The human body needs specific vitamins and minerals to properly function. Practicing a healthier diet may help provide more vitamins for your body, but most need a multi-vitamin to ensure they get all the necessary nutrients daily.
Before creating the right vitamin supplement for your brand, it’s important to understand how vitamins work. Here’s a simple guide to help you understand some of the different types of vitamins.
Water-Soluble Vitamins
Any vitamin directly absorbed by cells is known as a water-soluble vitamin. Some of the common water-soluble vitamins include:
- Vitamin C
- Biotin
- Niacin
- Pantothenic Acid
- Folic Acid
- B complex Vitamins
Water-soluble vitamins need to be restored more often than other vitamins in the body.
Fat-Soluble Vitamins
The other main type of vitamin is a fat-soluble vitamin. This type of vitamin will bind to fat in the stomach and the body will store it for use later. Common examples of fat-soluble vitamins include:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
Since these vitamins are stored in the body for use later, they don’t have to be replenished as often as water-soluble vitamins.
Whether you want to create a multi-vitamin supplement with all water-soluble vitamins, all fat-soluble vitamins, or a mixture, BioThrive Sciences will guide you through the entire process.
Common Vitamins to Consider for Your Multi-Vitamin Supplement
There are several vitamins you can add to a multi-vitamin supplement. Some are easier to get from food, while others, such as vitamin B12 are very difficult to get from food. Here’s a list of vitamins and what they support within the body.
- Vitamin A – Eye, teeth, and skin health, along with development and growth.
- B complex Vitamins – Energy production, iron absorption, and immune system function.
- Vitamin C – Iron absorption, strengthening blood vessels, and skin elasticity.
- Vitamin D – Bone health and healing within the body.
- Vitamin E – Supports blood circulation and helps protect the body from free radicals.
- Vitamin K – Supports healthy blood coagulation.
- Folic Acid – Helps with cell renewal and helps to prevent birth defects during pregnancy.
- Calcium – Bone and teeth health.
- Iron – Helps support muscle building and healthy blood circulation
- Zinc – Boosts the function of the immune system, fertility, and growth.
- Chromium – An essential nutrient for the function of glucose in the body.
Macro and Micro Minerals
Along with these vitamins, you will also want to consider macro and micro minerals for your multi-vitamin supplement. Macro minerals are needed in a larger amount and they are harder to get from your regular diet. Micro minerals, also known as trace minerals are needed in smaller amounts for a healthy body.
The most common macro minerals to consider for your multi-vitamin include:
- Calcium
- Potassium
- Phosphorus
- Magnesium
- Sodium
- Chloride
- Sulfur
The most common micro or trace minerals include:
- Iron
- Manganese
- Copper
- Iodine
- Zinc
- Cobalt
- Fluoride
- Selenium
Some of these minerals work together and may also work with the vitamins listed above. For example, calcium and vitamin D work together within the body. When you want to create a multi-vitamin or any other vitamin supplement for your brand, it’s important to consider which vitamins and minerals you want to include. At BioThrive Sciences, we offer full contract manufacturing and our team will help you select the right ingredients for any supplement you want to create.