eli5: If vitamins are things considered essential to human life, why is salt not considered a vitamin?

Question

Salt isn’t regularly considered a spice, nor is it discussed as a vitamin like A, B, etc. But isn’t it necessary in small amounts for humans?

In: 402

Answer 1

When we say take your vitamins, it is just shortening the original phrase. Take your vitamins AND minerals. Salt is a required mineral by the body, just like magnesium and iron for example.

So in short, while not a vitamin, it is a mineral and just as required for healthy bodily functions. Most multi-vitamins contain both vitamins and minerals.