Vitamins

Vitamins

Definition: vitamins are food accessory nutrient plays key role in metabolism and health. It is not synthesized in our body but derived from food substances. They found in vegetables, meat, milk, fish and egg. They are required in small quantities and their absence in diet cases deficiency diseases.

Classification; vitamins are classified based on their solubility into two types such as water soluble and fat-soluble vitamins. Fat soluble vitamins: A, D,E, and K.  Water soluble: B and C

Fat soluble vitamins:

Name of the vitamins	Source	Function	Deficiency diseases
A Retinol	Liver, milk, butter, egg, yolk, carrots, leafy green vegetables, sweet potatoes and pumpkins,	Helps to keep them healthy, thus increasing resistance to infections, essential for night vision; promotes bones and tooth development. Beta carotene is an antioxidant and may protect against cancer. Involved in protein synthesis, Bone formation, Reproduction, Synthesis of Mucopolysaccharides formation. Involved in the DNA metabolism	Nyctalopia: night blindness, diarrhoea, intestinal infections, impaired vision. Severe; inflammation of eyes, keratinization of skin and eyes. Blindness in children. Xerophthalmia: redness and dryness of eye
D Calciferol	Diary products, fish oil, egg yolk, synthesized by sunlight action on skin	Calcium absorption in the intestine, Improve the absorption of phosphates, Promotes hardening of bones and Teeth,	rickets in children 6-18months, bow leg, pigeon breast and knocked knee and brittle bone osteomalacia in adult in pregnancy and lactation
E Tocopherol or ant sterility vitamin	Vegetable oil, butter, green and leafy vegetables, wheat germ, whole grain products, nuts, egg, yolk, liver.	Protects vitamins A and C and fatty acids, prevents damage to cell membranes, Antioxidants. biosynthesis of coenzymes Q	Disorders that impair fat absorption (such as certain liver disorders, gallbladder disorders, pancreatitis, and cystic fibrosis) can also reduce the absorption of vitamin E and increase the risk of vitamin E deficiency.
K Antihaemorrhagic vitamin	Dark green leafy vegetables, liver, also made by bacteria in the intestine.	Helps in blood clotting, post translational modification of various blood clotting factors. Serve as coenzyme.	Excessive bleeding (normal 5-8 min), victims dies because of loss of blood.

Water soluble vitamin

 

Name of the Vitamin	Source	Function	Deficiency diseases
Thiamine (Vit – B1) Umetaro Suzuki-1910	Pork, liver, whole grains, enriched grain products, peas, meat, legumes.	Formation of thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP); acts as coenzymes in glycolysis and Krebs cycle. Helps release energy from food. Promotes normal appetite: important in function of nervous system. Helps in the formation of carbohydrates and protein	Beriberi: Oedema and Anorexia Lactic and pyruvic acid accumulate in the blood. Heart become weak and enlarged Constipation neurological problems.
Riboflavin (Vit – B2)   Warburg -1932	Liver, milk, dark green vegetables, whole and enriched grain products, eggs.	Formation of FMN and FAD, Helps release energy from foods; promotes good vision, health skin. Promotes growth Components of acetyl CoA	Cheilosis: Cracks at cornors of mouth; dermatitis around nose and lips; eyes sensitive to light Sore tongue Photophobia Skin loss hair and the skin became dry and scaly Growth is arrested
Niacin (Vit – B3) (nicotinamide, nicotinic acid) Huber -1807	Liver, fish, poultry, meat, peanuts, whole and enriched grain products.	Essential for Growth, role in oxidation and metabolism, formation of fats from carbohydrates. NAD and NADP-Co enzymes formation, Energy production from foods; aids digestion, promotes normal appetite; promotes healthy skin, nerves.	Pellagra: dermatitis, diarrhoea and dementia;  Gastrointestinal disorder, headache, confusion, loss of weight, and strength, anaemia
Pantothenic acid (Vit – B5) Wildiers -1901	Liver, kidney, meats, egg yolk, whole grains, legumes; also made by intestinal bacteria.	Involved in energy production; aids in formation of hormones.	Burning feed syndromes, fatigue; nausea, abdominal cramps; difficulty sleeping.
Vit – B6 (pyridoxine) Gyorgy- 1934	Pork, meats, whole grains and cereals, legumes, green, leafy vegetables.	Acts as coenzymes, synthesis of fats from carbohydrates, active transport of amino acids, role in central nerve system and Aids in protein metabolism,	Vitamin B6 deficiency causes peripheral neuropathy and a pellagra-like syndrome and, in adults, can cause confusion, electroencephalogram abnormalities, and seizures.
Vitamin – B 7 (Biotin ) Bateman - 1916	Liver, kidney, egg yolk, milk, most fresh vegetables, also made by intestinal bacteria	Helps release energy from carbohydrates, aids in fat synthesis. Deamination of amino acids,	Uncommon under normal circumstances, fatigue; loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting; depression; muscle pains; anemia.
Folic acids (Vit –B9)	Liver, kidney, dark green leafy vegetables, meats, fish, whole citrus fruits.	Acts as coenzymes, RNA synthesis, Aids in protein metabolism, promotes red blood cell formation; prevents birth defects of spine, brain;	Megaloblatic anemia (pregnancy anemia); smooth tongue; diarrhoea.
Cyanocobalamine (Vit- B12   Smith and parker- 1948	Found only in animal foods; meats. Liver. Kidney fish, eggs, milk and milk products, oysters, shellfish.	Aids in building of genetic material; aids in development of normal red blood cells; maintenance of nervous system. Fats from carbohydrates formation, Prevents hyperglycimia	Pernicious anemia, anemia; degeneration of peripheral nerves that may cause numbness, tingling in fingers and toes.
Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) Gyorgyi -1928	Citrus fruits, strawberries, melon, green pepper, tomatoes, dark green vegetables, potatoes.	Growth, Formation of collagen, wound healing; maintaining blood vesserls, bones teeth, absorption of iron, calcium production of brain hormones, immune factors; antioxidant.	Scurvy; Bleeding gums, wound don’t heal; rough skin; sore joints and bones; increased infections. disturbance in carbohydrates metabolism