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Vitamins - Uses - Deficiency Problems - Sources

Fat soluble vitamins Chemical name / other names Main Source(s) Functions / characteristics Deficiency overdose Vitamin A Retinol / Anti-xerophthalmic vitamin Fish liver oils, milk, butter, egg yolk etc. Health and vigor of epithelial tissues, vision, resynthesis of visual purple retina Nyctalopia (night blindness) Xerophthalmia (dryness of cornea, swollen eye lids) Keratomalacia (dry and scaly skin) Beta-carotene Carrots, green leafy vegetables etc (found in plants) Coverts into Vit A in intestine and liver Vitamin D Calciferol / antirachitic vitamin or sunshine vitamin Fish liver oils, milk, butter, egg etc. Calcium metabolism Increases absorption of calcium and phosphorous from intestine; hence it is necessary for formation of healthy bones and teeth Children - Rickets (bones fail to calcify properly and lead to bow legs, knock knees, ribs become deformed leading to pigeon breast) Adult – osteomalacia (poor and soft bones, leading to the fractures due to poor calcification) Nausea, Head ache, Kidney damage, Calcification of soft tissues etc. Vitamin E Tocopherol / anti-sterility vitamin Wheat germs oil, nuts, maize and wheat Anti-oxidant, maintains health and integrity of muscles by controlling the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Functioning of gonads Sterility in males, abortion in females, muscular dystrophy Vitamin K Naphthoquinone / anti-hemorrhagic vitamin Green leafy vegetables, tomato, eggs, cheese, liver etc Intestinal microbes also synthesize the vitamin Formation of prothrombin, which is required for clotting of blood Intestinal microbes also synthesize the vitamin Delayed clotting, loss of more blood in even in minor injuries Water soluble vitamins Vitamin C Ascorbic acid / Antiscorbutic acid Citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, fresh potatoes, tomatoes etc Maintains the cartilage, bone, dentine and integrity of endothelium, Provides Resistance, Helps to dissolve cholesterol in blood, Wound repair, Enhances absorption of Fe Scurvy characterized by skin eruptions, swollen and bleeding gums of teeth, hemorrhage, poor healing of wounds Name Chemical name Function, characteristics deficiency Vitamin B1 Thiamine /anti-beriberi factor Proper growth and functioning of nervous system It also acts as a cofactor in amino acids and carbohydrates metabolism Beriberi (partial paralysis of smooth muscles of gastrointestinal tract and skeletal paralysis), Polyneuritis (degeneration of myelin sheath leading to impaired reflexes, loss of appetite, stunted growth in children) etc. Vitamin B2 Riboflavin 2 components – Flavin mono nucleotide (FMN) Flavin adenine di nucleotide (FAD) Involved in intermediate metabolism Cheliosis (dryness of lips, resulting in cracking of lips and corners of mouth), Glossitis (inflammation of tongue), Seboric dermatitis (scaly and greasy skin on nose and ears) etc. Vitamin B6 Pyridoxine Coenzyme and involved in protein metabolism Helps in utilization of Fe in haemoglobin synthesis, production of antibodies Intestinal microbes synthesize this vitamin Hypochromic microcytic anemia Convulsions (children) Vitamin B12 Cynacobalamin Coenzyme for the maturation of RBC, formation of methionine and take part in the synthesis of DNA Pernicious anemia (enlarged RBC, erythropenia), Degenerative changes in spinal cord, etc Niacin Nicotinic acid / anti-pellagra vitamin Part of coenzyme like NAD and NADP which are essential for the formation of the ATP in e- transport system. Pellagra, characterized by diarrhea, dermatitis and dementia (due to disturbance of nervous system) Folacin Folic acid Synthesis of adenine, guanine and thymine required for the formation of DNA and RNA. Formation of RBC and WBC Macrolytic anemia Delay in replication of DNA, Leucopenia Pantothenic acid Pantothenic acid Constituent of a coenzyme Intestinal microbes synthesize this vitamin Poor growth, Early aging, Premature graying of hair Biotin Coenzyme for carboxylases Sulphur-containing vitamin Gastrointestinal microbes synthesize this vitamin Noticed in raw egg consumers

Contributed by satrohraj on February 7, 2007.