Vitamins

• Vitamins


  Essential organic substances that the body cannot synthesize or does not sufficiently synthesize
• Vitamins are present in almost all foods, but no single food group is the source of all vitamins
• Functions of vitamins

  • Antioxidant
  • Enzyme cofactor
  • Hormones and important in blood cell maturation
  • Bone formation and active in energy metabolism
• Vitamin A (Retinol)


  Maintenance of good vision, resistance to infection
• Vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, growth retardation, abnormal taste response, dermatitis
• Vitamin E (Tocopherols)


  Antioxidant, important for cellular respiration
• Vitamin D2 (Ergocalciferol, Cholecalciferol)


  Helps body absorb calcium & phosphorus,
• Vitamin D2 deficiency can cause rickets (young), and osteomalacia (adult)
• Vitamin K (Phytomenadione)


  Cofactor of procoagulants like prothrombin
• Vitamin K deficiency can cause bleeding disorder and hemorrhage
• Fat Soluble Vitamins

  • Vitamin A

  • Vitamin E

  • Vitamin D2

  • Vitamin D3

  • Vitamin K
• Vitamin D3


  activated sterol-1,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol aids in absorption of dietary calcium
• Vitamin D3 deficiency can cause hypocalcemia
• Vitamin E deficiency can cause mild hemolytic anemia in newborn, RBC fragility, and ataxia which is a degenerative disease for nervous system
• Water Soluble Vitamins

  • B1 (Thiamine)
  • B2 (Riboflavin)
  • B3 (Pantothenic acid)
  • B6 (Pyridoxine, pyridoxal)
  • B12 (Cyanocobalamin)
  • Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)
  • Biotin
  • Carnitine
  • Folic acid (Pteroylglutamic acid)
  • Niacin or Niacinamide (Nicotinic Acid)
• B1 (Thiamine)


  Enzyme cofactor
• B2 (Riboflavin)


  Enzyme cofactor
• B3 (Pantothenic acid)


  Enzyme cofactor
• B6 (Pyridoxine, pyridoxal)


  Enzyme cofactor
• B12 (Cyanocobalamin)


  Synthesis of DNA and folate
• Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)


  Hydroxylation of collagen, participates in redox reaction
• Biotin


  Enzyme cofactor
• Carnitine


  Fat catabolism
• Folic acid (Pteroylglutamic acid)


  Synthesis of amino acids and DNA
• Niacin or Niacinamide (Nicotinic Acid)


  Enzyme cofactor
• Deficiency of Vitamin B1 in infants

  • Dyspnea
  • Cyanosis
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
• Deficiency of Vitamin B1 in adults

  • Beri-beri
  • Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
  • Apathy
  • Ataxia
  • Visual problems
• Deficiency symptoms for specific vitamins

  • B6: Irritability, seizures, anemia. In adults: Facial seborrhea
  • B12: Megaloblastic anemia, Neurologic abnormalities
  • Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C): Scurvy
  • Niacin: Pellegra, Dermatitis, Disorientation, Weight loss
• Vitamin B2 Deficiency

  • Angular stomatitis
  • Dermatitis
  • Photophobia
• Vitamin B3 Deficiency

  • Depressed immune system
  • Muscle weakness
• Vitamin Deficiency

  • Biotin: dermatitis, hair loss, depression

  • Carnitine: muscle weakness, fatigue

  • Folic Acid: Megaloblastic Anemia