COMPILATION OF VITAMINS
FAT-SOLUBLE VITAMINS
VITAMINS FUNCTIONS
Vitamin A is a versatile
vitamin, known to regulate
the expression of several
hundred genes. Its major
roles include:
VITAMIN A • Promoting vision
(Other Names: Retinol, retinal, • Participating in protein
retinoic acid; precursors are synthesis and cell
carotenoids such as beta-
differentiation, thereby
carotene)
maintaining the health of
epithelial tissues and skin
• Supporting reproduction
and growth
Though called a vitamin,
the active form of vitamin
VITAMIN D D is actually a hormone—
a compound manufactured
Other Names:
 Ergocalciferol (vitamin D2)
by one part of the body that
 Cholecalciferol (vitamin D3 travels through the blood
or calciol) and causes another body
 Calcidiol (25- part to respond. Like
hydroxyvitamin D) vitamin A, vitamin D has a
 Calcitriol (1,25- binding protein that carries
dihydroxyvitamin D)
it to the target organs—
most notably, the intestines,
the kidneys, and the bones.
All respond to vitamin D by
FOOD SOURCES RDA DEFICIENCY TOXICITY
 The richest sources of 2001 RDA  Infectious Diseases  Bone Defects
the retinoids are foods - Men: 900 μg RAE/day Such as – measles,
derived from animals: - Women: 700 μg RAE/day malaria, lung diseases, and  Birth Defects
- liver HIV
- fish liver oils,  Not for Acne
- milk  Night Blindness
- milk products
- butter
 Blindness (Xerophthalmia)
- eggs
 Dark leafy greens (like
spinach—not celery or  Keratinization
cabbage) and rich
yellow or deep orange
vegetables and fruits
(such as winter squash,
cantaloupe, carrots, and
sweet potatoes—not
corn or bananas) help
people meet their
vitamin A needs.
 Only a few foods— 1997 Adequate Intake  Rickets  Excess vitamin D
notably oily fish and (AI) raises the
egg yolks—contain Adults:  Osteomalacia concentration of
vitamin D naturally 5 μg/day (19–50 yr) blood calcium.
 The body can make 10 μg/day (51–70 yr)  Osteoporosis - Excess blood calcium
vitamin D with the help 15 μg/day (>70 yr) Upper tends to precipitate in
of a little sunshine. Level Adults:  The Elderly the soft tissue, forming
 Vitamin D–fortified 50 μg/day - The skin, liver, and stones, especially in the
kidneys where calcium
milk kidneys lose their capacity to
Current Recommended make and activate vitamin D is concentrated in an
Dietary Allowances with advancing age effort to excrete it.
(RDAs) for vitamin D:   - Older adults typically Calcification may also
- 600 IU of vitamin D per drink little or no milk—the harden the blood vessels
day for adults for main dietary source of vitamin and is especially
 making the minerals needed
for bone growth and
maintenance available.
Antioxidant (stabilization
of cell membranes,
regulation of oxidation
reactions, protection of
polyunsaturated fatty acids
[PUFA] and vitamin A)
VITAMIN E
Other Names:
 Alpha-tocopherol
Synthesis of blood-clotting
proteins and bone proteins
VITAMIN K
Other Names:
 Phylloquinone,
 Menaquinone,
 Menadione,
 Naphthoquinone
individuals from 1 to 70 D. dangerous in the major
years of age - Older adults typically arteries of the brain,
- 800 IU per day for those spend much of the day heart, and lungs, where
over 70 years. indoors, and when they do it can cause death.
venture outside, many of them
cautiously wear protective
clothing or apply sunscreen to
all sun exposed areas of their
skin
 Polyunsaturated plant 2000 RDA  Red blood cell breakage  Extremely high
oils (margarine, salad Adults: 15 mg/day doses of vitamin E
dressings, shortenings)  Nerve damage may interfere with
 leafy green vegetables Upper Level the blood-clotting
(spinach, turnip greens, Adults: 1000 mg/day action of vitamin K
collard greens, and enhance the
broccoli), effects of drugs used
 wheat germ to oppose blood
clotting, causing
 whole grain
hemorrhage
 liver
 egg yolks
 nuts
 seeds
 fatty meats
 Bacterial synthesis in 2001 Adequate Intake  Hemorrhaging  None known
the digestive tract (AI) however, high doses
 liver Men: 120 μg/day of vitamin K can
 leafy green vegetables Women: 90 μg/day reduce the
 cabbage-type effectiveness of
anticoagulant drugs
vegetables
used to prevent
 milk
blood clotting.