Abstract
Vitamins are chemical compounds that the body uses in a variety of ways. We need to get vitamins from our diet because we can't make them in the body. There are 13 different vitamins that have been identified as important nutrients for humans.
Original publication date December 2006 (https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-fy890-2006). This update with Wendy Dahl is from April 2012, with minor revisions May 2015 and October 2018.
References
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Institute of Medicine 2000. Dietary reference intakes for the antioxidant nutrients: vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, and carotenoids. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US) National Academy of Sciences.
Institute of Medicine. 2011. Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US) National Academy of Sciences.