Vitamins – Deficiency Diseases & Food Source

 

• Vitamins are organic substances that an organism needs in small quantities for the proper functioning of its metabolism.
• Vitamins are essential micronutrients that human body needs to grow and develop normally.
• Essential nutrients cannot be synthesized in the organism.
• So we must be obtained it through the diet.
• In humans there are 13 vitamins
  • 4 fat-soluble – A, D, E, and K
  • 9 water-soluble – B complex and C
• Vitamins have diverse biochemical functions.
• Each vitamin has specific jobs in human body.
• You may get health problems, if you have low levels of any vitamins.
• We need to eat a balanced diet with a variety of foods to maintain proper level of all vitamins.

 

 

Fat Soluble Vitamins

Vitamin A

• Chemical Name – Retinol, Carotenoids, beta-carotene

• Deficiency Disease – Night blindness, Hyperkeratosis, Keratomalacia
• Food Sources – Liver, fish, milk, orange, ripe yellow fruits, leafy vegetables, carrots, pumpkin, squash, spinach, soy milk
• Vitamin A helps for growth and development of body.
• It helps to maintenance of the immune system and good vision.
• Vitamin A is needed by the retina for the light-absorbing molecule.

 

Vitamin D

• Chemical Name 
  • D2 – Ergocalciferol
  • D3 – Cholecalciferol

• Deficiency Disease – Rickets, Osteomalacia
• Food Sources – Lichen, eggs, liver, certain fish species such as sardines, certain mushroom species such as shiitake
• Natural source of vitamin D is synthesis of cholecalciferol in the lower layers of skin epidermis through a chemical reaction with UV radiation.
• Vitamin D is a pro-hormone
• Its active form is Calcitriol, normally made in the Kidney.
• Vitamin D helps intestine to absorb calcium, magnesium, and phosphate.

 

Vitamin E

• Chemical Name – Tocopherols

• Deficiency Disease – Deficiency is very rare. Mild hemolytic anemia in newborn infants.
• Food Sources – Many fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, and seed oils.
• Vitamin E is an antioxidant.

 

Vitamin K

• Chemical Name – Phylloquinone

• Deficiency Disease – Bleeding diathesis
• Food Sources – Leafy green vegetables such as spinach, egg yolks, liver
• Vitamin K synthesise of certain proteins that are needed for blood coagulation.
• It controls the binding of calcium in bones and other tissues.

 

 

Water Soluble Vitamins

Vitamin B1

• Chemical Name – Thiamine

• Deficiency Disease – Beriberi, Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome, Optic neuropathy, Leigh’s disease, African Seasonal Ataxia, Central pontine myelinolysis
• Food Sources – Eggs, Pork, Oatmeal, Brown, rice, Edible seeds, Legumes, Vegetables, Potatoes

 

Vitamin B2

• Chemical Name – Riboflavin

• Deficiency Disease – Stomatitis, Anemia, Angular stomatitis, Prolongs recovery from malaria.
• Food Sources – Dairy products, Eggs, Bananas, Popcorn, Green beans, Asparagus, Mushrooms, Almonds

 

Vitamin B3

• Chemical Name – Niacin, Niacinamide, Nicotinamide riboside

• Deficiency Disease – Pellagra
• Food Sources – Meat, Fish, Eggs, Milk, Vegetables, Beans

 

Vitamin B5

• Chemical Name – Pantothenic acid

• Deficiency Disease – Paresthesia, Muscle cramps, Hypoglycemia
•  Food Sources – Meat, Fish, Egg yolks, Sunflower seeds, Alfalfa, Cereal, Peanut, Mushrooms

 

Vitamin B6

• Chemical Name – Pyridoxine, Pyridoxamine, Pyridoxal

• Deficiency Disease – Anemia, Peripheral neuropathy
• Food Sources – Meat, vegetables, tree nuts, bananas

 

Vitamin B7

• Chemical Name – Biotin

• Deficiency Disease – Dermatitis, enteritis
• Food Sources – Raw egg yolk, liver, peanuts, leafy green vegetables

 

Vitamin B9

• Chemical Name – Folic acid, Folates

• Deficiency Disease – Megaloblastic anemia,  deficiency during pregnancy is associated with birth defects, such as neural tube defects
• Food Sources – Leafy vegetables, pasta, bread, cereal, liver

 

Vitamin B12

• Chemical Name – Cyanocobalamin

• Deficiency Disease – Pernicious anemia
• Food Sources – Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk
• It’s needed for making red blood cells (erythropoiesis).
• Cobalt deficiency causes the deficiency of B12.

 

Vitamin C

• Chemical Name – Ascorbic acid

• Deficiency Disease – Scurvy
• Food Sources – Many fruits and vegetables, liver
• Vitamin C is an antioxidant.
• It is involved in protein metabolism