What Is a Vitamin? Towards a Contemporary Definition

verfasst von

Andreas Hahn, Manfred Eggersdorfer, Felix Kerlikowsky

Abstract

Background: The concept of vitamins has evolved over the past century from compounds preventing classical deficiency diseases to nutrients recognized for supporting long-term health. Despite their central role in science and public health, existing definitions often fail to clearly characterize and distinguish vitamins from other bioactive compounds and do not capture the complexity of their nutritional requirements. Method: This article reviews the historical origins and current definitions of vitamins. Results: We identify the limitations of existing definitions and present a contemporary, physiologically informed definition as a discussion proposal. Our proposal no longer relies solely on the prevention of classical hypo- or avitaminoses. Conclusions: By incorporating the concept of conditional essentiality, this framework also tries to clarify the distinction between classical vitamins and other bioactive substances, reflecting variable dietary requirements under different conditions.

Organisationseinheit(en)

Institute of Food and One Health

Externe Organisation(en)

Gesellschaft für angewandte Vitaminforschung e.V.
University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG)

Typ

Artikel

Journal

NUTRIENTS

Band

17

ISSN

2072-6643

Publikationsdatum

12.12.2025

Publikationsstatus

Veröffentlicht

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Lebensmittelwissenschaften, Ernährung und Diätetik

Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung

SDG 3 – Gute Gesundheit und Wohlergehen

Elektronische Version(en)

https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17243890 (Zugang: Offen)