Since vitamins occur in all organic material, some containing more
of one vitamin than another, you could say that if you ate the 'right'
foods in a well balanced diet, you will get all the vitamins you
need and you would probably be right; the problem is, very few of
us are able to arrange this diet.
According to Dr Daniel T Quigley, author of the National Malnutrition,
"Every one who has in the past eaten sugar, white flour or canned
food has some deficiency, the extent of which depends on the percentage
of such deficient foods in our diet". Vitamins alone are not enough
as they cannot be assimilated without the aid of minerals. Although
the body can synthesize some vitamins, it cannot manufacture a single
mineral. Which is why a multi-vitamins and mineral supplement is
a good basis to start.