Vitamins and Minerals Atlas

The Vitamins and Minerals Atlas is a reference collection that introduces the micronutrients the body needs, one by one: what they do, which foods contain them, and what needs attention.

Scope: the micronutrients

The atlas covers the vitamins and the essential minerals. Each record sets out the nutrient's principal tasks in the body, the foods rich in it, the approximate requirement ranges, and the general conditions associated with a deficiency or an excess of it. Requirements change with age, sex and life stage, and that is why the records show estimated ranges rather than a single figure.

How the filters work

You can sift the records by type, vitamin or mineral, and by the area they relate to: energy metabolism, bone health, immunity, the nervous system. Once you see which foods contain a nutrient, you can move to those foods' records through the Foods Atlas; the two atlases are linked so that each completes the other.

An important limit: the supplement decision is yours and your doctor's

This atlas does not and cannot tell you which supplement to take; that decision is made with a doctor who can see your blood values and your medical history. The purpose of the records is to let you see what a varied diet already covers, and to help you hold a better-informed conversation with your doctor. Remember that not every product labelled "natural" is harmless, and that an excess of some nutrients can also cause problems. For the general frame, see the Nutrition section.

Records (10)

Calcium

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body, and about 99 per cent of it is stored in bones and teeth. It is indispensable for muscle contraction and nerve conductio

Folate

Folate (vitamin B9) is a water-soluble B vitamin, critical for cell division, the formation of blood and the development of a baby's nervous system in pregnancy.

Iron

Iron is the building block of haemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the blood. Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutrient shortfalls in the world.

Magnesium

Magnesium is a mineral at work in more than three hundred enzyme reactions, from producing energy to muscle and nerve function. Wholegrains, nuts and leafy greens are its

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin needed for vision, immunity and cell renewal. It reaches us in different forms, from animal and plant sources alike.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin needed for the nervous system, the making of blood cells and DNA synthesis. It occurs naturally only in animal sources.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin needed for building connective tissue, for immunity and for iron absorption. It is found in most fresh vegetables and fruit.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin needed for calcium absorption and bone health. Its most important source is not food but production in the skin under sunlight.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant that protects cell membranes from oxidative damage. Vegetable oils, nuts and seeds are its main sources.

Zinc

Zinc is a trace mineral needed for immunity, wound healing, the sense of taste and the working of hundreds of enzymes. Because the body does not store it, regular intake

Frequently asked questions

Can I tell from here whether I have a deficiency?

No. A deficiency is established only by examination and, where needed, a blood test. The general information in the records is there for awareness; if you have symptoms, see your doctor.

Why are the requirement ranges not exact figures?

Because requirements change with age, sex, life stages such as pregnancy, and individual circumstances. Giving a single figure that looks precise would be misleading; the honest answer is an estimated range.

Are supplements not harmless? What do I lose by trying one?

An excess of some vitamins and minerals can build up in the body and cause problems, and supplements can also interact with medicines. That is why the decision to take a supplement must always be made together with your doctor.

First published: 2026-08-12Last reviewed: 2026-08-12Editorial status: working editionReport an error