established by the Food and Nutrition Board for all essential vitamins and minerals. DRIs include recommended dietary allowances or RDAs, adequate intakes or AIs, tolerable upper intake levels or ULs, and Estimated Average Requirements or EARs. EARs are nutrient level averages estimated to meet requirements of half of a healthy group of people. The Food and Nutrition Board has also developed DRIs specifically for older adults, water and electrolytes and macronutrients such as carbohydrates, protein and fat.
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