Biotin, also known as vitamin H, but is more commonly called Biotin. It is a vitamin which is B-complex in nature and is water soluble. Biotin helps in transferring carbon dioxide along with helping in various metabolic reactions. A steady blood sugar level can also be maintained by the help of biotin. Hair and nails are strengthened by the consumption of biotin. Therefore, a lot of hair and cosmetic products use biotin as one of its ingredients. The body’s daily requirement of vitamin B7 is produced by the intestinal bacteria. This therefore reduces the chances of vitamin B7 deficiency. There a large number of foods that contain biotin in large quantities. Swiss chard, tomatoes, liver,eggs, almonds, cumcuber, cauliflower, legume, soybeans, raspberries, carrots are some of those foods.

Calcium, a mineral vital to the human body, Calcium is necessary for many bodily functions, such as muscle contraction, and proper heart function.

Chromium is a natural trace mineral in human nutrition and is needed for proper metabolism of sugar in humans. It is vital for metabolism of fats and carbohydrates. It helps move blood sugar from the bloodstream into cells to be utilized as energy and turn fats, carbohydrates, and proteins into energy. Chromium helps stimulate fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis, which are needed for brain function and other body processes. It activates numerous enzymes that are required to drive many chemical reactions essential to life. Chromium supplements also improve glucose tolerance in people with Turner's syndrome, a disease associated with glucose intolerance. It is also vital for insulin metabolism. It regulates hunger and decreases cravings.

Copper, a trace element that is essential for the human body. Copper is needed to absorb and utilize iron in the body. Copper is a part of enzymes, essentially proteins that assist biochemical reactions in cells.

Folic Acid is an essential water soluble vitamin. Though folic acid is needed for all age groups, folic acid supplements is necessary for aging people, pregnant women, smokers, women on oral contraceptives and heavy alcohol drinkers as their body have difficulty in absorbing folic acid through food. Folic acid has many vital functions to perform in our body. It helps in preventing heart disease, stroke, and may help prevent cervical, lung and colon cancer and helps in maturation of red blood cells. It’s recommended that pregnant women take folic acid supplementation through out pregnancy as it helps prevent premature delivery, low birth weight and fetal growth retardation. It may also help reduce the risk of renal disease in children and is necessary for fertility in both women and men. Some studies suggest that there is a relationship between folic acid and allergic diseases and depression. It also reduces risk of bone fractures, osteoporosis and helps prevent rheumatoid arthritis. It increases lipolysis and may help in preventing obesity and type 2 diabetes. In a study conducted it increased the short-term memory, mental agility and verbal fluency of people who consumed folic acid supplements (800mgs) daily. Folic acid supplements are also used to relieve hot flushes in postmenopausal women and helps correct anemia caused by vitamin B 12 deficiencies.

Iodine is an important trace element that plays an important role in the normal growth and development. It essential in maintaining a healthy thyroid gland which, kills harmful germs, makes up its own hormone thyroxin, and gives energy. It assists in maintaining a proper metabolic rate which can influence the blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, and body weight. It is also important in the utilization of calories for energy. It plays an important role in hair, nails and teeth growth. Iodine also aids in the normal growth and maturity of reproductive organs. It also helps prevent still birth or neurocognitive conditions in babies.

Iron is vital in human nutrition as the adult human body contains 3-4 grams of iron. Haem-iron and non-haem iron are the two types of iron. Foods rich in haem-iron include meat, liver, fish, and poultry. Foods that are high in non-haem iron are those of vegetable origin, like green leafy vegetables, cereals, legumes, oilseeds, nuts, dry fruits and jiggery. Iron is vital for numerous body functions, including hemoglobin formation, brain development and function, muscle activity, regulation of body temperature and catecholamine. Deficiency of iron affects immune system, reduces the number of T-cells and production of antibodies. Iron is also necessary for binding oxygen to body cells as its main function is oxygen transport and cell respiration. It works as an anti-cancer agent. Iron increases energy level of the body, improving physical performance. It prevents insomnia.

Manganese is a mineral that is required in small amounts to manufacture enzymes necessary for the metabolism of proteins and fat. It also aids the immune system and blood sugar balance. Manganese is also involved in the production of cellular energy, reproduction and bone growth.

Molybdenum is essential in regulating pH balance in the body, enhancing the body’s ability to burn fat. Very small amounts are needed. Molybdenum is necessary for the proper function of certain enzyme-dependent processes, including the metabolism of iron. Molybdenum also promotes normal cell function and helps in the activation of certain enzymes, it is a key component of the metabolic enzyme xanthine oxidase. Molybdenum is found in the liver, bones and kidneys. It supports bone growth and teeth strength. A deficiency may cause impotence in older men. High intakes of sulfur and diets high in refined and processed foods may decrease molybdenum levels.There is no recommended dietary allowance for molybdenum.

Niacin is also known as Vitamin B3 or nicotinic acid. It helps in the conversion of carbohydrates into glucose that serves as fuel for energy. It also helps the body in metabolizing fats and proteins. Niacin also helps in the production of hormones necessary for the body to function properly. It is also effective in improving the circulation in the body. It lowers cholesterol, triglycerides and blood sugar level. It also helps in the treatment of coronary artery disease. It also helps in regulating the blood sugar level. Niacin also helps prevent the Pellagra disease, which causes digestive problems, diarrhea, dermatitis, hyper-pigmentation, amnesia, dementia, delirium, and even death. Niacin also helps prevent Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and is also effective in treating acne.

Pantothenic Acid, also called vitamin B5, which is a water-soluble vitamin required by the human body. Pantothenic acid is needed to form coenzyme-A (CoA), and is vital in the metabolism and synthesis of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

Phosphate (Phosphorus) is essential for normal heart and kidney functionin. It speeds up the healing of broken bones and other injuries and functions to metabolize fats and starches for energy, as well as being necessary for correct nerve impulses and for niacin assimilation. Phosphorus is needed for the growth, maintenance, and repair of all tissues and cells, and for the production of the genetic building blocks, DNA and RNA. Phosphorus is also needed to balance and metabolize other vitamins and minerals, including vitamin D, calcium, iodine, magnesium, and zinc. It is also important for forming cell membranes, the specialised layers that enclose body cells. It is a principal mineral of bones and teeth.

Riboflavin, an easily absorbed micronutrient, is also known by the name of Vitamin B2. It plays a key role in maintaining the health of animals as well as humans. A wide variety if cellular processes require this vitamin. It plays a key role in energy metabolism, just like other B vitamins. It is the kind of micronutrient which required for the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, fats and ketone bodies. There are a lot of food products that are a good source of Vitamin B2. Matured soybeans, yeast, mushroom, livers, kidneys, leafy vegetables, milk, cheese, almonds are such products that are rich in this vitamin. But riboflavin does get destroyed if exposed to light. Riboflavin is a non toxic vitamin. Hence, there is no harm in taking it orally.

Selenium is considered good for health if taken in small amounts. It is a trace mineral which when incorporated into protein, makes selenoproteins that helps stop cellular damage due to free radicals. The major source of selenium is plant foods and its content in the food depends on the selenium content in the soil where it was grown. Also known as selenium acid, selenium sulfide and selenium yeast, this mineral is available in seafood and meat products. The main function of selenium is to work with vitamin E in order to maintain the elasticity and preservation of tissues. It not only helps in improving the supply of oxygen and blood to the muscles in the heart but also slows down the aging process by enhancing endurance.

Thiamine, also called Vitamin B1 or Thiamin, is needed to help the body utilize energy from proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Thiamine is commonly found in breads and cereals. Thiamine is water-soluble and is concentrated in muscle tissue as it passes thru the body.

Vitamin A is a vitamin is needed by the retina of our eye in the form of a specific metabolite, the light-absorbing molecule retinal. This molecule is absolutely necessary for both scotopic and color vision. It also palys an important role in mainating body health, such as skin health, bone metabolism and immune function. Vitamin A is also commercially produced and administered as esters such as retinyl acetate commonly called Vitamin A acetate. Its defeciency can cause blindness. Some other problems include impaired immunity, keratosis pilaris and squamous metaplasia of the epithelium lining the upper respiratory passages and urinary bladder to a keratinized epithelium.

Vitamin B12, or rather the Vitamin B complex, is a group of vitamins that are all soluble in water and very often coexist in food sources. While every single Vitamin from the B complex group has a name, they are very often referred to by the number added to the Vitamin B group name, like Vitamin B1, which is thiamine, or Vitamin B2, which is riboflavin. Some other compounds have been added to the Vitamin B group at some time, but were later dropped, like adenine, orotic acid or adenosine monophosphate, where later research found that they are either synthesized by the human body or simply no Vitamins. Vitamin B complex supports the metabolism rate, maintains muscle tone and skin, raises functions of the nervous system and the immune system, promotes red blood cells and cell growth and division and much more.

Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble member of the vitamin B complex. It exists in thre forms and often occurs in nature as a mixture of these three forms. Vitamin B6 is involved in protein, fat, and sugar metabolism.

Vitamin C or ascorbic acid, is also known as the antiscorbitic vitamin because it prevents the nutritional disease Scurvy. Its most active form is L-ascorbic acid and L-dehydroascorbic acid. Vitamin C is known for building up the body’s defenses against infection. However, there is more to this vitamin than just being an immunity-builder. It is essential to normal functioning of all cellular units including ribosomes and mitochondria. This is because it is a primary requirement in the formation and maintenance of the “binder” that holds cells as well as the cellular fluid inside. Furthermore, this water-soluble vitamin is necessary in the conversion of folic acid into its active form, folinic acid, necessary for the formation of red blood cells. It also speeds up wound and fracture healing, is involved in metabolism of some essential amino acids, plays a role in the production of steroid hormones for stress response and promotes the absorption of iron for the body to use. It is also an antioxidant vitamin that protects normal cells from the damage of oxidative free radicals.

Vitamin D- The fast soluble vitamin D is perhaps the most underrated nutrient that is produced when sunlight touches the skin. But it is extremely vital for bone health, as without it the body cannot absorb the calcium that you may provide it in the form of supplements. With the advent of beauty products with high sun protection factor, this nutrient is becoming less available to our bodies. Even weaker sunscreens with just SPF-8 prevent the body considerably from producing vitamin D. Diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, certain cancers, multiple sclerosis, and even schizophrenia may stem from deficiency of this vitamin. You can provide vitamin D to your body through supplements and foods like mushrooms, tuna, eggs, dark green leafy vegetables, salmon, sardines, mackerel, fortified dairy products and cereals, yoghurt, and milk.

Vitamin E consists of eight related vitamins that are all fat soluble and have antioxidant properties. The alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-tocopherols with the corresponding tocotrienols all belong to the Vitamin E group, whereby the alpha-tocopherol has been found to be the most bioavailable form. Vitamin E is commonly found in food sources like eggs, milk, nuts, seeds, vegetable oil like olive oil, wholegrain foods, wheat germ, red palm oil, but also in asparagus and avocado fruits. While Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, several other properties have been noted as well, such as prevention of damage to neurons, cholesterol reduction and cancer prevention. Vitamin E has been also identified as a vital signaling molecule, whereby the primary necessity of Vitamin E to human survival is still not clear.

Vitamin K- The lipophillic, hydrophobic vitamins needed for the posttranslational modification of certain proteins is denoted by the Vitamin K. It is required mostly for blood coagulation. K3, K4 and K5 are the three types of synthetic Vitamin K that are used in many areas. Pet food industry makes use of Vitamin K3 whereas Vitmanin K5 is used to inhibit fungal growth. The main sources of vitamin K are spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage and a few fruits like kiwifruit and avocado. Recent research shows that vitamin K helps in increasing bone mass. Research also shows that the consumption of vitamin K helps in promoting osteotrophic processes while at the same time slowing the osteoclastic processes. This process is done by achieving the calcium bonding in the bones.

Zinc is an essential mineral that is used in many healing processes to speed up the healing process in instance that include sunburned skin, diaper rash and helps prevent premature aging of the skin.