Examples include sodium and fluorine. Sodium is found in very large amounts in areas such as extracellular fluid and perspiration. Fluorine is used by the body in dental and bone formations. Many times minerals are not kept in proper balance, and this causes the body to not perform at peak levels. Eventually lack of minerals can cause severe harm against a person.
Vitamins are organic substances that function as chemical regulators.
Vitamins are necessary in life for growth and maintenance. Since vitamins are needed in such small quantity, even a poor diet usually provides all the required vitamins needed by a person. The important aspect of vitamins for an athlete is that an athlete needs the same amount of vitamins as an average person. Many people, including non-athletes, take vitamins everyday. Vitamins are also not an energy source.