 VITAMINS

 Organic molecules essential for normal health and growth.

 Required in trace amounts and are obtained from the diet because sufficient amounts are not synthesized in the body.

1. WATER SOLUBLE VITAMINS

 Not stored in the body since excess amounts are excreted in the urine
 Destroyed by heat, oxygen and ultraviolet light
 Required by many enzymes as cofactors to carry out certain aspects of catalytic action

ACTIVE
VITAMIN FUNCTION RDA SOURCES DEFICIENCY SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
FORM
Beriberi Tachycardia, vomiting, convulsions
Thiamine Liver, yeast, whole grain,
Vitamin B1 Thiamine Decarboxylation 1.2 mg Wernicke-Korsakoff Apathy, loss of memory, eye
pyrophosphate bread, cereals, milk
(alcoholics) movements
Beef, liver, chicken, eggs,
Dermatitis
Vitamin B2 Riboflavin FMN, FAD Electron transfer 1.2-1.8 mg green leafy vegetables, dairy Rare
Angular stomatitis
foods, peanuts, whole grains
Dermatitis
Niacin Brewer’s yeast, chicken,
Oxidation- Pellagra Diarrhea
Vitamin B3 Nicotinic acid NAD+, NADP+ 14-18 mg beef, fish, liver, brown rice,
reduction Dementia
Nicotinamide whole grains
Salmon, beef, liver, eggs,
Pantothenic Acetyl group
Vitamin B5 Coenzyme A 5 mg brewer’s yeast, whole grain, Rare —
acid transfer
fresh vegetables
Pyridoxine Glossitis
Pyridoxal Meat, liver, fish, nuts, whole
Vitamin B6 Pyridoxamine Transamination 1.3-2.0 mg Rare Neuropathy
phosphate grains, spinach
Pyridoxal
Methylcobalam
Pernicious anemia
in Methyl group Liver, beef, kidney, chicken, Megaloblastic anemia
Vitamin B12 Cobalamin 2.0-2.6 μg Dementia
Deoxyadenosyl transfer fish, milk products Neuropsychiatric symptoms
Spinal degeneration
cobalamin
Enzyme-bound
Vitamin H Biotin Carboxylation 30 μg Liver, yeast, nuts, eggs Rare —
protein
Blueberries, oranges,
Collagen Sore, spongy gums
strawberries, cantaloupe, Scurvy
Vitamin C Ascorbic acid Ascorbic acid synthesis, wound 60-95 mg Loose teeth
tomatoes, peppers, broccoli,
healing Poor wound healing
cabbage, spinach
Green leafy vegetables.
Tetrahydrofolic Methyl group Beans, meat, seafood, yeast, Megaloblastic anemia Anemia
Folic acid Folate 400 μg
acid transfer asparagus, whole grains Neural tube defects Birth defects
enriched with folic acid

2. FAT SOLUBLE VITAMINS

 Carried in lipids & are influenced by the same factors that affect lipid absorption
 Fairly resistant to the effects of heat; they are not destroyed by cooking or food processing (Vitamins A, D, E, & K)
 Stored in the body and not eliminated  toxicity
 VITAMIN ACTIVE FORM FUNCTION RDA SOURCES DEFICIENCY SIGNS AND SYMTPTOMS
Retinol Retinol Impotence
Retinal Retinal Vision, RNA Yellow and green fruits and Night blindness Increased visual threshold
Vitamin A 800 μg
Retinoic acid Retinoic acid synthesis vegetables Growth retardation Dryness of cornea
β-Carotene Xerophthalmia
Cholecalciferol 1,25-dihydroxy- Regulation of P Sunlight, cod liver oil, Rickets (children)
Vitamin D3 5-10 μg Soft, pliable bones
Ergocalciferol cholecalciferol and Ca absorption enriched milk, eggs Osteomalacia (adults)
Any of theseveral
Antioxidant, cell Meats, whole grains, RBC fragility leads to hemolytic
Vitamin E α-tocopherol tocopherol 15 mg Rare
protection vegetable anemia
derivatives
Menadione Menadione
Meats, whole grains, Newborn
Vitamin K Menaquinone (K2) Menaquinone Blood clotting 90-120 μg Bleeding
vegetables Rare (adults)
Phylloquinone Phylloquinone