Vitamins are a group of organic nutrients which are essential to regulate the chemical processes that go on in the body. Generally speaking, vitamins cannot be created by the body and must be obtained from food or supplements.

There are two main groups of vitamins. The first group is the Fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin A, D and E which can be dissolved in fat and can be stored in the body to be used when needed. The second kind is the water-soluble vitamins; this group includes the various B vitamins and vitamin C. These dissolve in water and therefore are not stored in the body. Consequently, water-soluble vitamins need to be replenished on a daily basis.