Vitamins | MiM

Vitamins are a group of substances that are needed for normal cell function, growth, and development.

Animals can’t synthesize vitamins depends on plants, microbes

Avitaminosis: deficiency of vitamins or presence of anti-vitamins.

Vitaminosis: excess intake of vitamins causes pathological condition.

Vitaminoids: these are organic compound having similar biological properties like vitamins but required in large amount.

Fat soluble vitaminoids: Fatty acids and Ubiquinone
Water soluble vitaminoids: Biotin (vit.B), Choline (vit.B4), Inositol (vit.b8), Bioflavinoids, N-Lipoic acid

Pseudovitamins: certain organic compounds that are structurally similar to some vitamins but don’t show physiological actions. Example: methylocobalamine, cyanocobalamine.

Antivitamin: resembles structurally yo a vitamin but inhibits or antagonize the function of vitamin. Example: pyrithiamine, riboflavin, biotin.

Provitamin: the presence of a vitamin which when taken through diet is converted into the vitamin in the body. Example: 3-carotene (provitamin A), ergosterol (provitamin D)

Types of vitamins:

On the basis of solubility:-

Fat soluble: Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the body’s fatty tissue. The four fat-soluble vitamins are vitamins A, D, E, and K. These vitamins are absorbed more easily by the body in the presence of dietary fat
Water soluble: B (B1,B2,B6), C

Vitamin A

Clinical name:

Axerophthol, antixeropthalamic or antinyctatopic vitamin

Chemical name:

Vitamin A (C20H29OH) is an unsaturated alcohol called Retinol
In two isomeric forms:

Retinol is a trans-isomer

A2 is a cis isomer and has 30-40% of vitamin A actively.

Source:

Plant source like green vegetables, fruits and cereals
Animal source are liver, milk, butter, egg yolk
Liver of fresh water fish contains A2

Functions:

Retinol (vitamin A aldehyde) combines with lysine residues of opsin protein to form rhodopsin pigments of rod cells of retina, so it is essential for night vision.
Retinoic acid has some anticancer effects.
Vitamin A maintains the integrity of epithelial cells; permeability of cell membranes as well as the membranes of organelles.
In young animals vitamin A causes growth, formation of bones and teeth.

Deficiency symptoms:

Vitamins A deficiency causes the defective night vision called nightblindness.
In children, deficiency of vitamin A causes xerophthalmia and keratomalacia that may lead to complete blindness
Toad’s skin is another detectable early symptoms of vitamin A where the skin becomes dry and rough particularly in the laternal part of forearms and sides of thigh.

Hypervitaminosis A :

In acute cases of hypervitaminosis A – headache, nausea, vomiting and drowsiness notices.
In chronic cases the symptoms developed are anorexia, alopecia, cracking of lips, dry itchy skin, pain in bones and joints.

Vitamin-D

Clinical name:

Vitamin D is called antirachitis vitamia because it possess the property of curling or preventing ticket.

Chemical name:

Vitamin D is a steroid which is related to calcium metabolism. It is called calciferol.

Sources:

Being exposed to the sun. about 15-20 minutes three days per week.
Obtained from fish liver oil, egg, milk, butter, ghee, etc.

Functions:

Calcitriol has a role in calcium and phosphate metabolism.
It activates the transcription of mRNA for calcium binding protein.
It helps in the growth and development of bone amd teeth.
Increase the excretion of phosphate.

Deficiency symptoms:

It leads to rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults
Rickets is characterized by bowlegs, knock knees, bending of ribs leading to pigeon’s breast, enlargement of ankles, knees, wrists, elbow.
In osteomalacia the bones become weak and fragile instead of being soft due to decalcification of bones.

Vitamin E

Clinical name:

It is called anti sterility vitamin or fertility vitamin because of its requirements in proper functioning of reproductive system.

Chemical name:

Tocopherol ( tokos: child birth, phero: to bear, ol: alcohol )

Source:

Vegetable oil, leafy vegetables, milk, cheese, egg, meat, etc.

Function:

It acts as an antioxidant and prevents oxidation of vitamin A, K, essential fatty acids.
It keeps the skin glowing by reducing keratinization.
It is also called beauty vitamin
It helps in the normal functioning of skeletal muscles, gonalds, and renal tubules.

Deficiency symptoms:

Causes sterility and miscarriage
Causes muscular weakness and dystrophy.

Vitamin K

Clinical name:

Called anti-hemorrhagic vitamin
Vitamin for blood clotting or coagulation vitamin

Chemical name:

Vitamin K is a naphthoquinone derivative

Source:

Green leafy vegetables, soybean, carrots, potatoes, milk, fish and meats

Dietary requirements:

140-200 mg

Function:

Acts as coenzyme Q and participates in oxidative phosphorylation in ETC.
Acts as a cofactor of carboxylase
Required for fat absorption

Deficiency symptoms:

Delay in blood clotting
Causes hemorrhagic disease of newborns
Defective functioning of liver

Vitamin C

Clinical name:

Antiscorbutic acid because prevents scurvy.

Chemical name:

Chemically exists in L-ascorbic acid and L-dehydro-ascorbic acid

Source:

Citrus fruits, grapes, apple, papaya, guava, vegetables, etc.

Daily requirement:

40-50mg

Function:

It is required for absorption of iron
Keeps gums and capillary walls healthy
Gives resistance against cold and viruses
Necessary for wound healing
Acts as a coenzyme for hydroxylation and oxidation-reduction reaction.

Deficiency symptoms:

It causes scurvey characterized by bleeding gums, loosening of teeth, fragile capillaries, failure in wound healing, anemia, general weakness.

Vitamin B

Clinical name:

There are eight B vitamins — collectively called B complex vitamins. They are thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), biotin (B7), folate (B9) and cobalamin (B12).

They are grouped together as B-complex because all the membranes act as coenzyme and their actions are closely related.

Vitamin B-1

chemical name:

Thiamin

Source:

whole grains and fortified bread, cereal, pasta, and rice
pork
trout
mussels
acorn squash
legumes, such as black beans and soybeans
seeds
nuts

functions:

The body needs thiamin for:

breaking down sugar (carbohydrate) molecules from food
creating certain neurotransmitters (brain chemicals)
producing fatty acids
synthesizing certain hormones

Deficiency symptoms:

those with alcohol dependence
older adults
those with HIV or AIDS
those with diabetes
those who have heart failure
those who have had bariatric surgery
weight loss
little or no appetite
memory problems or confusion
heart problems
tingling and numbness in the hands and feet
loss of muscle mass
poor reflexes

Vitamin B-2

Chemical name:

Riboflavin

Source:

organ meats
fortified breakfast cereals
yogurt and milk
oatmeal
almonds
mushrooms

Functions:

energy production
helping the body break down fats, drugs, and steroid hormones
converting tryptophan into niacin (vitamin B-3)

Symptoms:

skin disorders
sores at the corners of the mouth
swelling of the mouth and throat
swollen, cracked lips
hair loss
red, itchy eyes

Vitamin B-3

Chemical name:

Niacin, Nicinamide

Source:

Some cereals contain added niacin. Animal-based foods such as meat, poultry, and fish are high in NAD. Plant-based foods including nuts, legumes, and grains

Function:

Body converts niacin into a coenzyme called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is a necessary part of more than 400 different enzyme reactions in the body, the highest of all vitamin-derived coenzymes. These enzymes help with:

changing the energy in carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into a form the body can use
metabolic processes in the body’s cells
communication among cells
expression of DNA in cells

Symptoms

brown discoloration on skin exposed to sunlight
patches of skin with a rough appearance
a bright red tongue
alcohol use disorder
AIDS
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Hartnup disease
carcinoid syndrome, which causes tumors to develop in the gastrointestinal tract
vomiting
diarrhea, constipation
headache
fatigue
depression

Vitamin B-5

Pantothenic acid is necessary for the body to create new coenzymes, proteins, and fats.Red blood cells carry pantothenic acid throughout the body so it can use the nutrient in a variety of processes for energy and metabolism.

Chemical name:

Pantothenic acid

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