Table 8.

Major biochemical functions Dietary sources RDA (per day)

Vitamin
Normal vision (dim light vision Fish liver oils, whole milk,
A
and colour vision) eggs, butter, meat, leafy
Cell growth and differentiation, vegetables and carrots
immunity, maintenance of
epithelium and antioxidant
-function.
Blood calcium homeostasis Synthesised in the body with
the help of sunlight
It contributes to blood Ca2+
(UV-rays).
levels.
It regulates plasma Ca2+ levels Oily fish, egg yolk, organ
along with parathormone and meat, butter and cheese.
Foods fortified with vitamin
calcitonin.
D such as milk, margarine,
Bone mineralisation vanaspathi and baby foods
Deficiency nifestations
Men: 3,500 IU
(or) 1,000 ug
Night blindness (nyctalopia)
Women: 2,800 IU
Xerophthalmia, Bitot's spots,
Keratomalacia in eyes
(or) 800 ug Skin lesions, atrophy of the
epithelium leading to respiratory
and genitourinary infections
Adults: 200 IU Rickets in children
(or) 5 ug
Osteomalacia in adults
Growing children,
pregnant and lactating
women: 400 IU (or)
10 ug

Natural anti-oxidant Vegetable edible oils such as Men: 10 mg

wheat germ oil, sunflower
Hemolytic anemia in premature
Prevents lipid peroxidation Women: 8 mg infants
and protects the integrity of oil, cotton seed oil and
In adults, degenerative changes
biological membranes. soyabean oil, corn oil
in muscles, sterility in animals
Required for blood coagulation Synthesised by intestinal Adults:70-140 ug Prolonged bleeding and
It activates the bacteria
clotting Newborn babies clotting times
factors II, VII, IX and X by Leafy vegetables, eggs and
carboxylating their glutamate should be given 1 mg
dairy products intramuscular injection in
residues.
a single dose
Antioxidant role, collagen Fresh fruits (citrus fruits,
synthesis Children and adults: Scurvy
amla and guava), green leafy 60-75 mg9
Plays a role in the metabolism vegetables (cabbage and Capillary fragility, increasing
of lipid, amino Pregnancy and lactation: hemorrhagic tendeneies
acids, iron, spinach) 9germinating pulses
100-120 mg manifested as petechiae
hemoglobin and some drugs ecchymoses and hematomas
(usually characterised by
Swollen and bleeding gums)
Generalised poor wound-healing
 of vitamins
sources, RDA and deficiency manifestations
Table 8.7 (Contd) Summary of the major functions, dietary
Vitamin Major biochemical functions Dietary sources
RDA (per day) Deficiency manifestations
Adults: 1-1.5 mg Wet beri-beri is
B It functions through
Whole grain cereals (Hand characterised
or parboiled, Pregnancy and lactation: by cardiovascular signs such
its coenzyme thiamine pounded
unpolished rice), yeast,
as edema, palpitation and
pyrophosphate(TPP) in the 2m
tachycardia
legumes, oil seeds such
as
following reactions:
groundnut and animals foods Dry beri-beri is characterised by
Oxidative decarboxylation such as pork and beef signs of nervous system such as
(Pyruvate dehydrogenase, muscle wasting and peripheral
a-KG dehydrogenase) neuropathy
Transketolation (transketolase
Beri-beri is usually of the mixed
of HMP shunt)
type

Milk and dairy products, Adults: 1.5 mg Glossitis (magenta tongue),

It functions through its
B2
coenzymes-FMN and FAD
which take part in oxidation-
reduction reactions catalysed
meat, fish and eggs. Whole
grain cereals, legumes and
germinating seeds
angular stomatitis, cheilosis,
Pregnancy and lactation:
2 mg
pharyngitis

by many enzymes e.g. L-amino

acid oxidase (FMN)

PDH/succinate
dehydrogenase
lacyl CoA FAD
dehydrogenase/
xanthine oxidase

3 It functions through its Meat, beans, legumes, whole Adults: 20 mg Pellagra

coenzymes NAD and NADP grains, eggs and dried yeast characterised by diarrhea,
Pregnancy and lactation:
which take part in a variety dementia and dermatitis
25 mg
of oxidation-reduction
reactions where the transfer
of hydride ion is involved
NAD dependent enzymes:
e.g, PDH, LDH, B-hydroxy
acyl CoA dehydrogenase,
alcohol dehydrogenase
NADP dependent enzymes:
e.g, Glucose-6-phosphate
dehydrogenase and malic
enzyme

B It acts through its coenzyme
pyridoxal phosphate
(PLP) which is mostly
involved in reactions of
amino acid metabolism
such as transamination,
decarboxylation,
transsulfuration.
Bran of cereals, dried
yeast, legumes, nuts, leafy
vegetables, milk, eggs, meat
and fish
Adults: 2 mg Neurological manifestations
such as peripheral neuropathy.
Pregnancy and lactation:
2.5 mg mental confusion and
depression. Microcytic
hypochromic anemia,
seborrheic dermatitis, carpal
tunnel syndrome

Enzymes dependent on PLP:

e.g, ALP, AST, cystathionine
synthase
Takes part in carboxylation
by Soyabean, yeast, egg yolk, 200 to
reactions in gluconeogenesis, whole grains and organ Deficiency is uncommon
fatty acid synthesis. meat 300 mg since the minimal amounts
required are synthesised by the
Enzymes dependent on Biotin:
intestinal microflora
e.g, Pyruvate carboxylase and
acetyl CoA carboxylase

Vitamin Major biochemical functions
It acts through coenzyme A in
bs a wide variety of reactions.
Enzymes dependent on
coenzyme A: Examples
include PDH, thiokinase, a-KG
dehydrogenase and HMG COA
synthase
lt acts through its coenzymne
tetrahydrofolate which
plays a central role in one-
carbon metabolism. Folate is
associated with DNA, RNA and
protein synthesis; amino acid
metabolism
B2 It functions through its
coenzymes methyl cobalamin
and deoxyadenosyl cobalamin.
There are only two reactions in
humans known to involve B2
Synthesis of methionine from
homocysteine
Conversion of methylmalonyl
CoA to succinyl CoA
Dietary sources
Whole grains, vegetables,
egumes, yeast, egg yolk and
organ meat
Green leafy vegetables,
whole grains, fruits, eggs
and dairy products
Organ meat (liver), meat,
fish, eggs, milk, curd and
cheese
tamins
RDA (perday)
Deficiency nifestations
10 mg
Deficiency is uncommon.
Burning feet syndrome,
condition associated with mild
a
pantothenate deficieney
Adults: 200 ug
Macrocytic anemia with
Pregnancy: 400 ug megaloblastic changes in the
bone marrow
Lactation: 300 ug
Neural tube defects in the
fetus
Hyperhomocysteinemia linked
to coronary artery disease
Adults: 1-2 ug Megaloblastic anemia,
subacute combined
Children: 0.5-1 ug
degeneration, demyelination;
Pregnancy and pernicious anemia
lactation: 3 ug/day