FOOD CHEMISTRY AND

NUTRITION

VITAMINS

LECTURER: R. PHIRI
KIHSR (2021)
 INTRODUCTION
A vitamin is an organic compound and a vital nutrient
that an organism requires in limited amounts.
An organic chemical compound (or related set of
compounds) is called a vitamin when the organism
cannot synthesize the compound in sufficient
quantities, and it must be obtained through the diet;
thus, the term "vitamin" is conditional upon the
circumstances and the particular organism.
For example, ascorbic acid (one form of vitamin C) is a
vitamin for humans, but not for most other, but there
is little evidence of nutritional benefit when used by
otherwise healthy people.
 General Classification and
Sources of Vitamins
CLASSIFICATION
Vitamins are divided into two main groups namely:
1. Fat-soluble Vitamins include: Vitamin A (Retinol),
Vitamin D, Vitamin E and Vitamin K.
2. Water-soluble Vitamins; include: Vitamin B
complex comprising Vitamin B1 (thiamine),Vitamin
B 2(riboflavin),Folate (folic acid), Niacin (nicotinic
acid),Vitamin B6(Pyridoxine),Vitamin
B12(cobalamin), pantothenic acid and Biotin and
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid).
Sources of Vitamins
Fat-soluble Vitamins
Vitamin A (Retinol):Found in cream, egg yolk, liver,
fish oil, cheese and butter.
Vitamin D (Calciferol): Found mainly in animal fats
such as eggs, butter, cheese, and fish liver oils.
Vitamin E (Tocopherol): Found in nuts, egg yolk,
wheat germ, whole cereal, milk and butter.
Vitamin K (Phylloquinone): Found in Liver, some
vegetables oils and leafy green vegetables.
Water-Soluble Vitamins
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): present in nuts, yeast, egg yolk, liver,
legumes, meat and the germ of cereals.
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): found in yeast, green vegetables, milk,
liver, eggs, and cheese.
Vitamin B9, Folate (folic acid): found in liver, kidney, fresh leafy
vegetables and yeast.
Vitamin B3,Niacin (nicotinic acid): found in liver, cheese, yeast,
whole cereals, eggs, fish and nuts.
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine): found in meat, liver, vegetables, bran of
cereals, egg yolk, and beans.
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin): liver,milk and eggs.
Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid): found in citrus fruits, berries, green
vegetables, potatoes, liver, and glandular tissue in animals.
 Properties and Functions of Vitamins
Those which are fat-soluble only contain the elements carbon,
hydrogen and oxygen, whereas those which are water-soluble
contain nitrogen or even sulphur
Fat-Soluble Vitamins
Vitamin A (Retinol): maintains healthy epithelial tissues and
cornea and is involved in formation of rhodopsin (visual purple)
Vitamin D (Calciferol): facilitates the absorption and use of
calcium and phosphate in the maintenance of healthy bones and
teeth.
Vitamin E (Tocopherol): it is an antioxidant and promotes
immune function
Vitamin K (Phylloquinone): it promotes the formation of
prothrombin in the liver
Water-Soluble Vitamins
 Vitamin1 (Thiamine): metabolism of carbohydrates and nutrition of
nerve cells
 Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): carbohydrate and protein metabolism and
maintenance of a healthy skin
 Vitamin B3 (niacin): necessary for cell respiration and inhibits
production of cholesterol
 Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine): protein metabolism
 Vitamin B 9 Folate (Folic acid): DNA Synthesis and normal
development of spinal cord in early pregnancy
 Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin): DNA synthesis
 Vitamin B (Pantothenic acid): associated with amino acid metabolism
 Vitamin 7(Biotin): metabolism of carbohydrates and fat
 Vitamin C(Ascorbic acid): formation of collagen and maturation of red
blood cells
Absorption of Vitamins
Vitamins, mineral salts and water are also absorbed
from the small intestine into the blood capillaries.
Fat-soluble vitamins are absorbed into the lacteals
along with fatty acids and glycerol.
Vitamin B12 combines with intrinsic factor in the
stomach and is actively absorbed in the terminal
ileum.
Storage of vitamins
Vitamins fall into two categories: fat soluble and water
soluble.
The fat-soluble vitamins — A, D, E, and K — dissolve in
fat and can be stored in your body. The water-soluble
vitamins — C and the B-complex vitamins (such as
vitamins B6, B12, niacin, riboflavin, and folate) — need
to dissolve in water before your body can absorb them.
Because of this, your body can't store these vitamins.
Any vitamin C or B that your body doesn't use as it
passes through your system is lost (mostly when you
pee).
So you need a fresh supply of these vitamins every day.
 Dietary allowances for vitamins
Fat Soluble Vitamins
Vitamin A: recommended intake for adults is 750g
Vitamin D (Calciferol): daily requirements of Vitamin D intake
for adults is 10ug.
Vitamin E (Tocoferols): the recommended daily allowances (RDA)
for men and women is 15mg, 15mg for pregnant women and 19mg
for lactating mothers.
Vitamin K (Phytonadione): the normal daily requirement is 1ug
per kg body weight and only a small amount are stored in the liver
and spleen.
Water Soluble Vitamins
Water soluble vitamins consist of the Vitamin B complex and
Vitamin C.
Vitamin B: is a list of multiple vitamin like B 1, B2, B3 (Niacin) and B12,
folic acid, biotin and pantothenic acid.
 Daily Requirements of water soluble vitamins

Daily Requirements of water soluble vitamins

Vitamin Chemical Name Sources Function Daily requirement Deficiency

B1 Thiamine Pork, sweet potatoes, Co-enzyme in 0.8- 1mg Beriberi characterized by

legumes, orange juice, metabolismof stunted growth
nuts, and organ meat like carbohydrates
liver andprovide nutrition to
the nerve cells.

B2 Riboflavin Liver, yeast, milk, eggs, It aids in carbohydrate 1. 1.3mg Angular chellosis
green vegetables, kidney and protein metabolism. Stomatitis, dermatitis, eye
and fish Helps to keep the skin lesion, glossitis.
and eyes health.

B3 Niacin (Nicotinic Liver, fish, yeast, Cellular respiration and 12-17mg Pellagra characterized by
acid) synthesised in the body inhibits production of dermatitis, diarrhoea and
cholesterol dementia.

B6 Pyridoxine Whole grain cereals, liver, Helps in protein 1.2—1.4mg Metabolism errors of
kidneys and meat metabolism amino acids and
peripheral neuropathy.

B12 Cyanocobalamin Animal sources e.g. meat Essential factor in DNA 1.5ug Pernicious anaemia,
synthesis degeneration of nervous
tissue.
Folacin/ Folic acid Dark green DNA synthesis and 200ug Anaemia and
pteroylglut vegetables, liver, normal increased incidence
amic acid/ eggs, synthesised in development of of spinal bifida.
folate the colon foetal spinal cord
in early pregnancy.

B Pantothenic Liver, yeast, egg yolk, Amino acid 3-7mg Not known and rare
fresh vegetables metabolism

B Biotin Yeast, liver, nuts and Fat metabolism 10-200mg Dermatitis,

kidney conjunctivitis and
hypercholesterolanae
mia

Vitamin C Ascorbic acid Citrus fruits, berries, Aids in wound 40mg Multiple
potatoes and liver healing, haemorrhages,
strengthening of slowwound healing,
tissues such as gum Scurvy characterised
and muscles, boost by swollen bleeding
the immune system gums and a rash of
tiny bleeding spots
around the hair
follicles.
Deficiency disorders associated with vitamins
FAT-SOLUBLE VITAMINS
Vitamin A Vitamin D (Calciferol) Vitamin E Vitamin K
(Retinol)  Rickets in (Tocopheral) (Phylloquinone)
 Keratinizatio children  Anaemia  Slow blood
n clotting
 Osteomalacia in  Ataxia
 Exophthalmi adults Visual  Haemorrhage
a  s in newborn
disturbances
 Stunted
growth
 Night
blindness
Water-soluble vitamins
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)
General fatigue and loss of Angular stomatitis Megaloblastic anaemia
muscle tone Dermatitis
Leads to beriberi Degeneration of nerve
Stunted growth fibres of the spinal cord

Vitamin B (Folic acid) Vitamin B (Niacin) Vitamin B (Biotin)

Anaemia Pellagra, dermatitis, Dermatitis
Increased incidence of diarrhoea, dementia Hypercholesterolemia
spinal bifida

Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)

Multiple haemorrhages
Slow wound healing
Anaemia
Effects of excess vitamins in the body
 Vitamin A: liver damage, reduced bone density which may result
in osteoporosis, and central nervous system disorders.
 Vitamin B6: Long-term use of more than 100 mg of vitamin B6
may result in damaged nerves in the arms, legs, hands, and feet.
 Vitamin C: A healthy adult who takes more than 1,000 mg or
more of vitamin C may experience stomach upsets, diarrhoea or
constipation.
 Vitamin D: Large doses of vitamin D taken over a short period of
time typically do not cause toxicity as excess vitamin D is stored
and used by the body as needed.
 Vitamin E: Since vitamin E acts as an anticoagulant and may
increase the risk of bleeding problems. Also, excessive levels of
vitamin E may cause dizziness or an upset stomach.
 Vitamin supplementation program
Vitamin A supplementation plays a major role in
reducing severity of infection and mortality in children.
It improves the general health of children and the
Government has put a deliberate policy of National
Immunization Days (NIDs) where all children from 6
months to 12 years get these supplements free of charge.
There is consensus that this intervention should be
delivered as part of the primary health care system.
Vitamin A is important for cell growth and
differentiation especially for fast-growing cells, such as
the epithelial cells covering both internal and external
body surfaces.
Vitamin supplementation program
It also helps in the promotion of immunity and defence
system against infection and promotes night vision.
Its deficiency causes night blindness due to poor
formation of visual purple, which enables the retina of
the eye to adapt to dim light.
It also leads to the development of xerophthalmia
(which is drying and thickening of the conjunctiva and,
ultimately, there is ulceration and destruction of the
conjunctiva).
Apart from Vitamin A supplements, ferrous and folates
are also given to prevent iron deficiency anaemia
especially in pregnant mothers.