Vitamins & Minerals And Zinc

Micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals may be important factors in the prevention of chronic, age-related diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. Requirements for vitamins and minerals vary according to your age and health status. For personalized information on the vitamin and minerals that are appropriate for you, talk to your physician or a registered dietitian.

Vitamins

Vitamins are organic compounds required in small amounts for the health, growth and well-being of an organism. For the most part, vitamins cannot be manufactured by the body and must be supplied by outside dietary sources. Vitamin D and two of the B vitamins, pantothenic acid and biotin, are the exceptions to this rule, according to "The Encyclopedia of Vitamins, Minerals, and Supplements," and even these vitamins may not be produced by the body in adequate amounts for optimal health. Without enough of each of the 13 vitamins, deficiency diseases arise. Some, such as beriberi, caused by a lack of thiamine, can be fatal. Ask your physician which vitamins are appropriate for you.

Minerals

Like vitamins, minerals are essential nutrients required for the health, development and maintenance of an organism. However, they are inorganic elements rather than organic compounds, meaning that they originate in the earth. Minerals play a variety of roles in the body, including facilitating energy production and protein synthesis. Some, such as calcium, help give structure to the body. People obtain dietary minerals by drinking water from mineral-rich sources, by eating plants that absorb minerals from the earth and by eating animals that have consumed mineral-containing plants. Mineral supplements are not a substitute for qualified medical advice.

Zinc

The metal zinc is one of the dietary minerals required for human health. Important for normal cellular metabolism, zinc plays a role in fetal growth and development, wound healing, neurological functioning and the ability to taste and smell. The required daily amounts for zinc are 11 mg for men and 8 mg for women. Failure to get enough zinc in your diet can cause poor appetite, growth retardation and a compromised immune system. Fortunately, zinc deficiencies are rare in the United States. Excess zinc intake can result in severe gastrointestinal symptoms and headaches, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements of the National Institutes of Health. Do not use zinc supplements without consulting your physician first.

Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

Vitamins and minerals are but two types of the six essential nutrients. Water, protein, carbohydrate and lipids are the other types. These substances are equally important for good health. The Harvard School of Public Health advises that multivitamin supplements with added minerals can supply "nutritional insurance" when your diet is inadequate. Fancy brands and megadoses are not necessary. Eating a variety of healthy, nutrient-dense foods with an emphasis on fresh fruits and vegetables is preferable to relying on vitamin pills, which cannot duplicate the array of nutrients supplied by nature. Use vitamin and mineral supplements under your physician's supervision.