Do vitamins and minerals provide energy to the body?

Vitamins and minerals are essential micronutrients that play critical roles in various bodily functions, but they do not provide energy in the form of calories. Energy for the body primarily comes from macronutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. These macronutrients are metabolized to produce energy that the body can use, measured in calories.

Vitamins serve as coenzymes or cofactors in metabolic processes, aiding in the conversion of energy from these macronutrients. Minerals, likewise, support various physiological functions and are essential for processes such as muscle contraction, nerve conduction, and regulating water balance. However, they do not yield energy themselves.

Understanding the distinction between energy-providing macronutrients and the supportive roles of vitamins and minerals is crucial in nutrition. Thus, the correct understanding is that vitamins and minerals are important for overall health and metabolic processes, but they do not provide energy directly to the body.