Vitamins

• Vitamins are organic compounds
• Vitamins must be obtained from dietary sources
• Human body can't synthesize in enough amounts of vitamins
• Vitamins are essential for proper functioning of the body
• Vitamins are needed in micro and milligram quantities
• 1 gram of vitamin B is sufficient for 500,000 people
• Enough vitamin can be obtained from balanced diet
• Supplemental vitamins may be needed after illness
• Many enzymes contain vitamins as part of their structures- conjugated enzymes
• Two classes of vitamins

  1. Water soluble
  2. Fat soluble
• Synthetic and natural vitamins are same- 13 known vitamins
• • Co-substrate in the formation of structural protein collagen
  • Involved in metabolism of certain amino acids
  • 100 mg/day saturates all body tissues
  • Excess vitamin is excreted

  Vitamin C
• The preferred and alternative names for the B vitamins

  1. Thiamin (vitamin B1)
  2. Riboflavin (vitamin B2)
  3. Niacin (nicotinic acid, nicotinamide, vitamin B3)
  4. vitamin B6 (pyridoxine, pyridoxal, pyridoxamine)
  5. Folate (folic acid)
  6. Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)
  7. Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5)
  8. Biotin
• Exhibit structural diversity


  Vitamin B
• components of enzymes


  Vitamin B
• • Involved in plasma membrane processes
  • More hydrocarbon like with fewer functional groups


  Vitamins A, D, E, K
• • Has role in vision
  • only 1/1000 of vitamin A is in retina
  • 3 Forms of vitamin A are active in the body
  • Derived from b-carotine


  Vitamin A
• In the eye- vitamin A combines with opsin protein to form the visual pigment rhodopsin which further converts light energy into nerve impulses that are sent to the brain.
• Lack of vitamin A causes such surfaces to become drier and harder than normal.
• In men, vitamin A participates in sperm development. In women, normal fetal development during pregnancy requires vitamin A.
• Two forms active in the body: Vitamin D2 and D3
• • Sunshine Vitamin: Synthesized by UV light from sun
  • It controls correct ratio of Ca and P for bone mineralization (hardening)
  • As a hormone it promotes Ca and P absorption in intestine


  Vitamin D
• Four forms of Vitamin E

  1. a-Vitamin E
  2. b-Vitamin E
  3. g-Vitamin E
  4. d-Vitamin E
• Alpha-tocopherol is the most active biological active form of Vitamin E
• Peanut oils, green and leafy vegetables and whole grain products are the sources of vitamin E
• Primary function: Antioxidant – protects against oxidation of other compounds


  Vitamin E
• Two major forms of Vitamin K; K1 and K2
• K1 found in dark green, leafy vegetables
• K2 is synthesized by bacteria that grow in colon
• Vitamin K Dietary need supply: ~1/2 synthesized by bacteria and 1/2 obtained from diet
• Active in the formation of proteins involved in regulating blood clotting

  Vitamin K
• Water-Soluble Vitamins

  1. Vitamin C
  2. Vitamin B
• Fat-Soluble Vitamins

  1. Vitamin A
  2. Vitamin D
  3. Vitamin E
  4. Vitamin K