Vitamins and its types with Detail

• Vitamin is a Latin word which means ‘Life and Amine’.

• It was discovered by Casimir Funk in 1912.
• The scientist Casimir Funk was also known as ‘Father of Vitamin’

Definition
The compound or substance which is used by the body for normal growth, functioning, and
synthesis of biomolecules. The vitamins are taken up by the diet in small quantity, if taken in in
large amount it causes different disease in human body, furthermore, if there is a deficiency of
vitamin it also leads toward diseases. Vitamin is important equally for human, and animals.

Source
Fruits, vegetables, whole grain, beans, legumes, low fat protein, dairy product.

Types
Vitamins are of different types that are performing their specific function in different part of the
body. These vitamins are:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin K
• Vitamin B complex

These vitamins are classified as water soluble and fat-soluble vitamins.

Water soluble vitamins: Vitamin C and vitamin B complex only

Fat soluble Vitamin: Vitamin A, D, E, K belongs to this category.

 types of Vitamins

Water soluble Vitamin

Vitamin B1
Characteristics Detail
Vitamin B1
Name
Thiamin
Another name
Pork, legumes, enriched cereal, soy milk
Sources
Function • Formation of thiamin pyrophosphate
• Energy metabolism
• Synthesis of DNA and RNA

Not toxic
Toxicity
From intestinal lumen into absorptive epithelial
Transport
cells of small intestine
Thiamin absorption increases when thiamin intake
Bioavailability
is low
Disease/ Disorder • Beriberi
• Dry beriberi (found in adults)
• Wet berberi (severe edema in legs and arms)
• Infantile beriberi (babies which feed on mothers
having deficieny for this vitamin)
• Cerebral beriberi (Wernicke-korsakoff
syndrome)
1.2-1.1 milligrams/per day for adult male and
Approved Intake
female
 Vitamin B2
Characteristics Detail
Vitamin B2
Name
Riboflavin
Another name
Meat, enriched cereals, fortified food, liver, yogurt,
Sources
mushrooms, milk, tomatoes, chicken liver, beef,
pork.
Function • Energy metabolism
• Metabolism of folate, vit A, niacin, vit B6 and
K.
• Neurotransmitter metabolism
• Function as co enzymes FAD and FMN
• Function in redox reaction taking place in body.

Not toxic
Toxicity
Absorbed only in free state not in bound form.
Transport
Transported to absorptive epithelial cells of small
intestine
Absorption increases in low intake
Bioavailability
Disease/ Disorder • Ariboflavinosis
Women 1.1 mg/day
Approved Intake
Men 1.3 mg/day
 Vitamin B3
Characteristics Detail
Vitamin B3
Name
Niacin
Another name
Liver, poultry fish, tomatoes, beef, mushrooms,
Sources
riched cereals, fortified foods,
Function • Role in redox reaction
• Energy metabolism
• Formation of ATP
• DNA synthesis and repair
• Glucose metabolism
• Cholesterol metabolism

Skin inflammation
Toxicity
Niacin circulates in blood transported into liver
Transport
which then taken up by the transport protein and
then delivered to the targeted cells.
Niacin absorption increases when intake is low
Bioavailability
Disease/ Disorder • Pellagra

Women 14 mg/day
Approved Intake
Men 16 mg/day
 Vitamin B5
Characteristics Detail
Vitamin B5
Name
Pantothenic acid
Another name
Liver, mushroom, sunflower seed, yogurt, turkey,
Sources
coffee,
Function • Function as CoA
• Energy metabolism
• Heme synthesis
• Cholesterol synthesis
• Fatty acid synthesis
• Steroid synthesis
Not toxic
Toxicity
B5 circulates in blood transported into liver which
Transport
then taken up by the transport protein and then
delivered to the targeted cells.
Bioavailability increases through active transport
Bioavailability
Disease/ Disorder • Burning feet syndrome
Women 5 mg/day
Approved Intake
Men 5 mg/day
 Vitamin B6
Characteristics Detail
Vitamin B6
Name
Pyridoxine, Pyridoxal, and Pyridoxamine
Another name
Fish, chickpeas, liver, potatoes, banana, tuna,
Sources
fortified cereals, bakery products,
Function • Function as Co-enzyme
• Amino acid metabolism
• Heme synthesis
• Neurotransmitter synthesis
• Hormone function
• Steroid regulation
Neurological problems
Toxicity
Difficulty walking and numbness
Nerve damage
Absorbed in small intestine, circulated in blood
Transport
and then in liver
Bioavailability increases through active transport
Bioavailability
Disease/ Disorder • Microcytic hypochromic anemia
Women 1.3 mg/day
Approved Intake
Men 1.3 mg/day
 Vitamin B7
Characteristics Detail
Vitamin B7
Name
Biotin
Another name
Peanuts, tree nuts, mushrooms, egg, tomatoes,
Sources
sweet potatoes,
Function • Gluconeogenesis
• Amino acid synthesis
• Citric acid cycle
• ATP synthesis
• Function in carboxylation reaction

Not toxic
Toxicity
Biotin Intestine Blood liver
Transport
Body parts
biotin bioavailability can be greatly reduced
Bioavailability
when it is consumed with foods containing the
protein Avidin
Disease/ Disorder • Depression
• Loss muscle control
• Skin irritation
Women 30 µg/day
Approved Intake
Men 30 µg/day
 Folate
Characteristics Detail
Vitamin B
Name
Folate
Another name
Okra, legumes, spinach, leafy vegetables, orange
Sources
juice, folate rich foods, pinto beans, lentils, beef
liver
Function • Facilitates in transfer of single carbon
• Function in conversion of homocysteine into
methionine
• Synthesis of DNA and RNA
• Amino acid metabolism
Neurological problems
Toxicity
folate Intestine Blood liver
Transport
Body parts
Depends on the form of folate
Bioavailability
Neutral tube defect
Disease/ Disorder
Spina bifida
Women 400 µg/day
Approved Intake
Men 400 µg/day
 Vitamin B12
Characteristics Detail
Vitamin B12
Name
Cobalamin
Another name
Mollusks, Liver, Salmon, Meat, Cottage cheese,
Sources
shellfish,
Function • Function as coenzyme
• Homocysteine metabolism
• Energy metabolism
• ATP production
• Methionine production
Not toxic
Toxicity
The free Vit B12 is bound by transport protein i.e.
Transport
R protein and intrinsic protein factor
Transcobalamin transport B12 in blood
Cleaved before it is absorbed
Bioavailability
Pernicious anemia
Disease/ Disorder
Women 2.4µg/day
Approved Intake
Men 2.4 µg/day
 Vitamin C
Characteristics Detail
Vitamin C
Name
Ascorbic acid
Another name
Peppers, Papayas, Citrus fruits, Broccoli,
Sources
Strawberries, peas,
Function • Function as antioxidant
• Recharging enzyme
• Collagen synthesis
• Tyrosine synthesis
• Hormone synthesis
• Protection from free radicals
• Neurotransmitter synthesis
Gastrointestinal problems
Toxicity
Vit C Intestine Blood liver
Transport
Body parts
Small intestine via active transport
Bioavailability
Scurvy
Disease/ Disorder
Women 75mg/day
Approved Intake
Men 90mg/day

Reference

Nutritional Sciences by McGuire

Chapter 10