THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF VITAMINS, MINERALS AND SUPPLEMENTS Second Edition THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF VITAMINS, MINERALS AND SUPPLEMENTS Second Edition Tova Navarra, B.A., R.N. Foreword by Wendy Shankin-Cohen The Encyclopedia of Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements, Second Edition Copyright © 2004 by Tova Navarra All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information contact: Facts On File, Inc. 132 West 31st Street New York NY 10001 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data The encyclopedia of vitamins, minerals, and supplements/Tova Navarra; foreword by Wendy Shankin- Cohen.—2nd ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-8160-4998-X (hc : alk. paper) 1. Vitamins in human nutrition—Encyclopedias. 2. Minerals in human nutrition—Encyclopedias. 3.Dietary supplements—Encyclopedias. I. Navarra, Tova. QP771.E53 2004 612.3′99′03—dc22 2003061662 Facts On File books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk quantities for businesses, associations, institutions, or sales promotions. Please call our Special Sales Department in New York at (212) 967-8800 or (800) 322-8755. You can find Facts On File on the World Wide Web at http://www.factsonfile.com Text and cover design by Cathy Rincon Printed in the United States of America VB Hermitage 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 This book is printed on acid-free paper. To “Vitamin JY”—Julia Yolanda Fleming—my granddaughter, from your loving Nonni h Sickness is felt, but health not at all. —French proverb Prevention is better than cure. —Latin proverb Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. —Proverbs 15:17 An apple a day keeps the doctor away. —17th-century proverb Der Mensch ist was er isst. (Man is what he eats.) —German philosopher Ludwig Feuerbach “A loaf of bread,” the Walrus said, “Is what we chiefly need: Pepper and vinegar besides Are very good indeed.” —Lewis Carroll, from Through the Looking-Glass, And What Alice Found There “Cravings? Of course you have cravings. Your body is crying out for the nutrients it lacks!” —Shoshanna Katzman and Wendy Shankin-Cohen, from Feeling Light CONTENTS Foreword xi Preface xiii Acknowledgments xv Introduction xvii Entries A–Z 1 Appendixes 193 Glossary 321 Bibliography 325 Index 331