Introduction:Vitamins are substances that our body cannot produce. Therefore they must be consumed through our diet. If we didn't integrate vitamins into our diet we would die or become seriously ill. (Precision Nutrition, 2014) Vitamin supplements are primarily man-made tablets, powders, injections, and liquids. They are intended to improve vitamin intake or provide the body with vitamins that it cannot ingest through diet. 54% of women and only 46% of men globally take vitamins and/or mineral supplements daily. (Precision Nutrition, 2014) Over 56% of Americans with annual incomes over $90,000 take vitamin supplements. Even though 70% of Americans with incomes under $24,000 don't take them. (Gallup Well Being, 2014) This means that the less wealthy cannot always afford vitamin supplements. But do they need it? Here are all the different types of vitamins (see table below). It could be argued that the general public doesn't know the difference between all of them, or even knows that there are that many of them. How does vitamin C work? Vitamin C is a vitamin found in fruits and vegetables, particularly citrus fruits. Historically, vitamin C was used to prevent and treat scurvy. Scurvy is rare today, but sailors, astronauts, pirates and people who spend long periods at sea without fruits and vegetables are more prone to vitamin C deficiency, which leads to scurvy. (NASA, 2013) Today, people take vitamin C supplements to prevent the common cold and infections. Even if this is not always true in fact. An Australian scientist said: “It makes no sense to take vitamin C tablets 365 days a year to reduce the risk of catching a cold.” (Professor Harri Hemila, 2013)(US News, 2014)V...... middle of paper......1.htm. [Accessed 21 May 14].• Livestrong. 2014. The Pros and Cons of Vitamin Supplements. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.livestrong.com/article/349831-the-pros-cons-of-vitamin-supplements/. [Accessed 21 May 14].• NHS. 2014. Health claims about vitamin D examined. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.nhs.uk/news/2013/06June/Pages/health-claims-about-vitamin-D-examined. aspx. [Accessed 21 May 14].• NASA. 2013. Keeping Astronauts Healthy in Space. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.nasa.gov/vision/space/travelinginspace/30sept_spacemedicine.html. [Accessed 22 May 14].Images• Joachim & Schloss, (2008), 14 vitamin letter chart [ONLINE]. Available at: http://pantryparatus.com/blog/vitamins/ [Accessed 21 May 14].• The Doctor's Vitamin, (2014), Encapsulating machine [ONLINE]. Available at: http://www.madehow.com/Volume-3/Vitamin.html [Accessed May 21 14].