What is a Vitamin?

Vitamins are dietary components which are required in small amounts to maintain our health. To help the concept stick let's try to understand first where the name "Vitamin" comes from.

It is derived from two words "vital and amine". The meaning of the first word vital is quite obvious which means important. The second word is "amin" comes from a misconception at the time of discovery when it was  thought that all vitamins are amino acid in nature which is not true.

So the origin of the name tells you about the function of vitamins - that they are important for the body as they help in the metabolic processes such as vitamin A which is used in the process of vision in the human body.

BZ
Answered by Beenish Z. Human Biology tutor

4897 Views

See similar Human Biology A Level tutors

Related Human Biology A Level answers

All answers ▸

Please describe the sequence of events that results in blood being ejected from the heart once it first enters (8)


Describe what an action potential is and how is it transmitted. Refer to the action of stimuli and neurons in your answer.


Why would a patient with no helper T cells not produce any antibodies?


Why should be we careful with using antibiotics?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning