Learn about essential vitamins and minerals
Explore how micronutrients support metabolism, growth and overall health. Find links to nutrient databases, lists of food sources, Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs), and educational resources on deficiency, toxicity and health impacts.
Featured Resources
USDA Choline Database
Agricultural Research Service's (ARS) USDA Database for the Choline Content of Common Foods contains information on the amounts of six choline metabolites in food.
See also: the ARS USDA National Fluoride Database of Selected Beverages and Foods
Micronutrients
Information about micronutrients and their roles in healthy growth and development from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Food Sources of Nutrients
DietaryGuidelines.gov's lists of foods and beverages provides information on calcium, vitamin D, potassium, and iron. Find information about sodium in their Cut Down on Sodium handout. (Also in Spanish/Español)
Dietary Reference Intakes
The National Academies' Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) report contains information about micro- and macronutrient requirements. Updated DRIs for calcium and vitamin D and sodium and potassium are also available.
More About Micronutrients
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Folic Acid
HHS. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities.
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Folate and Folic Acid on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels
HHS. Food and Drug Administration. Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
Also in Spanish/Español.
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Vitamin and Mineral Supplement Fact Sheets
HHS. National Institutes of Health. Office of Dietary Supplements.
Consumer version fact sheets are also in Spanish/Español.
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Micronutrient Information Center
Oregon State University. Linus Pauling Institute. Micronutrient Information Center.
Also in Spanish/Español and Japanese.
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Vitamin Deficiency, Dependency, and Toxicity
Merck Manual, Professional Version.
Also in Spanish/Español.
See the Mineral Deficiency and Toxicity chapter for information on macrominerals and trace minerals. Also in Spanish/Español.
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Nutrition & Health Info Sheets for Health Professionals - Calcium
University of California, Davis. Department of Nutrition.