WATER-SOLUBLE VITAMINS
energy)
Vitamin B1- Thiamin (The carbo burner)
▪ Metabolism of energy in all cells.
▪ Part of the coenzyme TPP which converts
pyruvate to acetyl-CoA
▪ Also in the form of TTP in nerve and muscle
cells which activates the transport of electrolytes
across the membranes of nerve and muscle cells
▪ Disorder: beriberi- weakness and neurological
symptoms
▪ Thiamine deficiency makes it hard to breakdown
glucose for energy
▪ Wernickle-Korsakoff syndrome- alcoholic people
Vitamin B2- Riboflavin (The fat burner)
▪ part of a coenzyme FAD
▪ Needed for the metabolism of carbohydrates,
fats, and proteins
▪ FAD is needed to prepare fatty acids for energy
production
▪ FMN also a coenzyme made from riboflavin
▪ FMN is needed for the activation of vitamin B6
▪ FAD and FMN are required by the electron
transport chain, and the TCA cycle.
▪ Disorder: new cells cannot grow fast enough to
replace the old ones
▪ Ariboflavinosis- inflammation of the membranes
of the eyes, mouth, the skin and the
gastrointestinal tract.
▪ Deficiency can cause sensitivity to light, crack
on the side of the mouth.
Vitamin B3- Niacin (The burning flush)
▪ NA and NAM can serve as the dietary source of
the cofactor forms of Vitamin B3 which are NAD
and NADP.
▪ NAD+ and NADH---> NADP+ and NADPH
(reduced form)
▪ Niacin assists energy production from protein,
fats and carbohydrates.
▪ Nicotinic is useful for therapeutic for
hypercholesterolemia
▪ Major action of Nicotinic acid in this therapy is
the reduction in fatty acid mobilization from
adipose tissue.
▪ While it lowers blood cholesterol, it also causes
depletion of glycogen stores and fat reserves in
skeletal and cardiac muscle. And elevation of
blood glucose and uric acid production.
▪ Pellagra- Dermatitis, diarrhea and dementia.
Vitamin B5- Pantothenic Acid (The center of
▪ Forms a large part of Coenzyme A
▪ CoA is essential for the chemical reactions that
generate energy from carbohydrates, fats and
proteins.
▪ It is needed for the synthesis of cholesterol and
the synthesis of steroid hormones such as
melatonin, synthesis of acetylcholine
(neurotransmitter). Heme, component of hbg
requires CoA in its synthesis.
▪ The liver requires CoA in order to metabolize a
number of drugs and toxins.
▪ Important in the synthesis of fats used in myelin
sheaths of nerve cells and also synthesis of
phospholipids.
Vitamin B6- Pyridoxine (The protein burner)
▪ Pyridoxal pyridoxamine, pyridoxine
▪ Active form is pyridoxal phosphate (PLP)
▪ It functions as a cofactor in all enzymes that
carry out the transamination reactions required for
the synthesis and catabolism of amino acids.
▪ It is a cofactor for the synthesis of several
neurotransmitters and is required for the
synthesis of heme.
▪ It is a cofactor for enzymes involved in
methionine and cysteine metabolism.
▪ Required for the conversion of tryptophan to
NAD
▪ Required for glycogen homeostasis as a
cofactor for glycogen phosphorylase.
▪ In gluconeogenesis, PLP is needed to convert
amino acids to glucose.
▪ Deficiencies involve poor growth, decreased
immune function and anemia and neurological
symptoms such as numbness and tingling in the
hands and feet, depression and convulsions.
▪ B6 is needed to help make the myelin coatings
of nerves.
▪ Without myelin, nerves have a hard time
transmitting their messages.
Vitamin B7- Biotin (The energy catalyst)
▪ Used in 4 important enzyme
1. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase- required for
the synthesis of fatty acids
2. Pyruvate carboxylase- needed for the
production of glucose from fats and
proteins
3. Methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase-
catalyst in the metabolism of leucine
 4. Propionyl-CoA carboxylase- needed for
the metabolism of cholesterol, amino acids
and certain fatty acids.
▪ Biotin is needed to make energy in the
mitochondria of the cell
▪ Has a role in the transcription and replication of
DNA.
▪ It can be synthesized by bacteria, algae, yeast,
molds and a few plant species.
▪ Made by the bacteria living in healthy large
intestines. The wall of intestines has a specialized
process for the uptake of biotin.
▪ Lethargy and depression
▪ Deficiency also cause skin rash, thinning hair
and a loss of hair color
▪ It is needed for the vibrant fat and protein
metabolism that supports these tissues
▪ It is added to cosmetic products to help
strengthen and spruce up hair and nails.
Vitamin B9- Folate (The DNA creator)
▪ Folic acid is readily converted to folate in the
body
▪ Folic acid is rarely found in food or in the human
body, unlike folates.
▪ Tetrahydrofolate (THF)- primary coenzyme form
of folate
▪ It acts as acceptors and donors of one-carbon
units in the metabolism of amino acids.
▪ Synthesis of DNA is dependent on folate
coenzymes.
▪ Folate and Vitamin B12 is needed in the
synthesis of methionine from homocysteine.
▪ Play a role in cancer prevention
▪ Folate is important in pregnancy.
▪ Neural tube defects are birth defects related to
the brain and spinal cord
▪ The neural tube does not fully close, creating an
exposed and open gap which results in spina
bifida (lower part) or anencephaly (higher part).
▪ Spina bifida leaves the delicate cord and related
tissues unprotected and can result in paralysis of
the legs.
▪ In anencephaly, a portion of the brain is missing.
▪ If there is insufficient folate, RBC cannot divide
properly. Instead they just keep getting bigger and
never mature, a condition called megaloblastic
anemia.
▪ Toxic level results in irreversible neurological
damage.
Vitamin B12- Cobalamin (The blood maker)
▪ Active coenzyme forms are methylcobalamin
and deoxyadenosyl cobalamin
▪ Supplements are usually in the form of
cyanocobalamin
▪ It converts homocysteine to methionine.
▪ It prevents cardiovascular disease, protects
DNA, and is important in cancer prevention.
▪ Important in the production of energy from
proteins and fats, maintenance of the nervous
system.
▪ Synthesis of molecules involved in fatty acid
biosynthesis and is needed to maintain the myelin
sheath.
▪ Formation of RBC
▪ Deficiency can result in anemia
▪ Pernicious anemia is a type of anemia in which
the body cannot absorb adequate vitamin B12
due to a lack of intrinsic factor.
▪ Helps maintain healthy nerve cells
▪ Deficiency can be a problem for adults suffering
from atrophic gastritis
▪ Sufficient amounts of stomach secretions are
needed to break the bond between B12 and the
protein. In atrophic gastritis, B12 never gets
absorbed.
Vitamin C- Ascorbic acid (The citrus
antioxidant)
_______________________________________
__
FAT-SOLUBLE VITAMINS
Vitamin A (The night sight vitamin)
▪ Retinol, preformed vitamin A is the most useful
form because it is easily absorbed by the body.
▪ It is often found in animal based food
▪ Beta-carotene, provitamin A, which must be
converted to Vitamin A inside the body
▪ Beta-carotene is found in plant based food
▪ Vision function
▪ Other functions include antioxidant activity, role
on infections, mucous membranes, soft skin,
immune response and cell formation
▪ Night blindness or xerophthalmia results in the
deficiency of vitamin A
▪ Deficiency in vitamin a lead to insufficient
amount of rhodopsin, and your eyes will have a
hard time adjusting
▪ It also helps with cell differentiation, which
means vitamin A helps immature cells become
specialized cells.
▪ Preformed vitamin A can be toxic because it is
easily absorbed by the body.
▪ Toxicity will lead to symptoms such as nausea,
vomiting, headaches, dizziness and blurred
vision.
▪ Toxic levels in pregnant women can lead to birth
defects.
▪ Provitamin A is not toxic, however, it could be
enough to give you hypercarotenemia, a condition
that causes your skin to appear yellowish-orange.
Vitamin D (The sunshine vitamin)
▪ Ergosterol is the plant-derived precursor to
vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol)
▪ 7-dehydrocholesterol is the naturally produced
precursor to vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol)
▪ Keeps your bones strong by helping your body
absorb calcium.
▪ Role in immunity and calcitriol regulates genes
and inhibits the proliferation of cells.
Deficiency risk factor
1. Breast fed infants not exposed to
sunlight
2. Elderly has the ability to synthesize
vitamin D in the skin
3. Institutionalized people of all ages
4. People with dark skin
4. People who live in cold climates
▪ Without enough vit D, calcium just wanders
through the digestive system refusing to absorb
into your body
▪ Deficiency can lead to Rickets- bowed legs in
children
▪ Osteomalacia- softening of the bones in adults
▪ Osteomalacia and osteoporosis difference: In
osteoporosis, the bones are porous and brittle,
whereas in osteomalacia, the bones are soft.
▪ Excess vitamin D can make your body absorb
more calcium that it needs.
▪ The extra calcium can make high blood calcium
levels and calcium deposits in the soft tissues,
including the blood vessels, heart and kidneys.
Vitamin E (The fat antioxidant)
▪ The active forms constitute a family of four
related compounds called tocopherols.
▪ The most abundant tocopherol in non-hepatic
tissues in humans is the alpha-tocopherol form.
▪ Vitamin E is the captain marvel among all
vitamins
▪ It is an antioxidant that protects your cell
membranes from harm.
▪ Its villain would be free radicals which are highly
reactive molecules that are missing an electron.
▪ Vitamin E is capable of donating electrons to the
free radicals.
▪ Vitamin E is important in LDL and blood
circulation
▪ If there is deficiency, cell membranes would
break down
▪ If the cells belong to RBC, you could develop
hemolytic anemia, anemia characterized by the
destruction of RBC
▪ Common in premature infants
▪cA person with insufficient fat absorption may
experience symptoms related to nerve cell
degeneration as they are vulnerable to break
down
▪ Toxicity can create problems with blood clotting
and increase bleeding and bruising.
Vitamin K (The green leafy vitamin)
▪ Exist naturally as:
K1 (phylloquinone) in green vegetable
K2 (menaquinone) produced by intestinal
bacteria
K3 is synthetic menadione
▪ When administered, K3 is alkylated to one of the
K2 forms of menaquinone
▪ This vitamin is needed for blood clotting
▪ Its major function is the maintenance of normal
levels of the blood clotting proteins, factors:
II- prothrombin
VII- stable factor or proconvertin
IX- christmas factor
X- stuart-prower factor
Protein C and Protein S, which are
synthesized in the liver as inactive
precursor protein.
▪ It is used as a coenzyme to convert three
glutamic acid residues in osteocalcin that enable
bone mineralization.
▪ Deficiency can increase bleeding and easy
bruising and susceptible to osteoporosis.
▪ Large intestines produced Vitamin K
▪ Newborn are at risk because the bacteria have
not fully developed, and there isn’t much vitamin
K transferred from the mother.
▪ Vitamin K toxicity is a concern for individuals
taking anticoagulant medications.