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Nutrients often are classified as essential or nonessential. Essential nutrients are those that cannot be synthesized in the body at all or in sufficient amounts to meet needs and, thus, must be obtained preformed in the diet. These include the essential (indispensable) amino acids, the essential The following table summarizes the nutrient classes, the essential compounds in each class, and the basic functions of these nutrients in the body. Additional information about some of these nutrients can be found below. Additional information for the other nutrients can be found under separate entries in this volume....
