Vitamins and minerals: roles and plant sources.

This book chapter focuses on the chemical structure, plant sources, biological activity, health benefits, and effects of deficiencies of vitamins and minerals. The first part features the classification of vitamins, the role of vitamins as cofactors, and the health benefits of specific vitamins, including vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, vitamin B1 (thiamin), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin B7 (biotin), vitamin B9 (folate), vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin), and vitamin C (ascorbic acid). The next part of chapter the discusses the functions of various dietary minerals, including calcium, magnesium, potassium, chromium, copper, fluorine, selenium, zinc, and iodine.