How many vitamins are recognized as essential?

The recognition of 13 vitamins as essential is based on their critical role in various bodily functions and overall health. These vitamins include Vitamin A, C, D, E, K, and the B-complex vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, and B12). Each of these vitamins contributes uniquely to health, such as supporting the immune system, promoting cell growth, and aiding in energy metabolism. The identification of these vitamins comes from extensive research in nutrition and health, demonstrating that deficiencies in any of these can lead to health issues.

While options indicating fewer or more vitamins could stem from misunderstandings about certain nutrients or recent dietary research that may emphasize different vitamins, the established and widely recognized count of essential vitamins has remained at 13 due to their proven importance in human physiology.