Vitamin Supplements: What is their Common Composition and What do they Really Do?

Anyone who consumes vitamin supplements and is used to looking at the bottles or boxes knows the vitamins contained in each tablet.

But what are these vitamins really for? Do you really need to take them? Below is a list of the most common vitamins found in supplements, along with a description of what they do.

Vitamin A

Found in leafy vegetables and other products such as carrots, broccoli, papaya, eggs and liver, this vitamin contributes to eye health. A deficiency in this vitamin can lead to permanent vision loss.

Vitamin B1

Thiamine is the other name for this vitamin. It allows the heart, digestive and nervous systems to function normally. In addition, thiamine is also important for the growth and physical development of people. Beef, pork, nuts and legumes, among others, are good sources of this vitamin.

Vitamin B2

Also known as riboflavin, this vitamin is important for metabolizing energy as well as fats, carbohydrates and proteins. Common sources of this vitamin are milk, cheese and leafy vegetables. A deficiency of this vitamin is indicated by cracked lips, mouth ulcers and sore throat, among other symptoms.

Vitamin C

Also known as ascorbic acid, this vitamin has many benefits attributed to it. Some of them include strengthening the immune system and reducing the symptoms of diseases. It is also a well-known antioxidant. Lack of this vitamin can cause scurvy, which leads to tooth loss and ultimately death.