Vitamins and minerals explained

31-minute read

What are vitamins and minerals?

Vitamins and minerals are needed to make your body work properly. Vitamins come from plants and animals, while minerals originally come from the earth.

Most people can get all the vitamins and minerals they need from the 5 food groups in a balanced diet. However, some groups in the community are more at risk of developing deficiencies.

Vitamins are found in:

fresh foods
frozen foods
canned foods

An example is Vitamin C. It is found in many fruits. Some vitamins can be lost by cooking in water. Fresh fruit and uncooked vegetables are good sources of vitamins.

Minerals can be found in food and in water. An example of a mineral is calcium. It is found in milk, fish and some plant foods like green vegetables and sesame seeds.

Why do I need vitamins and minerals?

Your body makes energy from the food you eat. Vitamins and minerals are needed to help you use the energy that comes from the food you eat. Vitamins and minerals are also needed for strong bones and to help your body fight infections.

You only need very small amounts of vitamins and minerals in your diet. Most people can get all the vitamins and minerals they need from a healthy diet.

Extra vitamins and minerals are sometimes called ‘supplements’. Taking too many supplements can cause health problems.

Do I need to take vitamin supplements?

Most people can get all the vitamins and minerals they need from eating a healthy balanced diet. You might need extra vitamins and minerals if you:

are pregnant
are vegan
have certain medical conditions

If you are pregnant, you should take folic acid. Your doctor may also tell you to take extra iron or vitamin D.

Vegans may need a vitamin B12 supplement. You may also need extra Vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids and iron.

There is no evidence that vitamin and mineral supplements make any difference to the health of most people.

Supplements can be dangerous if you take too much of any one type. High amounts of vitamin C can cause diarrhoea and kidney stones. Too much vitamin A is harmful for pregnant people. You should also be careful not to take too much vitamin D or E.

Minerals are also harmful in high doses.

You should talk to your doctor or a dietitian if you think you need supplements.

Where are vitamins and minerals found?

Here's a list of important vitamins and minerals. The list tells you why they are important, and what foods you can find them in.

Vitamin	Why it's needed	Where it's found
Vitamin A	eyesight growth your body’s fight against infections.	full cream dairy products margarine liver meat orange-coloured fruits and vegetables
Vitamin B1 (thiamin)	changing carbohydrates into energy healthy working of your heart, digestive system, nervous system control of cholesterol	wholemeal bread yeast extract oats fortified breakfast cereals fish pork nuts seeds
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)	body growth and repair including skin and eyes	milk and milk products leafy green vegetables meat enriched bread and breakfast cereals
Vitamin B3 (niacin)	changing foods into energy nervous system, digestive system, and skin health	poultry meat fish peanuts mushrooms, asparagus, and leafy green vegetables enriched bread and breakfast cereals
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)	changing foods into energy	many food types
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)	getting energy from proteins and carbohydrates making red blood cells brain function immune system nerves and muscles	meat fish poultry vegetables fruit
Vitamin B12	new red blood cells new nerve cells getting energy from fats and carbohydrates	meat fish poultry dairy products eggs
Folate (vitamin B9)	new red blood cells healthy nervous system the baby’s nervous system in pregnancy	liver legumes green leafy vegetables oranges bread seeds breakfast cereals
Vitamin C	antioxidant get energy from protein boost the immune system help absorb iron	All fruits and vegetables, especially: citrus fruits vegetables in the cabbage family cantaloupe strawberries capsicum tomatoes potatoes paw paw mangoes kiwifruit
Vitamin D	needed to use calcium healthy bones and teeth many organs including the gut, liver, and kidneys	Vitamin D forms in the skin when it is exposed to the sun salmon herrings and sardines egg yolks fortified milk and margarine
Vitamin E	antioxidant keeps the membranes around cells healthy	polyunsaturated oils, such as sunflower oil and safflower oil leafy green vegetables wheat germ wholegrain products liver egg yolks nuts and seeds
Vitamin K	blood clotting	members of the cabbage family leafy green vegetables milk

Minerals	Why it’s needed	Where it’s found
Calcium	strong bones muscle and nerve function blood clotting	milk cheese yoghurt canned sardines salmon Asian green vegetables tofu
Iodine	thyroid gland function brain function normal growth	seafood bread iodised table salt
Iron	red blood cell function helps move oxygen around the body make energy storing oxygen in the muscles	liver meat (especially red meat) chicken salmon tinned tuna baked beans and other legumes (such as lentils) green vegetables tofu eggs fortified breakfast cereals
Zinc	wound healing boosts immunity tissue repair	oysters seafood meat chicken brown rice nuts legumes (such as lentils) fortified breakfast cereals

Resources and Support

If you want to know more about vitamins and minerals, talk to your doctor or call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak to, 24 hours, 7 days a week.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: September 2022

Need more information?

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Vitamins & minerals for kids & teens | Raising Children Network

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