[00:05.10]1996

[00:06.69]Vitamins are organic compounds necessary

[00:09.52]in small amounts in the diet

[00:11.34]for the normal growth and maintenance

[00:13.45]of life of animals, including man.

[00:16.49]They do not provide energy, (1)nor do they construct

[00:19.71]or build any part of the body.

[00:22.45]They are needed for (2)transforming foods into energy

[00:25.68]and body maintenance.

[00:27.72]There are thirteen or more of them,

[00:29.74]and if (3)any is missing a deficiency disease

[00:32.58]becomes (4)apparent.

[00:34.19]Vitamins are similar because they are

[00:36.20]made of the same elements--usually carbon,

[00:39.17]hydrogen, oxygen, and (5)sometimes nitrogen.

[00:43.30]They are different (6)in that their elements

[00:45.22]are arranged differently,

[00:47.13]and each vitamin (7)performs one or more

[00:49.96]specific functions in the body.

[00:52.17](8)Getting enough vitamins is essential to life,

[00:55.19]although the body has no nutritional use for

[00:57.72](9)excess vitamins.

[00:59.54]Many people, (10)nevertheless, believe in

[01:02.06]being on the "safe side"

[01:03.88]and thus take extra vitamins.

[01:06.11]However, a well-balanced diet

[01:08.63]will usually meet all the body’s vitamin needs.