Notes on Vitamins | Vitamins Chart | MCQ on Vitamins | Quiz on Vitamins

The organic compounds which are require in very small amounts to maintain normal health, growth and nutrition are called vitamins. They are not used in building cells or as an energy source but they act as catalyst in biological processes; their deficiency causes serious diseases.

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     The vitamins are complex organic molecules, represented by letter such as A, B, C, D, E, K.

     Vitamins are broadly classified as fat soluble & water soluble

•  Fat soluble vitamins: A, D, E, K
•   Water soluble vitamins: B & C

• ·   Vitamin B complex: The group of vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12 biotin, panthothenic acid, & nicotinic acid occur together in many foods and is called Vitamin B complex
• ·    Avitaminosis (Vitamin Deficiency  diseases)
•     Hypervitaminosis or vitamin poisoning is the syndrome of systems caused by over retention of fat-soluble vitamins in the body

Vitamin/Daily need/Chemical Name	Common name	Functions	Important sources	Deficiency
Vitamin A 2mg A1-Retinol     A2-3dehydroretinol	Carotenoids Anti xerophthalmic factor Bright eyes vitamin  Anti infection vitamin	It is essential for growth & vision. Anti cancer property. Necessary for reproduction. Prevents keratinisation of eye epithelium	Milk, butter, egg yolk, liver, cod liver oil, (green &yellow coloured) vegetables	Night blindness (Nyctalopia) Xerophthamia (cornea becomes opaque) Dermatosis (Dry & scaly skin) Keratomalacia
Vitamin D 0.01mg D2-Ergocalciferol D3-Chloecalciferol	Sun rays catalyse the formation of vitamin D  inside the skin hence known as Sun shine vitamins Anti rachitic factor	This vitamin regulates the absorption of calcium &phosphate in intestine. Calcification of bones & help in maintain teeth. Maintains the normal functioning of parathormone.	Cod liver oil, fish-liver oils, eggs	Rickets  (Softness &deformities of bones like bow-legs) in children Osteomalacia (Weak painful bones liable to easy Fracture) in adults Dental caries
Vitamin E 15mg α,β,γ-Tocopherol	Anti sterility factor Beauty vitamin	Act as antioxidant. Maintains fertility. Prevents haemolysis of R.B.C. Specific role in selenium metabolism. Anti-cancer property.	Milk, ghee, corn oil, wheat, egg yolk, peanut oil, green vegetables, liver	Loss of sexual power of reproduction  Degeneration of muscle fibres in animals (Muscular Dystrophy)
Vitamin K 0.07-0.14 mg K1-phylloquinone K2-farnoquinone	Anti-haemophilic vitamin Anti haemorrhagic factor Coagulation vitamin	Bio synthesis of Prothrombin(an important factor for blood coagulation). Important role in mitochondrial electron transport & oxidative phosphorylation.	Fish, meat, oils of grains, cereals &leafy vegetables, coriander	Tendency to haemorrhage & impaired clotting of blood Hypoprotrombinemia
Vitamin B1          (Vitamin F) 1.5 mg Thiamine	Anti beriberi Anti neuritc factor	Component of respiratory coenzyme(TPP). Also required for pentose synthesis & metabolism.	Unpolished rice, whole cereals, egg yolk, liver, milk, fruits & vegetables	Loss of appetite Beriberi
Vitamin B2  (Vitamin G) 2mg   Riboflavin/Lactoflavin	Yellow enzyme Antimigraine	Maintains healthy skin & oral mucosa. Forms flavin coenzymes like FAD &FMN, required as hydrogen carries in cell respiration.	Egg yolk, liver, milk, vegetables, pulses, yeast	Cheilosis (sores at the corners of mouth),Cracked lips, skin disorder Inflammation of tongue (Glossitis)
Vitamin B3 20 mg Nicotinic acid/Niacin	Pellagra preventive factor	Forms coenzymes (NAD & NADP) required as hydrogen receptors in cell respiration. It can be synthesised in the body from aminoacid Tryptophan	Liver, yeast, cereal  grains, fish, meat, pulses	Pellagra 4Dsyndrome (Dermatitis, Diarrhoea, Dementia & Death). Hartnup’s disease(Hereditary abnormality in metabolism of tryptophan)
Vitamin B5 5-10mg Panthothenic acid		Forms coenzyme A that activates carboxylic acids in cellular metabolism. It is required for the normal functioning of the adrenal glands This vitamin is associate with healthy skin & hair.	Liver, eggs, yeast, milk, groundnut & tomatoes	Fatty liver in man Burning feet syndrome
Vitamin B6 2 mg Pyridoxine		It maintains the nervous system. Useful in the treatment of nausea & vomiting during pregnancy, radiation sickness, muscular dystrophy.	Cereals, yeast, liver, legumes	Nervous disturbances & convulsions Diarrhoea Dermatitis  Nausea vomiting
Vitamin B7        (Vitamin H) 150-300µg                    Biotin	Anti egg white injury factor	Required as coenzyme for carboxylation reaction in cell. Biotin plays an important role in the synthesis of oleic acid by certain lactic acid producing bacteria.	Yeast, liver, kidney	Dermatitis, skin problems
Vitamin B9  (Vitamin M) 0.5 mg Folic acid		Purine & pyramidines/Methyl /Histidine-synthesis. It is essential for growth and formation of RBCs	Liver, leafy vegetables, yeast, fish	Megaloblastic anemia (Enlarged RBCs and low haemoglobin content)
Vitamin B12 0.003 mg Cyanocobalamine	Cobalt containing vitamin Castle’s intrinsic factor-Absorption of cobalamine requires the action gastric enzyme	Formation of myelin. Maturation of RBC. Plays a role in the conversion of carbohydrate into lipid. Promotes DNA synthesis Stimulation of protein synthesis, especially incorporation of aminoacids into proteins.	Present in all animal tissues, present in liver, kidney, eggs, ruminant stomach of cattle	Pernicious anaemia (Decrease in the number of RBCs formation in the bone marrow) Causes nervous disorder
Vitamin B15 Pangamic acid		It helps in the utilization of oxygen by the cells & promotes the oxidation of alcohol in the organism. It is used to treat certain cardiac &  vascular diseases	Seeds of many plants
Vitamin B17 Laetrile		Anticancer property	Wheat grass juice
Vitamin C 50mg Ascorbic acid  Cevitamic acid	Anti scorbutic factor  Cevitamin	Maintains skin and helps in development of body resistance against diseases. Synthesis of collagen. Synthesis of adrenal steroid hormone. Antioxidant	Oranges, lemons, grapes, tamatoes,sprouted seeds, green vegetables, guava	Scurvy(Sailors disease)  Dental caries, anaemia
Vitamin P Hesperidin Citrin Rutin	Bioflavanoids	Maintaining resistance in the cells & walls of blood capillaries to permeation. Anti oxidant	Orange, Lemon, fruits & vegetables	Haemorrhage

1.Which of the following is a water soluble vitamin?

A) Vitamin A 

B) Vitamin B 

C) Vitamin K

D) Vitamin D

Ans: B) Vitamin B  

Learn more: MCQ on Vitamins || Quiz on Vitamins