important functions of vitamins
Vitamins are a group of substances that are essential for normal cell function, growth, and development. There are 13 essential vitamins, meaning they are needed for the body to function. Vitamin A helps form and maintain healthy teeth, bones, soft tissue, mucus membranes, and skin. 2  Vitamin B6 is also called pyridoxine. 3  Vitamin B6 helps form red blood cells and maintain brain function. 4  This vitamin also plays an important role in the proteins that are part of many chemical reactions in the body.