Home & Garden Information Center

Vitamins and Minerals Fact Sheets Series

Janis G. Hunter
Home & Garden Information Center

A new series of fact sheets is now available to answer your questions on specific vitamins and minerals, including: What are its food sources? Why is it needed in the diet? How much is needed daily? What happens if we get too much or don’t get enough of it? Should a supplement be taken?

Vitamins and minerals have specific and necessary roles in maintaining your health, but you need only tiny amounts of them in your diet. Eat a variety of foods from each of the food groups in order to get the amounts you need for optimal nutrition.

Vitamins are essential, non-caloric, organic nutrients found in foods. The two types of vitamins, fat-soluble and water-soluble, are classified by the materials in which they will dissolve. The fat-soluble vitamins are vitamins A, D, E and K, and the water-soluble vitamins are the B-complex group and vitamin C. Minerals are substances like calcium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc that are found in rocks and the soil.

To learn more about specific vitamins and minerals, refer to: HGIC 4065, Minerals; HGIC 4066, Iron; HGIC 4067, Calcium; HGIC 4068, Folate; HGIC 4069, Potassium; HGIC 4070, Sodium; HGIC 4071, Chromium; HGIC 4072, Fluoride; HGIC 4073, Zinc; HGIC 4074, Thiamin; HGIC 4075, Riboflavin; HGIC 4076, Niacin; HGIC 4077, Vitamin B6; HGIC 4078, Vitamin B12; HGIC 4079, Vitamin C; HGIC 4080, Vitamin A; HGIC 4081, Vitamin D; HGIC 4082, Vitamin E; and HGIC 4083, Vitamin K.

Page Last Updated: 20-Sep-2007