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In 1905, Dr. William Fletcher discovered that certain nutrients were essential for health and a deficiency in any one of these could lead to serious consequences. Over the next few years, scientists began to identify these nutrients and called them vitamins. They discovered each vitamin has a different chemical structure and function in the body. Some vitamins are water-soluble vitamins, such as Vitamins B and C and some are fat-soluble like vitamins A, D, E and K.

For almost a century, scientists thought vitamins were micronutrients needed for maintaining general health and promoting growth.Today, evidence from research suggests that vitamins may play a more extensive role in our health and wellbeing. While scientists are still uncovering the full impact of vitamins on our health, the collection of studies so far suggest that vitamins may help protect against certain diseases including cancer. They may also play an important role in the development and growth of vital organs like the brain and the proper functioning of a variety of important biological activities. Here’s a brief summary of what science can tell us thus far:

Vitamin K
Vitamin K may have the potential to reduce the risk of diabetes.1

Vitamin C
Some evidence from research suggests that Vitamin C is required for the development of a baby’s brain.2

Vitamin D
Vitamin D may benefit those diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and its immune modifying effects may accelerate the recovery period of those who suffer from tuberculosis. Vitamin D is also associated with reducing problems linked to systemic lupus.3-4

In the past decade, Vitamin D’s role in health and well-being has expanded considerably. There is increasing evidence from research that shows Vitamin D does more than just maintain a healthy skeletal system. Many cells in the body have Vitamin D receptors, showing that Vitamin D is needed to regulate critical cellular functions. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with a number of health problems like diabetes, a compromised immune system, mobility limitations and disability in seniors and the possibility of developing certain types of cancer. Even women who suffer from dysmenorrhea (painful menstrual cramps) may benefit from taking high doses of Vitamin D. Research shows that Vitamin D may also be able to help the development of a baby’s brain and motor skills.5

Vitamins May Reduce the Risk of Cancer
Antioxidants play a role in promoting cellular health. It is here at the cellular level that scientists believe degenerative diseases, such as cancer, originate. Vitamins A, C and E are known to have antioxidant properties.

Vitamin A plays a role in cell proliferation and scientists infer that this vitamin may play a protective role against skin cancer in women, slashing its risk by up to 40 percent.6

Vitamin E is believed to have potential cancer-protective properties,particularly in patients with Cowden Syndrome. It may also hold potential benefits against liver cancer.7-8

Vitamin D is being studied for its role in protecting against certain types of cancers, such as pancreatic and colon cancers. A study in Japan shows that Vitamin D may have the potential to reduce the risk of colorectal cancerbyup to 40 percent.9

Other Promising Areas Where Vitamins May Play a Role
Vitamins C and E may play a protective role against the increase in markers of oxidative stress in women who take oral contraceptives.10

Studies in the United Kingdom show that Vitamin E may help children fight childhood asthma.11

Vitamin E is also being studied for its role in reducing the risk of motor neurone diseases.12

Supplement Manufacturing Multivitamins
About 40 percent of the American population takes a multi-vitamin supplement.13According to Harvard Publications, taking a daily multivitamin is like paying a daily premium on a nutrition insurance policy. Mintel, a market research company, reported robust sales of multivitamins in the United States from 2006 to 2010 and foresees a promising growth for the market in the future, particularly because of an aging population seeking supplements to deal with age-related health concerns.14

Multivitamin supplements can be manufactured in a variety of delivery formats such as tablets and capsules.To produce effective multivitamin formulas for your customers, it’s a good idea to shortlist a few reputable nutritional supplement manufacturers and then compare their offerings. Identifying vitamin manufacturers that offers best-in-class turnkey services like manufacturing, packaging, labeling, graphic design and fulfillment could result in cost savings and rapid product turnaround time, putting your company at a distinct advantage in today’s competitive marketplace.

References:

1. Dietary phylloquinone intake and risk of type 2 diabetes in elderly subjects at high risk of cardiovascular disease,First published October 3, 2012, doi: 10.3945/ajcn.111.033498Am J ClinNutr November 2012 ajcn.033498. ajcn.nutrition.org/content/early/2012/10/02/ajcn.111.033498.abstract.
2. Circulating 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 in Pregnancy and Infant Neuropsychological Development,doi: 10.1542/peds.2011-3289. pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2012/09/12/peds.2011-3289.abstract
3. The month of birth effect in multiple sclerosis: systematic review, meta-analysis and effect of latitude, J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry doi:10.1136/jnnp-2012-303934. jnnp.bmj.com/content/early/2012/10/31/jnnp-2012-303934.abstract
4. High doses vitamin D backed for TB, September 4, 2012, NutraIngredients. nutraingredients.com/Research/High-doses-vitamin-D-backed-for-TB
5. Improvement of Primary Dysmenorrhea Caused by a Single Oral Dose of Vitamin D: Results of a Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Study,Arch Intern Med. 2012;172(4):366-367. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2011.715.archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1108739
6. Association of Vitamin A and Carotenoid Intake with Melanoma Risk in a Large Prospective Cohort, Journal of Investigative Dermatology 132, 1573-1582 (June 2012) | doi:10.1038/jid.2012.21. nature.com/jid/journal/v132/n6/full/jid201221a.html
7. Vitamin E may decrease cancer risk in people with genetic disorder, September 18, 2012, NutraIngredients. nutraingredients.com/Research/Vitamin-E-may-decrease-cancer-risk-in-people-with-genetic-disorder
8. Vitamin Intake and Liver Cancer Risk: A Report From Two Cohort Studies in China, JNCI J Natl Cancer Inst (2012) doi: 10.1093/jnci/djs277 First published online: July 17, 2012. jnci.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2012/07/12/jnci.djs277.abstract
9. Association Between Plasma 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Colorectal Adenoma According to Dietary Calcium Intake and Vitamin D Receptor Polymorphism,m. J. Epidemiol. (2011) doi: 10.1093/aje/kwr295First published online: December 21, 2011. aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/12/21/aje.kwr295.abstract
10. Effect of vitamin E and C supplements on lipid peroxidation and GSH-dependent antioxidant enzyme status in the blood of women consuming oral contraceptives, Contraception Volume 86, Issue 1 , Pages 62-66, July 2012. contraceptionjournal.org/article/S0010-7824%2811%2900666-4/abstract
11. Souped-Up Soup: Could Vitamin E fortified foods help in fight against childhood asthma, September 10, 2012, NutraIngredients. nutraingredients.com/Research/Souped-up-soup-Could-vitamin-E-fortified-foods-help-in-fight-against-childhood-asthma
12. Vitamin E may reduce risk of motor neurone disease, July 12, 2011, NutraIngredients. nutraingredients.com/Research/Vitamin-E-may-reduce-risk-of-motor-neurone-disease
13. Nutrition Insurance Policy: A Daily Multi-vitamin, Harvard School of Public Health. hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/multivitamin/.
14. Vitamins and Minerals, U.S., December 2011, Mintel International Group Ltd., marketresearch.com/Mintel-International-Group-Ltd-v614/Vitamins-Minerals-December-7241236/