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The Role of Vitamins in the Body

Studies on the role of vitamins in the body dates back to the early 1700s when James Lind, an English physician, demonstrated that consuming fresh fruits, such as lemons, may prevent scurvy. Further studies revealed that scurvy occurs when there is a deficiency of vitamin C. The other vitamins such as A, B, D, E and K also prevent deficiency diseases. Moreover, vitamins help nourish your body, boost your immune system and facilitate metabolic processes such as digestion.

  1. Definition

    • Vitamins are organic (carbon-containing) substances that are required for normal body processes. Most vitamins are not synthesized by the body except for vitamin D, which is synthesized by your cells at small amounts, and vitamins B12 and K, which, according to Kenneth Todar, Ph.D. in the Online Textbook of Bacteriology, "is synthesized by the bacterial flora (good bacteria) in your gastrointestinal tract."

    Immune System Booster

    • The most apparent role of vitamins is in boosting the immune system to protect your body against infectious diseases, such as flu. Vitamins A and D, according to J. R. Mora and coresearchers, in an article published at the Nature Reviews Immunology journal, "have been shown to have an unexpected and crucial effect on the immune response." Furthermore, combining adequate intake of vitamins with exercise and other healthy habits (such as avoiding smoking), boosts your immunity against diseases.

    Enzyme Cofactor

    • Vitamins play an important role as cofactors in the metabolism or breakdown of foods and chemical substances such as fats, sugar and proteins in your body.
      Normally, enzymes facilitate your body's metabolic processes; however, without certain vitamins, the processes proceed so slowly that the metabolism becomes inefficient. For instance, lack of vitamin D may slow down bone development even though you consume enough calcium and phosphorus, which are the two common biomolecule requirements for bone growth.

    Preventing Deficiency Diseases

    • A deficiency disease refers to a health condition that occurs when you have a very low amount of a certain vitamin. The common deficiency diseases include scurvy, which occurs when you lack vitamin C, and blindness or eye disorders when you lack vitamin A. Vitamins play an important role in preventing deficiency diseases.

    Supplements

    • As supplements, vitamins help nourish your body in conditions when your body requires an increased amount of energy, which commonly happens during periods of growth, pregnancy, lactation, hard physical work, and other health conditions. For instance, as stated in the Familydoctor.org, "if you eat a vegetarian or vegan diet, your doctor may suggest that you take a vitamin B12 supplement."

      Other supplements that may be beneficial to you---depending on your current health condition---include Vitamin A for good eyesight, bone growth, and embryonic development; Vitamin D for calcium metabolism and bone development; Vitamins E and C to help boost your immune system and Vitamin K for your body's blood clotting mechanism.

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