1. Chapter 13
Vitamins and Minerals
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2. Vitamins and Minerals
 Vitamins and minerals are essential for
maintaining cell structure and metabolism.
 Vitamins are classified into two groups;
water soluble and fat soluble.
 Water soluble vitamins include the B
vitamins and vitamin C.
 Fat soluble vitamins include vitamins A, D,
E, and K.
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3. Vitamins and Minerals
 The Recommend Daily Allowance (RDA)
of vitamins and minerals is meant to be
used to make recommendations for
populations rather than specific people.
 A person’s requirements are influenced by
physical characteristics, dietary habits,
sex, pregnancy, lactation, and age.
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4. Vitamins and Minerals
 Newer RDAs are designed to prevent
deficiency and to minimize chronic
diseases.
 Newer terms such as the Dietary
Reference Index (DRI) is used to develop
diets for healthy people.
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5. Vitamin and Mineral
Deficiencies
 Many different vitamin and mineral deficiencies have oral
symptoms.
 If an oral symptom is observed its cause should be
determined.
 If an oral symptom is due to a vitamin or mineral deficiency
then the best way to treat it is with a vitamin or mineral
supplement.
 The best source of a vitamin is its dietary source.
 There are no real adverse effects associated with vitamin
and mineral supplementation.
 Toxicity occurs when more than the RDA is taken on a daily
basis.
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