Vitamin and it's types, sources, functions, chemical name, deficiency symptoms and daily requirements

Vitamin 

Vitamin is organic compound which is totally different from the main nutrients (protein, carbohydrates, and, fat), very essential in minute amounts in the diet, whose absence may cause specific deficiency diseases. For normal nutrition and metabolism the body requires certain substances called vitamins. All living beings, plant or animal need vitamins for health, growth and reproduction. There are 13 different types of vitamins have been identified by nutritionists such as A, eight B-complex vitamins, C, D, E, and K.

Kinds of Vitamins 

The vitamins needed for humans are divided into two categories such as water soluble vitamins and fat soluble vitamins. A vitamins than can dissolve in water is called water soluble vitamins such as the vitamins B and C. And a vitamin that can dissolve in fat is called fat soluble vitamin such as vitamins A, D, E and K.

Fat soluble vitamins

A vitamin that can dissolve in fat is called fat soluble vitamin such as vitamins A, D, E and K. 

Sources, daily requirements, functions and deficiency of vitamins are given below:

Vitamin A ( Chemical name Retinol ) 

Vitamin A is also called retinol, is a fat soluble vitamin that is destroyed upon exposure to heat, light, or air. It’s main role is in vision. It is essential for the proper functioning of most body organs.

Sources

Sources of vitamins A are animal as well as plants. The animal sources of vitamin A are fish, cod liver oil, milk, egg yolk, ghee, butter, etc. And plant sources are carrots, tomatoes, green leafy vegetables, papaya, guava, etc.

Daily requirements 

It needs about 2 mg per day for adult person.

Main functions

• It needed for vision and healthy skin.

• It plays vital role in normal body growth such as tooth, bone, mucus membranes etc.

• It also prevents the keratinization.

• It also need for healthy immune system.

Deficiency symptoms

• Vitamins A deficiency results a xerophthalmia disease  which leads to  non-functioning of lachrymal glands, keratinization of conjunctiva and cornea and ulceration of cornea leading to blindness.

• Vitamin A deficiency may cause night blindness and continuity of deficiency leads to loss of sight.

• Prolongation of deficiency causes dry and rough skin.

• Deficiency of vitamin A also cause loss of body weight, defective bone and teeth formation.

Vitamin D (chemical name cholecalciferol)

It is a fat soluble vitamin essential for calcium metabolism in animals. So, it is important for normal mineralization of bone and cartilage.

Sources

Animal sources of vitamins D are fish, cod liver oil, ghee, milk, egg yolk, cheese etc. The natural source of vitamin D is sunlight. Plant source are mushrooms etc.

Daily requirements 

It needs about 0.01 mg per day.

Main functions

• It’s main function is absorption of calcium from intestine and deposit into the bone and teeth.

• It also help in balances calcium and phosphorus.

Deficiency symptoms 

• Deficiency causes rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.

• Overdose of vitamin D is an increased blood calcium concentration, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and weight loss.

Vitamin E (chemical name Tocopherols)

It is fat soluble compound, which was discovered by Evans and Sore. 

Sources

The main source of vitamin E are green vegetables, fruits, nuts, vegetables oil, whole cereal grains, cotton seed oil etc.

Daily requirements

It needed about 15 mg per day.

Main functions

• It act as antioxidants.

• It removes the wrinkles and scares.

• It prevent the formation of unsaturated fatty acids.

• It is essential for normal working of gonads continuations of pregnancy and child birth.

Deficiency symptoms 

• Lack of vitamin E causes sterility in female.

• It causes impair neuromuscular function.

• Lack of vitamin E also causes mild hemolytic anemia in new born infants.

Vitamin K (chemical name Phylloquinone)

Vitamin K is fat soluble and essential for synthesis of certain proteins necessary for the clotting of blood. 

Sources

It’s plants sources are green leafy vegetables, such as cabbage, spinach, coriander leaves, cauliflower etc. And animal sources are liver, egg yolk, etc.

Daily requirements

For adults person it needs about 0.07 to o.14 mg per day.

Main functions

• To promote the synthesis of protein for clotting of blood

Deficiency symptoms

• Lack of vitamin K causes disease called hyprothormbianaemia which cause delayed blood clotting.

Water soluble vitamins 

A vitamins than can dissolve in water is called water soluble vitamins such as the vitamins B and C.

Sources, daily requirements, functions and deficiency of vitamins are given below:

Vitamin C (chemical name Ascorbic Acid)

It is water soluble and easily destroyable ( vitamin C is easily destroyed by cooking). It essential for wound healing and formation of collagen, bones, and supportive tissues.

Sources

Vitamin C is opposite of vitamin B12 and it found in almost plant foods but not in meat. Sources of vitamin C are citrus fruits, pineapple, grapes, spinach etc.

Daily requirements

It is needed 50 mg per day for adults person.

Main functions 

• It help in wound healing.

• It plays important role in blood formation.

• Intake of salad and citrus fruits may reduce the chance of developing cancer of the stomach.

Deficiency symptoms

• Lack of vitamin C causes scurvy.

• Lack of vitamin C also causes joint pains, irritability, growth retardation, anemia, shortness of breath etc.

Vitamin B-complex 

It consists of several vitamins that are grouped together. All the vitamin B are soluble in water. Most of the B vitamins have been recognized as coenzymes, and they all appear to be essential in facilitating the metabolism processes of all forms of animal life. The vitamins B-complex includes B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), niacin (nicotinic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B12 (cyanocoblamin), folic acid, pantothenic acid, and biotin. It includes eight vitamins.

1. Vitamin B1 (chemical name Thiamine)

Vitamin B1 was first proposed by Funk. It is also called anti-Beriberi and antineuritic vitamin.

Sources

It usually found in whole grain cereals, nuts, meats, milk, egg yolk, yeasts, kidney, and liver.

Daily requirements

It required 1.2 to 1.4 mg for adults and 1 mg for woman.

Main functions

• It act as co-factor TPP.

• It actively involved in metabolism of carbohydrate, alcohol, and some amino acids.

Deficiency symptoms

• Lack of vitamin B1 causes Beriberi diseases.

• Deficiency also cause warnickle-korsakoff syndrome, nervous disorder, and polyneuritis.

2. Vitamin B2 (chemical name riboflavin)

It is required to complete several reactions in the energy cycle. 

Sources

The main sources vitamin B2 are milk, eggs, leafy vegetables, kidney, and liver.

Daily requirements

It required 1.2 to 1.7 mg per day for adult.

Main functions

• It plays a vital role in metabolism like carbohydrates, proteins and fat.

• It is so essential for normal growth of body.

• It is required for oxidation in endoplasmic reticulum.

Deficiency symptoms

• Deficiency causes lips cracks at the corner of mouth, inflammation of the tongue, scaly inflammation of the skin etc.

3. Vitamin B3 (chemical name Niacin)

Niacin is water soluble vitamin that is also made in human liver by the conversion of the amino acid tryptophan.

Sources

Main plant sources of niacin are cereal husks, peas, beans, green leafy vegetables, nuts, mushrooms etc. were as animal sources are liver, fish, milk, egg yolk etc.

Daily requirements

It needs about 13 to 18 mg per day.

Main functions 

• It involves in all metabolic activities.

• It helps in the metabolism of carbohydrates.

Deficiency symptoms

• Deficiency leads to disease pellagra.

4.Vitamin B5 (chemical name Pantophenic Acid)

Pantophenic acid promotes a large number of metabolic reactions essential for the growth and well being of animals.

Sources

It is found in green leafy vegetables, egg yolk, milk, liver, molasses, broccoli, meat, avocado etc.

Daily requirements

It required about 5 to 10 mg per day.

Main functions

• It help in cell respiration.

• It is necessary for normal nerve and skin.

Deficiency symptoms

• Deficiency leads to growth failure, skin lesions, and graying of hair.

• It causes abnormal functioning of supra renal gland, nerve degeneration, dermatitis, gastrointestinal disorders, and anaemia.

5. Vitamin B6 (chemical name Pyridoxine)

Vitamin B6 is water soluble vitamin of group B. It is known as pyridoxine. It acts as cofactors for the many enzymes involved in amino acid metabolism.

Sources

Plant sources are cereals, green leafy vegetables, tree nut, banana etc. And animal sources are meat, liver, kidney, and egg yolk etc.

Daily requirements

It required about 2 mg per day.

Main functions

• It acts as cofactors for the many enzymes involved in amino acid metabolism.

• It is used as a drug for treating tuberculosis.

• It involves metabolism of tryptophan , synthesis of glycogen etc.

Deficiency symptoms 

• Disorder of CNS.

• Anaemia.

• Loss of sensation in legs and hands.

6. Vitamin B7 (chemical name Biotin)

It is water soluble vitamin. It was first identified and nutritive requirement of yeast.

Sources

It found in egg yolk, beef liver, yeast etc.

Daily requirements 

It requires about 0.3 mg per day.

Main functions 

• It’s functions in metabolic processes leading to the formation of fats and the utilization of carbon dioxide, a relatively stable substance.

Deficiency symptoms

• Deficiency leads to impairment of gluconeogenesis and fat metabolism.

• Deficiency also leads to sever metabolic acidosis.

7. Vitamin B9 (chemical name Folic acid)

It also water soluble vitamin. 

Sources 

It found in leafy vegetables, pasta, bread, cereal, liver, whole grain etc.

Daily requirements

It needs about 0.4 mg per day.

Main functions 

• To synthesis of DNA.

• It also help in synthesis of proteins.

• It help in formation of RBCs.

Deficiency symptoms

• Deficiency causes folicacid deficiency anemia.

• Deficiency also causes gastrointestinal problems.

8. Vitamin B12 (chemical name Cyanocoblamin)

It is a complex crystalline compound that functions in all cells. It is water soluble, has the highest molecular weight of any vitamin.

Sources

It only found in animals and its products including bacteria and moulds. It found in meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk etc.

Daily requirements 

It requires about 0.003 mg per day.

Main functions 

• It act as coenzyme for nucleic acid and metabolism.

• It essential for development of blood cells.

• It act as anti anemia factor.

Deficiency symptoms

• Deficiency may leads abnormal in the metabolism of fatty acids, degeneration of myelin sheath, pernicious anemia etc.