Vitamin and Hormone

Vitamin
• A vitamin is an organic molecule that is an essential
micronutrient which an organism needs in small quantities for
the proper functioning of its metabolism.
• Classification of Vitamins
• Vitamins are generally classified as water-soluble vitamins and
fat-soluble vitamins.
• 1. Fat-Soluble Vitamins
• Vitamin A, D, E and K are fat-soluble. These are stored in
adipose tissues and hence are called fat-soluble vitamins.
• 2. Water-Soluble Vitamins
• Vitamins in B-group and vitamin C are water-soluble and cannot
be stored in our bodies as they pass with the water in urine.
These vitamins must be supplied to our bodies with regular
diets.
Classification according to solubility
Vitamin A
• Vitamin A is a group of unsaturated nutritional organic
compounds that includes retinol, retinal
• Source: Liver, kidney, egg yolk, milk, cheese, butter, fish, liver,
carrot, spinach, pumpkins, papaya
• Dietary requirements: 1000RE( retinol equivalent) for male
• 800 RE ( retinol equivalent) for female
• Deficiency syndrome:1. Dark adaptation time increases upto 2-3
hrs. 2. Impaired growth 3. Impaired reproduction 4. Dry skin and
damaged epithelial cell.
Structure of vit-a
Function of Vit A
Rhodopsin is a conjugated protein present in rods
contain 11-cis retinal and opsin (protein) . On
exposure light all 11-cis retinal converted in to 11-
trans retinal. This leads to a conformational change
which is responsible for the generation of nerve
impulse. All 11-trans retinal does not convert into
11-cis retinal. So the trans retinal reduced to trans
retinol and isomerize to 11-cis retinol which then
oxidized and form rhodopsin again with opsin.
Dark adaptation time
• When a person shifts from a bright light dim light, rhodopsin stored
are depleted and vision is impaired. However within a time known as
dark adaptation time rhodopsin are resynthesized and vision is
improved.
• Rod and cone cell: Photoreceptors in the retina are classified into
two groups, named after their physical morphologies. Rod
cells are highly sensitive to light and function in night vision ,
whereas cone cells are capable of detecting a wide spectrum of
light photons and are responsible for colour vision.
 Vit- D
• Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble responsible for increasing
intestinal absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate, and many
other biological effects. In humans, the most important compounds in
this group are vitamin D₃ and vitamin D₂. It resembles sterols in
structure and function like a hormone.
• Source: Sunlight
• RDA: 10μg for healthy human where sunlight is less available, 5 μg for
healthy human where sunlight is available
• Deficiency of vit-D: leads to ricket( bone deformation + delayed tooth
formation) in children and osteomalacia( demineralization of bones
occurs susceptibility of fracture) in adult.
Biochemical function of Vit-d
• Calcitriol Bone formation and turn over

• Calcitriol-receptor complex

• Interact with RNA

• Calcium binding protein synthesi

• Uptake of Ca 2+
Vit-C
• Vit- c is a water soluble vitamin also known as ascorbic acid ,is
necessary for the growth, development and repair of all body
tissues.
• Source: citrus food, Gooseberry, guava, green vegetable, orange
• RDA: 60-70mg /day for adult
• Deficiency syndrome: Spongy and sore gum loose of teeth,
anemia, swollen joint, fragile blood vessel.
Structure:
Biochemical function of vit-c
1. Free radicals are constantly produced in normal metabolism. They
cause the serious damage of protein lipid DNA. This leads to many
chronic diseases vit-c is a strong anti oxidant. This anti-oxidant
perform a common function to inactivated the free radical oxygen.
2. The hydroxylation rection catalyzed by two enzymes. This rection is
dependent on vit –c. Vit c is necessary for maintenance of normal
connective tissue and wound healing process.
3. Bone formation
4. Collagen formation
Vitamin B2 ( Riboflavin)
• Water soluble vitamin . It takes part in variety of cellular oxidation-
reduction reaction through its two co-enzymes.
• Source: milk, milk products, meat egg, liver are rich sources of
riboflavin. Cereals , fruits, vegetables are moderate sources
• RDA: 1.2-1.7 mg /day for adult, High take 2.5 mg/day is needed
• Deficiency syndrome: Cheilosis ( Tissue at the corner of the mouth),
dermatitis, glossitis, ( the toung appearing smooth and polished)
• Two coenzymes that are synthesized from vit-B2
• FMN( Flavin- mononucleotide)
• FAD( Flavin adenindinucleotide )
Biochemical function of B2
The flavin coenzyme participate in
many redox reactions responsible
for energy production
Thiamine B1
Thiamine is vitamin B1. Thiamine is found in foods such as cereals, whole grains,
meat, nuts, beans, and peas. Thiamine is important in the breakdown of
carbohydrates from foods into products needed by the body. Thiamine is used to
treat or prevent vitamin B1 deficiency

Deficiency syndrome: A deficiency of vitamin B1 commonly leads to beriberi, a

condition that features problems with the peripheral nerves and wasting. Weight
loss and anorexia can develop.
There may be mental problems, including confusion and short-term memory loss.
RDA : The average daily thiamin intake from foods and supplements in children and
teens is 1.51 mg for ages 2–5 years, 1.76 mg for ages 6–11 years, and 1.95 mg for
ages 12–19 years. In adults aged 20 and older, the average daily thiamin intake from
foods and supplements is 4.89 mg in men and 4.90 mg in women
Pantothenic acid B5
Hormone
• Hormones are chemical messengers that coordinate the activities of
different cells in multicellular organism. The term hormone (from
Greek meaning to spur on) . They are prolonged in small amount by
endocrine glands, secreted into blood stream to control the
metabolic and biological activities in the target cell.
• Work of hormone:
• Hormones are molecules synthesized by specific tissue(glands)
• They are secreted directly into the bold, which carries them to their
sites of action
• They specifically alter the activities of responsive tissue
Classification of hormone
• According to chemical nature there are three types of hormones
• 1. Protein or peptide hormone: This hormone may have form 3 to
200 or more amino acid residues. This hormones are synthesized on
ribosome in cell. Ex: insulin, oxytocin
• 2. Amino acid derivative: The amino hormones are small, water
soluble compounds containing amino groups. Ex: Epinephrine,
thyroxine
• 3. Steroid hormone: They are synthesized from cholesterol in several
endocrine tissues. They are two types, Glucocorticoids, Mineral
corticoids
Based on their action
• Endocrine hormone: The hormones are released into the blood and
carried to target cells throughout the body. Ex : insulin
• Paracrine hormone: Paracrine hormones are released into the
extracellular space and diffuse to neighboring target cells.
Prostaglandin
• Autocrine hormone: Autocrine hormones are released by and affect
the same cell, binding the receptors on the cell surface. EX:
Interleukin-2
Insulin:
• Insulin is a polypeptide hormone produced by the cell of islets of
Langerhans of pancreas. It contains 51 amino acids arranged into two
polypeptide chains,. Chain A has 21 amino acids and B has 30 amino
acids Both are held together by two inter chain disulfide bridges
connecting A7 to B7 and A20 to B19. An intrachain disulfide link
chain A between the amino acid 6 and 11.
Metabolic effects of insulin
Thyroid hormone
• The thyroid hormones are released when the hypothalamus secrets
thyrotropin releasing hormones, which stimulates the anterior
pituitary to release thyrotropin, which in turn stimulates the thyroid
glands to secret its two characteristic hormone.
Influence on metabolic rate
• Thyroid hormones increase the metabolic activities and increases the
oxygen consumption in most of the tissues of the body.
• 1. Effect on protein synthesis: Thyroid hormones act like steroid
hormones in promoting protein synthesis by acting at transcriptional
level. In this process the thyroid hormone may directly promote
synthesis of growth hormone.
• 2. Carbohydrate metabolism: Thyroid hormone promote intestinal
absorption of glucose and its utilization. These hormone increases
glucogenesis with overall enhancement of blood glucose level
• 3. Lipid metabolism: Lipid turnover and utilization are stimulated by
thyroid hormones. Hypothyroidism is associated with elevated
plasma cholesterol levels which can be reversed by thyroid
administration.

• Deficiency syndrome: Goiter, Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism,

Thyroid cancer, Iodine deficiency