Vitamins and your health

Digestion is an important process in the body that serves our nutrition needs. Food that is consumed orally is broken down by the gastro-intestinal and hepato-biliary systems and taken up by the blood and delivered to tissues and organs to ensure optimal function. Our dietary needs are an intricate mix of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals. Each of these have an important role in ensuring a healthy body. An increase or decrease in any of these compounds will have dire consequences on our health. 

Here, we discuss the role of vitamins in meeting our body nutritional needs, and focus on the importance of vitamins in maintenance of our intestinal health.

What are vitamins?

Vitamins are organic molecules required for the normal functioning of the complex cellular processes in our body. We get most of our vitamins from consuming a balanced diet, which may include meats, cereals, grains, fruits, vegetables, etc.. In addition, the microbial flora in our bowels is responsible for absorbing vitamins for further metabolism by the liver and kidneys for instance.

The word vitamin was coined by a scientist named Casimir Funk in 1912 after identifying and isolating a substance in brown rice that was said to prevent Beri Beri. Subsequently, scientists were able to isolate various types of vitamins, as well as construct their chemical structures, study their biochemical nature and their physiologic effects on the body.
Based on that, vitamins are classified into six major categories- A, B-Complex, C, D, E and K.

Based on solubility, vitamins are also divided into fat or water soluble compounds. Vitamin A, D, E and K are fat soluble, while vitamin B complex and C are water soluble.

Fat soluble vitamins may be processed in the liver or kidney and transported within the blood vessels to be stored in various body tissues. Water soluble vitamins are easily absorbed and metabolized in the body and hence daily replenishment is required to meet the demands of the body.

The FDA recommends that individuals choose nutrient rich foods, limit consumption of trans fats and eat foods according to the physiological demands of the body.

Studies have shown that our gut microflora plays an essential role in respect to absorption of nutrients, including vitamins and minerals. Therefore, bowel diseases such as Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Celiac Disease, etc. may result in a deficient absorption of nutrients leading to vitamin deficiencies. Chronic use of antibiotics may also interfere with absorption and cause nutritional deficiencies due to changes on the gut flora.

Individuals who have an impaired absorption of nutrients may develop chronic diarrhea, steatorrhea (high amount of fat in the stool), and loss of protein, which may cause abnormal fluid accumulation in the body, termed edema, hair loss, infertility, anemia etc.. Vitamin  B₁₂ deficiency is common in individuals that suffer from malabsorption and chronic deficiency will ultimately affect the nervous system. Vitamin B₉ or Folic acid deficiency results in megaloblastic anemia and affects the development of the neural tube in a developing embryo. Vitamin C deficiency may cause scurvy, while bleeding defects are common with Vitamin K deficiencies.

What are multivitamins?

Most multivitamins are made of a combination of water and fat soluble vitamins and minerals.

Multivitamins are chemically processed compounds that are prepared commercially. These compounds are made by combining three or more vitamins along with minerals at levels lower than tolerable limits as determined by the FDA to meet the demands of the body. Various vitamin combinations are available and are designed to meet the daily allowances of individuals of all age groups. Multivitamins are recommended for individuals that suffer from intestinal conditions that interfere with absorption. Care should be taken to avoid consuming excess of supplements to avoid potential toxicity.

Other factors to ensure optimal health include regular consumption of probiotics to enhance the gut microflora, ensuring adequate amount of fiber is consumed, avoiding consumption of foods that are rich in carbohydrates or fats etc. Consumption of foods with large amounts of zinc or chronic use of antibiotics should be avoided as they destroy the normal intestinal microflora and may cause overgrowth of Clostridium difficile bacteria.

How do I know if I can trust on the label of a multivitamin?

As we know there are several products out there. You should be careful when choosing your multivitamins and research the company from which you may buy products.

Read more about Howto choose an optimal multivitamin

You don’t know which products you may need?

Take The True Health Assessment for free and learn which products are right for you.

Enter your email address:


We will send you an email. Please, confirm it to receive our newsletter.