Vitamins and minerals are substances the human body needs to function; they are taken from diet and they represent major nutrients categories together with fatty acids, protein and sugars. Most nutritional supplements contain a balanced combination of vitamins and minerals, with the mention that some products are more specialized than others. Thus, there are supplements that only include one essential mineral and a vitamin that helps to its metabolism. Thus, calcium depends on vitamin D while magnesium works in combination with vitamin B6, to give just two relevant examples here.

All vitamins and minerals are specialized, and a balanced diet will normally provide enough for the proper body functioning. Mention must be made that people who suffer from chronic disease or those who have developed health problems due to mineral or vitamin deficiency which usually require supplementation. When you've been diagnosed with osteoporosis you will need more than just a diet rich in dairy products. You will most certainly need a calcium supplement combined with nutrition element D and C to assist to the absorption of the mineral.

Then, eye problems can often be treated or improved by the administration of the right combination of vitamins and minerals. Antioxidants like vitaminic element A, C and E together with zinc and selenium improve vision, prevent macular degeneration, cataract and glaucoma formation. They are also known to improve the condition of people who suffer from the dry eye syndrome. Do not use vitamin supplements without talking to your doctor first. It usually takes medical expertise to recognize and treat vitamin or mineral deficiencies.

Anemia is often treated with a strong combination of vitamins and minerals besides a very healthy diet. The problem with self-diagnosis and individual treatment is that you could do more harm than good. Here are a few situations where you could go wrong with the use of vitamins and minerals without a doctor's advice.

There are health conditions that do not allow the administration of certain vitaminic elements and supplements.

-Pregnant women should be careful with the vitamin A intake because it can cause baby malformations.

-Smokers who take vision supplements may have problems with the same vitamin A (beta-carotene).

-People who suffer from kidney stones may have problems when using calcium supplements.

-Vitamin K interferes with blood thinning medication.

-Iron can cause constipation.

The list of problems that may accompany the random use of vitamins and minerals is much longer than this. Yet, with the above mentions, we are trying to send an alarm message to all those who self-treat and use vitamin supplements by the 'ear'.