[ Nutrient ]
A substance that provides nourishment essential to life.
Nutrients may either be organic, as in carbohydrates, fats, proteins and vitamins, or inorganic, as in minerals, oxygen and water. They are derived from the environment, typically food, and may be synthesised in the body from other nutrients, or derived from dietary supplements.
Compare: drugs
Also see: Macronutrient and Micronutrient