Essential nutrient

An essential nutrient is a nutrient required for normal physiological function that cannot be
synthesized by the body, and thus must be obtained from a dietary source.[1] Apart from
water, which is universally required for the maintenance of homeostasis,[2] essential nutrients
are indispensable for the metabolic processes of cells, as well as the proper physiological
functions of tissues and organs.[3] In the case of humans, there are nine amino acids, two fatty
acids, thirteen vitamins and fifteen minerals that are considered essential nutrients.[3] In
addition, there are several molecules that are considered conditionally essential nutrients
since they are indispensable in certain developmental and pathological states.[3][4][5]

Contents
 1 Amino acids
 2 Fatty acids
 3 Vitamins
 4 Minerals
 5 Conditionally essential nutrients
 6 References

Amino acids
Main article: Essential amino acid

An essential amino acid is an amino acid that cannot be synthesized de novo (from the
scratch) by an organism, and therefore must be supplied in its diet. Out of the twenty amino
acids, nine cannot be endogenously synthesized by humans: phenylalanine, valine, threonine,
tryptophan, methionine, leucine, isoleucine, lysine, and histidine.[6][7]

Fatty acids
Main article: Essential fatty acid

Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are fatty acids that humans and other animals must ingest
because the body requires them for good health but cannot synthesize them.[8] Only two fatty
acids are known to be essential for humans: alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid) and
linoleic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid).[9]

Vitamins
Main article: Vitamin

Vitamins are organic molecules essential for an organism that are not classified as amino
acids or fatty acids. They commonly function as enzymatic cofactors, metabolic regulators or
antioxidants. Humans require thirteen vitamins in their diet, most of which are actually
groups of related molecules (e.g. vitamin E includes tocopherols and tocotrienols).[10]
Minerals
Main article: Mineral (nutrient)

Minerals are the exogenous chemical elements indispensable for an organism which are not
provided by the other essential nutrients. The elements provided by essential amino acids,
fatty acids and vitamins are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur. For humans, the
"major minerals" are calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chlorine, and magnesium.
"Minor minerals" include metals such as iron, zinc, manganese and copper.

Conditionally essential nutrients

Conditionally essential nutrients are certain organic molecules that can normally be
synthesized by an organism, but under certain conditions such biosynthesis is not enough to
prevent a deficiency syndrome. In humans, such conditions include prematurity, limited
nutrient intake, rapid growth, and certain disease states.[4] Choline, inositol, taurine, arginine,
glutamine and nucleotides are classified as conditionally essential and are particularly
important in neonatal diet and metabolism.[4]

References
1.

 "What is an essential nutrient?". NetBiochem Nutrition, University of Utah.

  Jéquier, E; Constant, F (2 September 2009). "Water as an essential nutrient: the
physiological basis of hydration". European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 64 (2): 115–123.
doi:10.1038/ejcn.2009.111.
  Chipponi, JX; Bleier, JC; Santi, MT; Rudman, D (May 1982). "Deficiencies of essential
and conditionally essential nutrients.". American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 35 (5 Suppl):
1112–1116. PMID 6805293.
  Carver, Jane (2006). "Conditionally essential nutrients: choline, inositol, taurine,
arginine, glutamine and nucleotides". Neonatal Nutrition and Metabolism. Cambridge, UK:
Cambridge University Press. pp. 299–311.
  Kendler, BS (2006). "Supplemental conditionally essential nutrients in cardiovascular
disease therapy". Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. 21 (1): 9–16. PMID 16407731.
  Young VR (1994). "Adult amino acid requirements: the case for a major revision in
current recommendations" (PDF). J. Nutr. 124 (8 Suppl): 1517S–1523S. PMID 8064412.
  Dietary Reference Intakes: The Essential Guide to Nutrient Requirements, published by
the Institute of Medicine's Food and Nutrition Board, currently available online at "Archived
copy". Archived from the original on 2014-07-05. Retrieved 2014-07-14.
  Robert S. Goodhart; Maurice E. Shils (1980). Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease
(6th ed.). Philadelphia: Lea and Febinger. pp. 134–138. ISBN 0-8121-0645-8.
  Whitney Ellie; Rolfes SR (2008). Understanding Nutrition (11th ed.). California:
Thomson Wadsworth. p. 154.
 Brigelius-Flohé R, Traber MG; Traber (1999). "Vitamin E: function and metabolism".
FASEB J. 13 (10): 1145–1155. PMID 10385606.