Vitamins-Functions, Types, Characteristics, Chemical Name, Uses and Deficiency Diseases

These essential nutrients are broken up into two groups based on the amount that is
needed:
1.Macro nutrients: protein, carbohydrates, fat, and water
2. Micro nutrients: vitamins and minerals
Vitamins: Vitamins comprises micro-nutrients, since these are required in minute
quantities. These are necessary for normal growth, good health, good vision, proper
digestion of body. etc. Each vitamin has its own importance for life and the health of
the body. It is difficult to replace it by any other thing. If there is deficiency of vitamins
in the diet of body, the body suffers from various diseases and ailments.
Function of Vitamins
Vitamins are helpful for the health and life of the body in the following respects:
(a) They build up the resistance of the body against diseases.
(b) Prevent and cure various diseases caused by deficiency.
(c) Help the digestion and utilisation of mineral salts and Carbohydrates in the body.
(d) Stimulate and give strength to digestive and nervous system.
(e) Help health protection.
(f) Help maintenance of proper health and normal growth.
Vitamins are classified as

Water soluble vitamins - Water-soluble vitamins cannot be stored in the body, so

you need to get them from food every day. They can be destroyed by overcooking.
These are easily absorbed by the body. Human body doesn't store large amounts of
water-soluble vitamins. B-complex vitamins and vitamin C are water-soluble vitamins
that are not stored in the body and must be replaced each day. These vitamins are
easily destroyed or washed out during food storage and preparation. They are
eliminated in urine so, body need a continuous supply of them in diets. Examples:
Vitamin B-complex group: Thiamin (vitamin B1), Riboflavin (vitamin B2), Niacin,
Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Biotin, Pantothenic acid and Vitamin C

Fat soluble vitamins - Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E and Vitamin K. Unlike water-
soluble vitamins, these vitamins dissolve in fat and are stored in liver and body
tissues. Fat-soluble vitamins are absorbed, together with fat from the intestine, into
the circulation.

Vitamin D is absorbed in small intestine.

Vitamin E is stored in liver and adipose tissue.

 Vitamin A is a generic term for a class of compounds called retinoids.
Carotenoids: pigment in fruits and vegetables used in forming vitamin A.
Retinoids stored in liver and carotenoids stored in liver and adipose tissue.

The release of vitamin K and Vitamin E from food requires bile, digestive
enzymes from the pancreas and intestinal tract, and integration into micelles

Vitamin D: Two nutritionally important forms: vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) which is

found in plants and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) which is synthesized in the body
from cholesterol. Provitamin D (a form of cholesterol) is converted to previtamin
D3 is converted to vitamin D3 in Skin. D3 must be metabolized in the liver
before becoming the active form of vitamin D. Formation of hormone form
(Calcidiol and Calitriol) of vitamin D occurs in the liver and kidneys

Where are Fat Soluble Vitamins stored in Human Body?

Vitamins A, D and K are stored in the liver and vitamin E is distributed throughout the
body's fatty tissues.

What is Hyper-Vitaminosis?
Because fat-soluble vitamins are stored in body, over time they can accumulate to
dangerous levels and can lead to a condition called hyper-vitaminosis, meaning
excess amounts of a vitamin in the body if taken more than enough.

Vitamins Chemica Sources Deficiency Function in Body

l Name Causes
Vitamin A Rclinol Animal Fat, Night vision, growth,
Eggs. Carrot blindness. resistance to
Mangoes, Dermatitis and diseases
Milk, Xerophthalmia
Papayas.
Vitamin Thiamine Cereals, Beriberi energy metabolism
B1 Eggs (glucides), proper
functioning of the
nervous system
Vitamin Riboflavin Fish. Cereals Ariboflavinosis metabolism of
B2 amino acids and
fats
Vitamin Nicotinic grains, tissue integrity
B3 Acid yeast, fish, (skin)
eggs
Vitamin Pyridoxin Cereals, Convulsions in metabolism of
B6 e Eggs child proteins, fats,
glucides and iron
Vitamin- Folic Acid yeast, liver protein
B9 metabolism,
haemoglobin
synthesis
Vitamin Cyanocab Eggs and Pernicious protein
B12 alamin cereals Anaemia metabolism,
haemoglobin
synthesis
Vitamin C Ascorbic Fruit, Scurvy
Acid Orange.
Lenons. Milk
Vitamin D Calciferol Fish. Eggs, Ricketts and balanced
Milk, Butter Osteomalacia metabolism of
phosphorus and
calcium, improved
absorption of
calcium
Vitamin E Tocophero Wheat Sterility antioxidant
l germ. Milk. prevention of
Eggs. Yolk muscular pathology
(strain)
Vitamin K Phylloqui Wheat Hemophilia production of
nione germ. Milk, coagulants
cereals.
Eggs
Vitamin Biotin yeast, integrity of the
-H natural skin, metabolism of
ingredients glucides. lipids and
proteins.