Topic overview

Start with the big picture

The lesson organizes vitamins by solubility and reviews their functions and clinically important imbalances. Fat-soluble vitamins require bile and dietary fat for absorption and can accumulate in body tissues, so malabsorption may contribute to deficiency while excess can be harmful. Water-soluble vitamins generally have more limited stores and serve as enzyme cofactors or support processes such as DNA synthesis, collagen formation, and metabolism. Examples include vitamin A’s roles in vision and epithelial function, vitamin K’s contribution to clotting-factor activation, and the distinct deficiency patterns associated with thiamine, niacin, B6, B12, folate, and vitamin C. Major minerals contribute to structural and electrolyte functions; imbalances can affect neuromuscular and cardiac activity. The preview introduces these connections rather than replacing a full review of each nutrient.