What are the differences between vitamins and minerals?
Written on December 8, 2025, by Pauline de Santarome
Vitamins and minerals form a duo that is essential to the proper functioning of our bodies and play a vital role. Although needed in small amounts, these micronutrients perform important functions, from regulating metabolism to protecting against disease. Vitamins, organic compounds, actively participate in various cellular processes, promoting growth, immune resistance, and energy production.
On the other hand, minerals, which are inorganic elements, contribute to bone strength, water balance, and nerve regulation. Although complementary, these two categories of micronutrients have distinct dietary sources and varying mechanisms of absorption in the body. To ensure an optimal intake of vitamins and minerals, many people turn to multivitamins in the form of dietary supplements.
Vitamins: understanding their essential roles
Vitamins, which aremicronutrients, contribute to a variety of metabolic functions necessary for the proper functioning of the human body. There arefat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) that dissolve in fats, andwater-soluble vitamins (B and C) that dissolve in water. Each of these vitamins contributes in a unique way to processes such as cell growth, immune function, vision, blood clotting, and many others.
Vitamins comefrom a varietyof sources, ranging from fruits and vegetables to dairy products and lean meats. Citrus fruits, rich in vitamin C, strengthen the immune system, while green vegetables provide B vitamins, which are essential for energy metabolism. Fatty fish, meanwhile, are a natural source of vitamin D, promoting bone health.
To ensure an optimal intake of vitamins, dietary supplements are often considered. Santarome's dietary supplements stand out in this field with their Vita'Max multivitamin tablets, designed to meet everyone's specific needs. These supplements are formulated to support vitality, strengthen the immune system, and fill any nutritional gaps. Discover our article "The benefits of multivitamins."
Minerals: their crucial functions
Minerals such ascalcium,magnesium,zinc, andiron are necessary for many biological functions. For example, calcium is essential for strong bones and teeth, while magnesium helps regulate many enzymes and metabolic processes. These minerals are obtained mainly from food.
Foods rich in minerals are essential allies in maintaining robust health. Green vegetables, fruits, dairy products, and seafood are excellent sources of minerals.
Sometimes, it can be difficult to obtain all the necessary minerals from food alone. This is where dietary supplements can play an important role. They can be particularly useful in situations where diet alone is not sufficient to meet mineral requirements, such as during specific diets or dietary restrictions.
The main differences
Criteria |
Minerals |
Vitamins |
Role |
Contribute to various physiological processes such as:
|
Facilitate chemical reactions in the body and are essential for growth, development, and proper metabolic function. |
|
Origin |
Ofinorganic origin, coming from soil and rocks. Some minerals can also come from living organisms. |
Organic, often derived from plants and animals, although some vitamins can be synthesized in the body. |
|
Solubility |
May besoluble or insoluble in water. For example, calcium is not very soluble in water, while sodium is soluble. |
Classified asfat-soluble vitamins (soluble in fats) such as vitamins A, D, E, and K, andwater-soluble vitamins (soluble in water) such as vitamins B and C. |
|
Chemical nature |
Simple chemical compounds.
Examples: calcium, iron, sodium, potassium. |
Complex organic compounds containing carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and sometimes nitrogen atoms.
Examples: vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin D (calciferol). |
|
Assimilation |
Oftenabsorbed directly into the body without requiring prior digestion. |
Often require prior digestion and are absorbed in the small intestine. Some can be synthesized by the body itself. |
Practical tips to avoid vitamin and mineral deficiencies
Optimizing yourdiet in terms of vitamins and minerals is essential to prevent nutritional deficiencies. To achieve this, dietary diversity is key to nutritional balance, providing a variety of nutrients that are essential for the body.
To maximize vitamin and mineral intake, it is essential to include a wide variety of foods in your diet. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and dairy products are diverse sources of nutrients, providing a complete range of vitamins and minerals.
At the same time, we recommend adopting good eating habits. Steaming food will help preserve its nutrients. Avoiding restrictive diets and favoring unprocessed foods will also help in this regard.
However, it can sometimes be difficult to meet all your nutritional needs through diet alone. Dietary supplements such asmultivitamins can help you avoid potential deficiencies. You should use them with caution, following the advice of a healthcare professional, as overconsumption can be harmful.
Although vitamins and minerals are both essential components for the proper functioning of our bodies, they have fundamental differences. Vitamins are organic compounds needed in small amounts to support various metabolic processes. Minerals, on the other hand, are inorganic elements needed in varying amounts. The sources, functions, and methods of absorption also differ between these two groups of nutrients. A varied and balanced diet, rich in vitamins and minerals, therefore remains essential to prevent potential deficiencies.
Sources:
Handles
