Vitamin B3 is also vital to healthy digestive and nervous systems. The human body needs thirteen different vitamins, each one is described briefly below, along with a list of foods containing the vitamin. Vitamin D is made by our skin from sunlight and is also found in small amounts in some foods.

This is not just because of the dairy, but because the tannins in tea bind to iron and block its absorption. This is mainly owing to women losing up to 250mg of iron during their monthly period. For information on how to reference correctly please see our page on referencing. Use the tab key or shift plus tab keys to move between the menu items. Staying in the sun for prolonged periods without the protection of sunscreen increases the risk of skin cancer. In Scotland, 10 to 15 minutes of unprotected sun exposure is safe for all.

However, you can also add vitamin powders to shakes and smoothies to cover all bases. We offer a range of single vitamin supplements, such as Vitamin D, or multivitamin combinations, so you can tailor your supplements to your personal requirements. Unlike fat-soluble vitamins, you need to consume water-soluble vitamins more often. Your body can’t store these for future use and gets rid of any excess when you pass urine.

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‘Taking vitamin D supplements in winter is definitely a good idea,’ says Dr Guyomar. This is because the reduced sunlight during winter increases our risk of vitamin D deficiency. Three of the four trials in this review article investigated the potential role of vitamin E in treating rheumatoid arthritis, while the fourth studied the effectiveness of selenium ACE treatment.

• In the UK The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health estimates that up to 25% of UK children are Vitamin D deficient.
• Nicotinic acid helps to lower LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol, while nicotinamide helps increase niacin levels if you’re deficient.
• Vitamins can be found in foods or can be produced in laboratories .

Learn what vitamins your body needs, their roles, and how to check for vitamin deficiencies. We aim to give people access to reliable science-based information to support anyone on their journey towards a healthy, sustainable diet. In this section you can read about the roles of vitamins and minerals in the body and the foods that provide them in the diet. Vegans and vegetarians, children aged 6 months to 4 years, and people with health conditions that involve loss of blood are also at higher risk.

If you are trying to get pregnant, you can start taking this supplement once you stop using contraception. People with B12 deficiencies usually also need a regular vitamin supplement. Results of this trial were given a lower weighting when we came to our conclusion about the compound. UK monkeypox alert as health chiefs detect another FOUR cases of killer virus with NO links to Africa – as… Our bodies can’t break down phytates, meaning minerals bound to them won’t be properly absorbed. ‘Studies show we absorb around 99 per cent of vitamin C taken as a single supplement but less than 50 per cent when in a multivitamin,’ says pharmacist Aidan Goggins.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 has a complex molecular structure and cannot be synthesized by plants or animals. It is vital in supporting rapid cell division and growth, such as in infancy and pregnancy. Folic acid also plays an important part in the fertility of both men and women. Folic acid is also used to produce healthy red blood cells preventing anaemia. Vitamin B2 or Riboflavin helps to keep the skin and eyes healthy and is also important for the production of steroids and red blood cells in the body.

Bacteria in your gut also produce some vitamin K that your body can absorb. Vitamin K is required for the modification of proteins in food and also for blood clotting and probably for development of strong, healthy bones. Vitamin K may help protect the body from contracting serious illnesses like heart disease and cancer. Furthermore, Vitamin K may help in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. vitamins are essential nutrients that enable your body to work properly and to stay healthy. Most vitamins are in your food, or you can get them from vitamin supplements.

If you’re vegan, you should consider taking a B vitamin supplement to reduce the risk of developing vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia. Given the uncertainty of consistent sunshine in Scotland and the risks of exposing infants 0-6 months to the sun, it may be advisable for pregnant and lactating women to take a daily supplement throughout the year. Many people go over their daily intake just by eating these types of foods alone.