Vitamins are one of the six nutrients considered to be vital to life. Together with minerals, they are considered micronutrients as the they are needed in smaller quantities than the macronutrients - proteins, carbohydrates, fats and water. Vitamins have a wide variety of biochemical functions such as regulating the mineral metabolism, cell and tissue growth and acting as antioxidants and, as they cannot be synthesized in sufficient quantities by the organism, must be taken in with diet. Learn more about the vital nutrients in this book.