What is the difference between minerals and vitamins

What is the difference between minerals and vitamins

Both Minerals and Vitamins are necessary for the body to function normally and even work synergistically together, e.g. Selenium and Vitamin E, Calcium and Vitamin E. A Mineral cannot be made by the body, most Vitamins cannot be made by the body with the exception of Vitamin D which is produced in the body by the ultra violet rays from the sun and Vitamin K which is made in the intestines.

Minerals are inorganic naturally occurring substances, whereas a Vitamin is an organic compound.

The difference between the inorganic and organic is the organic compound has carbon in its chemical structure. Originally it was believed organic compounds were unique in that they could not be reproduced by man, however this is now known not to be true and there are thousands of organic compounds which are routinely made for both medicine and research. This is why whilst Vitamins do occur naturally they cannot specifically be classed as natural unless the original source is known and stated, for example Vitamin C is available from Oranges however a Vitamin C supplement will probably not have oranges as the source of the Vitamin.

Minerals are sometimes referred to as Elements which is also correct as an Element is a substance in its simplest chemical form meaning it cannot be split any further. All the 112 elements of which 96 are naturally occurring make up the periodic table. The dietary Minerals are found in the 96 naturally occurring Elements, along with other Elements used in medicine like Barium, Lithium and Bismuth.

The Vitamins are:
Vitamin A - Retinol
Vitamin B1 - Thiamin
Vitamin B2 - Riboflavin
Vitamin B3 - Niacin
Vitamin B5 - Pantothenic Acid
Vitamin B6 - Pyridoxine
Vitamin B7 - Biotin also known as Vitamin H
Vitamin B9 - Folate / Folic Acid
Vitamin B12 - Cyanocobalamin
Vitamin C - Ascorbic Acid
Vitamin D - Calciferol
Vitamin E - Tocopherol
Vitamin K - Phylloquinone

The main Dietary Minerals:
Calcium
Chromium
Copper
Fluoride
Iodine
Iron
Magnesium
Manganese
Molybdenum
Phosphorus
Potassium
Selenium
Sodium
Zinc