149
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
C. Egbuna, G. Dable-Tupas (eds.), Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-42319-3_9
Chapter 9
Vitamins and Minerals: Types, Sources
and their Functions
Muhammad Akram, Naveed Munir, Muhammad Daniyal,
Chukwuebuka Egbuna, Mihnea-Alexandru Găman,
Peculiar Feenna Onyekere, and Ahmed Olatunde
9.1 Introduction
Nutrients are grouped into two major classes: macronutrients and micronutrients.
Macronutrients are nutrients that are needed by the body in large amounts while
micronutrients are those needed by the body in minute amounts. Macronutrients
such as carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids provide molecules for the structural and
metabolic activities of the human body, while micronutrients (vitamins and
M. Akram (*)
Department of Eastern Medicine, Government College University Faisalabad-Pakistan,
Faisalabad, Pakistan
N. Munir
Department of Biochemistry, Government College University Faisalabad-Pakistan,
Faisalabad, Pakistan
M. Daniyal
TCM and Ethnomedicine Innovation & Development International Laboratory,
School of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
C. Egbuna
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu
Ojukwu University, Uli, Anambra, Nigeria
Nutritional Biochemistry and Toxicology Unit, World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence,
Centre for Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR),
University of Port- Harcourt, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
M.-A. Găman
“Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
P. F. Onyekere
Department of Pharmacognosy & Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
A. Olatunde
Department of Biochemistry, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
C. Egbuna, G. Dable-Tupas (eds.), Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-42319-3_9
Chapter 9
Vitamins and Minerals: Types, Sources
and their Functions
Muhammad Akram, Naveed Munir, Muhammad Daniyal,
Chukwuebuka Egbuna, Mihnea-Alexandru Găman,
Peculiar Feenna Onyekere, and Ahmed Olatunde
9.1 Introduction
Nutrients are grouped into two major classes: macronutrients and micronutrients.
Macronutrients are nutrients that are needed by the body in large amounts while
micronutrients are those needed by the body in minute amounts. Macronutrients
such as carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids provide molecules for the structural and
metabolic activities of the human body, while micronutrients (vitamins and
M. Akram (*)
Department of Eastern Medicine, Government College University Faisalabad-Pakistan,
Faisalabad, Pakistan
N. Munir
Department of Biochemistry, Government College University Faisalabad-Pakistan,
Faisalabad, Pakistan
M. Daniyal
TCM and Ethnomedicine Innovation & Development International Laboratory,
School of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
C. Egbuna
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu
Ojukwu University, Uli, Anambra, Nigeria
Nutritional Biochemistry and Toxicology Unit, World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence,
Centre for Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR),
University of Port- Harcourt, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
M.-A. Găman
“Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
P. F. Onyekere
Department of Pharmacognosy & Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
A. Olatunde
Department of Biochemistry, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria