Vitamins and minerals are essential micronutrients that play important roles in maintaining optimal organismal health and supporting various physiological processes within the body. Vitamins are organic compounds necessary for the normal functioning of the body and are classified into two main categories: fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) and water-soluble vitamins (B-complex and vitamin C). Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the body's fatty tissues, whilst water-soluble vitamins are not stored and need to be replenished regularly. Minerals, on the other hand, are inorganic elements that are critical for various physiological processes. They include macrominerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium, as well as trace minerals like iron, zinc, and copper. Such minerals are essential for maintaining the balance of bodily fluids, supporting bone health, facilitating enzyme function, and ensuring proper nerve and muscle function. One of the key roles of vitamins and minerals is their involvement in cell signalling. Vitamins and minerals act as cofactors for many enzymes involved in cell signalling pathways, playing crucial roles in transmitting signals and regulating gene expression. For example, vitamin A, in the form of retinoic acid, acts as a ligand for nuclear receptors, influencing the expression of target genes. It plays a vital role in vision, immune function, and cell growth and differentiation. Vitamin D acts as a hormone that regulates calcium and phosphorus metabolism, promoting the absorption of dietary calcium and phosphorus from the small intestine by stimulating the production of calcium-binding proteins that facilitate the transport of calcium and phosphorus across the intestinal lining. It also modulates immune function and has been implicated in various signalling pathways related to cell proliferation and differentiation. Vitamin E, a potent antioxidant, protects cell membranes from oxidative damage and participates and has been suggested to modulate signalling cascades involved in inflammation and apoptosis. Similarly, vitamin K is essential for blood clotting and bone metabolism, and it has been found to influence cell signalling pathways related to cell growth and survival. Amongst minerals, calcium is a crucial player in cell signalling. It functions as a second messenger, participating in processes such as muscle contraction, neurotransmitter release, and hormone secretion. Magnesium, another vital mineral, is involved in hundreds of enzymatic reactions, including those related to cell signalling. It regulates the activity of various kinases and phosphatases, impacting signalling in multiple cascades involved in cell growth, proliferation, and apoptosis. Iron, although primarily known for its role in oxygen transport, also plays a critical role in cell signalling. It is an essential component of heme-containing proteins involved in various signalling pathways, including those related to cellular respiration and energy production. Finally, zinc, copper, and selenium are other trace minerals that act also as cofactors for numerous enzymes involved in cell signalling and antioxidant defence mechanisms. We provide a large product range of research reagents for studying vitamins and minerals, including RBP4 antibodies, Carbonic Anhydrase IX antibodies, Ferritin Light Chain antibodies, Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 1 ELISA Kits, and Myoglobin ELISA Kits. Explore our full vitamins and minerals product range below and discover more, for less.