How to Tell the Difference Between a Vitamin and a Supplement

Supplements. Dietary Supplements. Vitamins. What’s the difference? Is there a difference? With all of these terms floating around to describe the same and similar products, you may find yourself confused and questioning what to actually call a product. Don’t worry; we’ll explain what you need to know to accurately use these terms!

Dietary Supplements

Dietary supplements (often referred to as just supplements) can contain a combination of vitamins, minerals, and/or phytonutrients. Phytonutrients, such as carotenoids and flavonoids, are naturally occurring chemicals in fruits and vegetables that may provide additional health benefits.

Vitamins

A vitamin is a type of chemical compound that is a vital nutrient for an organism. When someone refers to a “vitamin,” they are talking about a dietary supplement that contains vitamins.

A Rectangle is Not Always a Square

A vitamin is a type of dietary supplement, but a dietary supplement is not always a vitamin. It’s like how a square is always a rectangle, but a rectangle is not always a square.

A dietary supplement like our Nutrilite™ Vitamin C Extended Release, which contains vitamin C, could be referred to as a “vitamin.” However, it would be incorrect to label a dietary supplement like Nutrilite™ ClearGuard™ Supplement  a “vitamin” because it doesn’t contain any vitamins, but instead is a synergistic combination of premium plant concentrates: acerola cherry, cinnamon, and Spanish needles, which help support clear nasal passages in three days or less.†

† This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Did You Know:

Only thirteen vitamins for humans are universally recognized today.

Vitamin A – Sources include squash, spinach, fish, soy milk, milk

Vitamin B1 – Sources include pork, oatmeal, brown rice, vegetables, potatoes, liver, eggs

Vitamin B2 – Sources include dairy products, bananas, popcorn, green beans, asparagus

Vitamin B3 – Sources include meat, fish, eggs, many vegetables, mushrooms, tree nuts

Vitamin B5 – Sources include meat, broccoli, avocados

Vitamin B6 – Sources include meat, vegetables, tree nuts, bananas

Vitamin B7 – Sources include egg yolk, liver, peanuts, leafy green vegetables

Vitamin B9 – Sources include leafy vegetables, pasta, bread, cereal, liver

Vitamin B12 – Sources include meat and other animal products

Vitamin C – Sources include many fruits and vegetables, liver

Vitamin D – Sources include fish, eggs, liver, mushrooms

Vitamin E – Sources include fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds

Vitamin K – Sources include leafy green vegetables such as spinach, egg yolks, liver

 

For these vitamins and additional supplements to ponder, compare, and add to your daily regimen, visit our Nutrilite™ Brand Vitamins & Supplements page.