VITAMINS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR HEALTH

 Definition of vitamin ,types of vitamins, classification of vitamins ,Sources and deficiency . Mostly vitamins are taken through diet .

                  

What is a simple definition of vitamin :

Vitamins are essential nutrients feature required in small amounts for normal metabolism.

                        OR

They are organic compounds required in the diet in in small amounts to perform specific biological functions for normal maintenance of optimum growth and health of the organism.

•Most of the vitamins cannot be synthesized in our body but plants can synthesise almost all of them so they are considered are essential food factors.

Types of vitamins :

There are 13 important types of vitamins are given below :-

1. Vitamin A (Retinol )
2. Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
3. Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
4. Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
5. Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid )
6. Vitamin B6 ( pyridoxine)
7. Vitamin B7 ( Biotin )
8. Vitamin B9 (Folic acid)
9. Vitamin B12 (Cynocobalamine )
10. Vitamin  C     ( Ascorbic acid   )
11. Vitamin D    ( Calciferols )
12. Vitamin  E    ( Tocopherols )
13. Vitamin K     (phylloquinone )

Classification of vitamins :

Vitamins are classified into two groups depending upon their solubility in water or Fat :-

1. Fat soluble vitamins :

Vitamins which are soluble in fat and oils but insoluble in water are kept in this group. These are vitamins A,D, E and K. They are stored in liver and adipose tissues (fat storing tissues ) .

2. Water soluble vitamins :

B group vitamins and Vitamin C are soluble in water so they are grouped together. Water soluble vitamins must be supplied regularly indict because they are readily excreted in urine and cannot be stored ( except vitamin B12 ) in our body .

Some important vitamins their sources and their deficiency diseases :

     Fat Soluble Vitamins 

Vitamins A or Retinol :

It is an unsaturated alcohol. Carotene is the precursor of vitamin A. Carotenes exist in three forms alpha , beta and gamma .

Sources :

Carotenes are present in in carrot spinach and green vegetables. It is also present in dairy product like milk butter and cheese .

Deficiency :

The deficiency of vitamin A leads to :-

1. Nyctolopia means night blindness .

2. Xerophthalmia means failure of tear secretion.

 

VITAMIN D or calciferol 

Sources :

1. Egg , butter , milk , and cod - liver oil (fish)

2. Sunlight converts dehydrocholesterol of skin into Vitamin D .

Deficiency diseases :

Deficiency of of Vitamin D produces rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. These two diseases are characterized by deformities of bones.

 VITAMIN E ( or Tocopherol 

  Sources :

    soybean oil ,wheat germ Oil,  and rice germ Oil .

Deficiency diseases : 

Abortion and sterility in animals. No symptom has been established in humans .

 VITAMIN K (Phylloquinone)

Sources :

Liver spinach and other green vegetables. Bacteria present in  the intestine also synthesise vitamin K.

 

Deficiency diseases:

Increased bleeding due to defective clotting mechanism .

 

WATER SOLUBLE VITAMINS :

The water soluble vitamins which belong to the the group of Vitamin B complex are are thiamine riboflavin nicotinic acid pyridoxin pantothenic acid bio 3 methionine Folic acid and cynocobalamine .

VITAMIN B1 (THIAMINE )

Sources : peas , beans , oatmeal , peanuts , vegetables and fruits .

Deficiency diseases : beri-beri .

 VITAMIN B2 (RIBOFLAVINE )

SOURCES : Liver , kidney , meat , egg , milk and vegetables.

  

Deficiency diseases : Soreness of lips and redness of eye .

VITAMIN B3 (Nicotinic acid ) :

SOURCES : liver , milk , Egg ,rice polishing , potatoes and vegetables

 Deficiency diseases :  pellagra characterized by deformaties diarrhoea and mental confusion .

 VITAMIN B6 ( PYRIDOXINE ) :

SOURCES : Yeast , cereals , legumes , milk and meat.

Deficiency diseases : irritability abdominal distension loss of body weight and anaemia in children in adults the deficiency produces Lesions of skin and mouth peripheral neuritis and mental changes .

VITAMIN B5 (Pantothenic Acid )  :

SOURCES : Yeast ,wheat , peanuts milk and l            liver.

Deficiency  diseases : keratitis dermatitis neuromuscular degeneration and adrenocortical insufficiency e in animals. Inhumans the deficiency produces fatigue nausea etc.

      VITAMIN B9 (  FOLIC ACID  ) 

Sources : rich in vegetarian foods like cabbage spinach and all green vegetables. Non vegetarian foods contain less Folic acid.

Deficiency : the deficiency of Folic acid the deficiency leads to defective maturation of red blood cells. This leads to  megaloblastic anaemia. This type of anaemia is characterized by the release of abnormally large size red blood cells. But these RBCs have sufficient hemoglobin .

VITAMIN B12 (Cynocobalamin) :

 Sources : non vegetarian foods like meat beef liver kidney vestas egg and Milk . Very little is present in vegetarian foods like leguminous plants .

Deficiency : deficiency of cyanocobalamin to megaloblastic anaemia very similar to the deficiency of Folic acid. Both cyanocobalamin and Folic acid are required for the development of red blood cells.

 

VITAMIN C ( ASCORBIC ACID ) :

Sources : citrous fruits , tomatoes , potatoes and green vegetables .

Deficiency : deficiency of ascorbic acid produces  scurvy. Symptoms of scurvy are weakness , fatigue pain in joints and muscles. Also so there is is bleeding of gums and loosening of teeth .