Vitamins (the term is derived from the Latin word vita = life) are differently structured organic compounds. Already minimal amounts are of vital importance since the human body is not able to synthesize vitamins at all or only in insufficient amounts. Essential fatty acids, formerly also called vitamin F, and essential amino acids do not pertain to the vitamins. Originally it was assumed that vitamins consist of amines - that is the reason for the second word component "amin". However, this is no longer applicable for the vitamins known to the present day.