Vitamins are essential for the normal growth and development of an organism. Using the DNA blueprint inherited from its parents, a fetus begins to develop from the nutrients it absorbs. It requires certain vitamins and minerals to be present at certain times. These nutrients facilitate the chemical reactions that produce among other things, skin, bone, and muscle. If there is serious deficiency in one or more of these nutrients, a child may develop significant disease.
Once growth and development are completed, vitamins remain essential nutrients for the healthy maintenance of the cells, tissues, and organs. They also enable an individual to efficiently use chemical energy provided by food it eats, and to help process the proteins, carbohydrates, and fats required by biochemical reactions.
People who eat a varied diet are unlikely to develop a severe vitamin deficiency. In contrast, restricted diets have the potential to cause prolonged vitamin deficits, which may result in serious or deadly disease. Because human bodies do not store most vitamins, humans must consume them regularly to avoid deficiency. Increasing scientific evidence shows that an individual’s genetic make-up plays an important role in effective and efficient vitamin utilization (see Genes & Vitamins).
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