CHAPTER 11

VITAMINS: FAT-SOLUBLE VITAMINS

 INTRODUCTION
Vitamins were formerly called " accessory food factors because their
presence in minute quantities is easily overlooked. They are the last group of
organic compounds vital to life maintenance and growth to be discovered.
The word "vitamin" was originated by Casimir Funk 1912 when he was
searching for a constituent in rice bran, which could cure beriberi. The
missing substance he called "vitamine" was coined from "vita" meaning
necessary for life and " amine denoting that the antiberi-beri factor
contained nitrogen. This aspect of vitamins is based on the observation that
vitamins are not only coenzymes in metabolic processes but also act as
potent antioxidants and have hormone- like functions. In the late 1970's,
research established vitamin D as a hormone essential in bone metabolism.
DEFINITIONS ,
NOMENCLATURE
AND CLASSIFICATION
Vitamins are potent organic compounds of unrelated chemical composition, which
occur in minute quantities in foods and are needed in small amounts for specific
regulatory functions to maintain life and normal growth. One important criterion
to establish the essentiality of a vitamin is its ability to alleviate specific
deficiency syndromes.
 Three Distinctive characteristics of Vitamins
Organic compounds- All vitamins have carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in
their chemical composition. Only the water-soluble vitamins all have
nitrogen; and some have sulfur or cobalt. All vitamins are therefore
organic compounds versus minerals, which are inorganic compounds.

Potent Minute Quantities- This refers to very small concentrations of vitamins

needed to maintain life and normal growth . Vitamins are considered
micronutrients, in contrast to other organic compounds ( Carbohydrate, protein
and fat) which are macronutrients.
Dietary Essentials- This characteristic of vitamins distinguishes it from
hormones, which are also organic compounds that are potent and occur in
minute quantities.
Terms Associated with Vitamins

Precursor or
provitamins
These are compounds that can be changed
to the active vitamins; they are potential
vitamins. Examples: carotenes and
cryptoxanthin are precursors of vitamins A.
Ergosterol, when irradiated becomes
vitamins D.
Preformed
vitamins
These are naturally- occurring
that are in active form and
ready for its biological role.
Avitaminosis
This is a condition resulting from lack of a
vitamin in its later stage when more defined
signs and symptoms occur such that a
nutritional deficiency disease is
recognizable.
Hypervitaminosis
Sometimes referred to as vitamin
toxicity, this condition is a result of
excessive accumulation of a vitamin in
the body.
Vitamin Malnutrition
The prefix mal-meaning "bad" denotes
that too much or too little is not good
for health.
Vitamin-like compound
Some substances have physiological roles
like vitamins but they are present in larger
amounts and are partially synthesized in the
body.
Antivitamins or vitamin Vitamers
Are the multiple forms of a
antagonists vitamin ( as analogues or
These are substances that interfere isomers).
with the normal functioning of a
vitamin.

Synthetic vitamins
These are man-made or synthesized in the
laboratory. A vitamin pill or in liquid form
does not substitute for normal intakes of
vitamins from food source.
Nomenclature of vitamins General Properties and stability

It was customary to name vitamins

according to the alphabet. The
current and acceptable trend is to
name vitamins that are suggestive
of their chemical and physiological
properties.

Classification of vitamins
the two groups are: Fat- soluble
vitamins and water- soluble vitamins.
Fat- soluble vitamins are: A,D,E and K
and water-soluble vitamins are: vitamin
C or ascorbic acid and the B complex
vitamins.
VITAMIN A
Nomenclature and Forms
The old names for vitamin A are:
axerophtol; antixerophthalmic vitamin;
anti-infective vitamin; and opthalmin. The
current nomenclature is based on its
physiologically active chemical forms.
 Measurement
The FAO/WHO expert Group
recommend the use of retinol
equivalents or retinol in micrograms
(mcg.) instead of using international
units( I.U).
Retinal
is the oxidized form of vitamin
A, having an aldehyde group at
the end instead of an alcohol.

Functions
when vitamin A is lacking there is
keratinization ( hardening and sloughing ) of
the mucus membranes lining the
respiratory tract, digestive tract, urinary
system, eyes and the skin.

Utilization
Vitamin A is digested and absorb
from the small intestines with the
aid of bile salts. Vitamin A
absorption is decreased in liver or
bile disorders.
Malnutrition
Vitamin A deficiency - sign are
manifestations of interference with the
normal functions of vitamin A Just
discussed.
Vitamin A toxicity (
Hypervitaminosis A)
is characterized by violent,
headache , nausea and vomiting,
thickening of skin with fissures and
peeing off, swollen, painful long
bones, coarse, spare hair with
alopecia ( hair loss), gingivitis ,
cheilosis and enlargement of the
spleen and liver.
Requirements or Allowance
Nutrition surveys in the
philippines showed that
87% of retinol comes from
plant sources, particularly
beta-carotene.
 Food Sources
Preformed vitamin A is
found in animal sources like
liver, egg yolk, milk, cream,
butter and cheese. Fortified
margarine and skin milk
fortified with vitamin A are
common foods that are ideal
carriers of vitamin A.
VITAMIN D
Nomenclature and forms
Vitamin D is a group of
related sterols with anti-
rachitic or " ricket -
preventive properties,
hence its other name, anti-
rachitic vitamin.

 Vitamin D is a fat -soluble

vitamin that is essential for
maintaining normal calcium
metabolism.
 Functions Hypervitaminosis D
Vitamin D promotes normal
bone and teeth development cause, nausea, polyuria and weight
because it facilitates the loss in the early stages.
absorption of calcium and
phosphorus. Requirement or
Allowance
Utilization
Vitamin D is absorbed through the
Evaluating if vitamins D
lacteals of the lympathic system. requirement is difficult since
Malnutrition there is some biosynthesis
deficiency in infants leads to tetany ( a syndrome
characterrized by abnormal muscle twitching, cramps
that cannot be measure
and sharp bilateral spasms of joint in the wrists and
ankle.
exactly.
 Food sources
Animal source are fortified
margarine, butter, milk and cheese
; liver and other glandular organs;
sardines and salmon ; egg yolk.
Measurement
The original standard,
di-alpha tocopherol
acetate is no longer
used.
VITAMIN E
Nomenclature and forms
First discovered in 1922 as needed
for normal reproduction in animal,
it was shown to cause permanent
sterility in male animals and fetal
resorption in female animals.
Functions
Vitamin E is known to be
dietary essential for at least
20 species, including man.
 Utilization
Vitamin E absorption and
utilization is similar to the
other fat- soluble vitamins.
Malnutrition Requirement or
Allowance
Deficiency of tocopherols For adult males and female (
in man is very rare and 19 years and over ) the RNI is
only under experimental 12 mg.
conditions.

Food sources
There is no problem in planning
diets for adequate vitamin E intake
as long as the other fat- soluble
vitamins and essential fatty acids
are present in sufficient amount.
 VITAMIN K

Measurement Utilization
NOMECLATURE AND FORMS

Vitamin K is absorbed in
Also called the anti-hermorrhagic The reference standard is the intestines just like

factor, vitamin K was first discovered menadione. One unit other fat-related
substances.
by a Danish scientist who vitamin K= 1 microgram
demonstrated its role in blood menadione.
coagulation.
Requirement or Food sources
Malnutrition Allowance
Deficiency in vitamin K results in
hemorrhagic disease in the newborn Exact amounts of vitamin K
and delayed blood clotting time in requirement are not known
adults. due to intestinal synthesis and
variable content in food
sources.
Good amounts are present in tomatoes, tubers,
seeds and legumes and egg yolk.
THE END