Vitamins

 

VITAMINS

Vitamins are organic substances required for regulating the body processes and preventing certain diseases. Vitamins are abundantly found in our daily food. The deficiency of vitamins will lead to diseases.

Vitamin A (Retinol) it is a derivative of β-Carotene. It is a fat soluble vitamin, anti-infective.

Function - important for healthy skin, body growth and help good night vision.

Deficiency –Night blindness, Rough and dry skin xerophthalima, growth deformities.

Sources –Milk, butter, animal’s fat, eggs, carrots, mangoes, orange, papayas, tomatoes.

Eye problems

Vitamin B it is a mixture of number of water soluble vitamins like vitamin B1, B2, B6 and B12.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

Function –Nerve cell, antineuritic, anti-beri-beri, carbohydrate metabolism

Deficiency –Neuritis, beri-beri, loss of appetite, pellagra, diarrhea, adrenals, affects thyroid.

Sources –Yeast, milk, eggs, cereals, rice polishing, meat, liver, pulses

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)

Function –Proteins metabolism

Deficiency –Skin disorders, sore tongue, fissures at the corners of the mouth

Sources –Milk, green vegetables and rice polishing

Sore tongue& fissures at mouth corner

Vitamin B6 Pyridoxin, it is a mixture of three different derivatives (pyridoxal, pyridoxine and pyridoxamine)

Function –Cellular function

Deficiency –Nervous disorder

Sources –Cereal grains, vegetables, honey, egg yolk, peanuts

Vitamin B12 Cyano cobalamin, it contains a cobalt atom co-ordinate to four nitrogen atoms.

Function –Maturation of RBC, DNA synthesis

Deficiency –incomplete maturation, some form of macrocytic anemia

Sources –Milk and milk products, eggs, liver, pulses, cereals

Vitamin C Ascorbic acid, it is a water soluble vitamin

Function –Formation of collagen, cold preventive, vascular function

Deficiency –Scurvy, gums and teeth bleeding

Sources –Tomatoes, lemon, oranges, leafy vegetables, cow’s milk.

Vitamin D Ergo-calciferol, it is a complex mixture of D1, D2, D3, D4, etc. Ultraviolet rays from the sun, change ergosterol present in human skin to vitamin D2 and hence it is called sunshine vitamin

Function –Bone formation, calcium and phosphorus absorption

Deficiency –Rickets, poor formation of teeth

Sources –oily fish, egg yolk, butter, milk, liver

Vitamin E α –Tocopherol, it is a group closely related compounds called Tocopherol. They are known as a, b, g –tocopherols a fat soluble vitamin

Function –Assists cell respiration helps in reproduction, intracellular antioxidant

Deficiency –liver damage, causes abortion, menstruation irregularities, sterility

Sources –Whole wheat, milk, eggs, meat, animal and vegetable oils.

Vitamin K Phylloquinone, it is a mixture of two compounds (K and K2)

Function –Coagulation of blood, bile absorption

Deficiency –Poor coagulation of blood, liver damage

Sources –Leafy vegetables, oats, fish, peas

Blood coagulation