Vitamins

Definition
 Vitamins are a group of complex organic compounds
other than carbohydrates, fats and protein that are
required in very little amount.
 But are very essential for normal functioning, growth

and reproduction in humans.

Properties of Vitamins
 They are organic substances that contain
carbohydrates,lipids and proteins
 They are not made in the body;they must be obtained

through foods
 No food has all the vitamins;certain vitamins are found in

certain foods
 They contain no calories,hence do not directly provide

energy
 They are required in small amounts, such as milligrams(mg)

or micrograms(µg)
 They are vital for the normal functioning of the body
Classification of vitamins

Vitamin
s

Fat Water
soluble soluble
 Vitamin
A

Fat soluble
Vitamin
D
Vitamin E
Vitamin
K
 Water
soluble

Vitamin B- Vitamin C
complex

Vitamin B1 Vitamin B2
Vitamin B9 Vitamin
(Thiamine) (Riboflavin Vitamin B3 Vitamin B4 Vitamin B6 B12
) (Pantothen (Folacin/
(Niacin) (Pyridoxin (Cobalami Biotin
ic acid) Folic Acid)
e) ne)
FAT SOLUBLE
VITAMINS
Fat soluble vitamins
 This group include those vitamins which are soluble in fats
 So they are absorbed in presence of fats only
 Being fat soluble they are stored in the body for a long time
 As they are stored in the body, so their deficiency is felt very

late
 VITAMIN A, D, E AND K
 1) Vitamin A (Carotene or Retinol)
 Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin.
 The yellow colour in plants i.e. carotene has vitamin A like

activity and it is converted to vitamin A in the body. So it is

referred as precursor of Vitamin A

 Recommended Dietary Allowances(RDAs)-

 About 2mg(milligram)
 Dietary sources- animal food like egg, fish liver oil are richest
source of vitamin A, while milk is fair source.
 In Animal food vitamin A occurs in form of retinol
 In plant food it occurs in form of carotenoid pigment
 Amongst plant food green leafy vegetable and yellow coloured

fruits and vegetables like mango, papaya and carrot

respectively are rich sources of Vitamin A
Function of Vit A
 Maintenance of Vision
 Growth and reproduction
 Develops immunity
 Bone and tooth development
 Reduced risk of several diseases-anticancer fighting capacity

and fighting cardiovascular diseases

1) Maintenance of vision
 Vitamin A helps in formation of pigment called
rhodopsin
 Rhodopsin is vit A containing pigment which helps in

visibility in night
 Diet circulation rhodopsin nerve impulse
(containing vit A & Protein)

vision in dimlight
2) Growth and reproduction
 Vit A is essential for normal and healthy growth
 Vit A plays role in maintaining healthy pregnancy
3) Develops Immunity

 AsVit A is involved in maintaining normal epithelia

of skin which provides first line of defence against
micro organism. So vit A plays role in boosting
immunity
4) Bone and tooth development
 Vit A is essential for normal bone formation.
 Its deficiency may result in improper cell division of

cells of bone. So it results in defective bone growth

5) Reduced risk of several diseases
 Carotene a pigment of vit A possess anticancer
fighting capacity.
 Carotene has shown positive result in fighting

cardiovascular diseases
Absorption and metabolism
 Body gets vitamin in form of retinol from animal food
 While plant foods give vitamin A in form of Beta-carotene
 Retinol is directly absorbed by intestinal cell
 Beta carotene is usually converted to retinol and then absorbed
 All forms of vitamin A is absorbed in body in body in presence of

fat
Storage
 Vitamin A is fat soluble so can be stored in body for longer period
of time
 Vitamin A is stored in liver within the fat storing cells i.e. stellate

cell
Deficiency of Vit A
 Night blindness- inability to see in dim light
 Xeropthalmia- dryness and thickening of conjuctival
epithelium
 Keratomalacia- ulceration and perforation of cornea
 Bitot’s spots-thick triangular patch in sclera of eye
 Growth retardation, improper bone and teeth development
 Dry skin, dry hair, also affects immunity
Bitot’s spot
Keratomalacia
Xerophthalmia
Hypervitaminosis
 Hypervitaminosis is a condition which occurs if vitamin A is
consumed in excess
 Excessive intake has shown toxic effect in both adults and

children
 The common symptoms of vitamin A toxicity are:
 Anorexia
 Hyperirritability
 Painful swelling over bones and joint
 Headache. enlargement of liver and spleen
 2) Vitamin D
 It is also known as calciferol and it is fat soluble vitamin
 It has antirachitic property

 Synthesis- In human it is present in form of 7-

dehydrocholesterol which is converted to vitamin D in presence
of ultraviolet rays of sun
 7-dehydrocholesterol UV Rays Vitamin D

(inactive form) (active form)

 RDAs-400µg(ICMR)
 Dietary sources- other than sunlight fish liver oil.
 egg yolk,butter and milk
 Functions
 Helps in absorption of calcium and phosphorous from small

intestine
 Helps in normal growth and bone development by helping in

calcification and mineralization of bone

 Absorption and metabolism
 Dietary vitamin is absorbed from jejunum along with bile salts

i.e fats from food and enters the blood stream via same passage
off at absorption

 Storage
 Vitamin
D is stored in body in an inactive form 7-
dehydrocholesterol
 Deficiencies – the deficiency of vitamin D adversely affect
calcium and phosphorous absorption and leads to various
disorder
 1)Rickets- affects children. Age group 1-3 years
 Symptoms:
 Restless and nervous irritability
 Ribs and bone remain small
 Ribs of chest bulge out
 Bowing of legs

 Enlargement of wrist, knee and ankle joints

Rickets
 2) Osteomalacia – refers to adut rickets. Means softening of bones
 Women are more affected with those who have many pregnancies
 Symptoms:
 Softenig of bones take place which may result in deformity of leg , spine

, thorax , and pelvis

 Pain in back and pain in legs
 Difficulty in walking
 Chances of spontaneous multiple fracture increases
 3) Tetany-
 It is a condition in which muscle twitching ,cramps and

convulsion occur
 It occurs due to deficiency and improper absorption of vitamin

D and calcium
Hypervitaminosis D
 Vitamin D is fat soluble
 It is not excreted out of body
 Produces several adverse affect if consumed in excess
 Results in calcification of soft tissues like heart, lungs, blood

vessels, stomach etc

 Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, excessive thirst
 3) Vitamin E ( Tocopherol)
 Vitamin E also known as antisterility vitamin

 RDAs- 0.8mg/g
 Dietary sources- the most important and richest is vegetable

oil, nuts and whole grains

 Function
 Acts as antioxidant
 Role in reproduction
 Anti ageing
 Storage :
 Stored in adipose tissue
 Deficiency
 Nervous system disorders
 Sterility
 Destruction of RBCs
 Malfunctioning of immune system
 4) Vitamin K
 This vitamin is also known as antihemorrhagic factor
coagulation vitamin
 It is necessary for preventing hemorrhage and essential for

normal blood clotting as vit K is essential for synthesis of

prothrombin and other blood clotting factor
 RDA-
 Infants- 10-20µg
 Adults 70-140µg
 Dietary sources
 Best source is green leafy vegetables-spinach, coriander,

raddish leaves, cauliflower, cabbage, soyabean, meat and dairy

products

 Function
 Important function is blood coagulation. Vit K promotes
synthesis prothrombin for normal clotting
 Essential for formation of other clotting factors
 Absorption and metabolism:
 Absorbed in presence of bile
 Usually absorbed in upper portion of small intestine
 Deficiency
 Neonatal hemorrhage
 Other cause of haemorrhage
WATER SOLUBLE
VITAMINS
Vitamin C or Ascorbic Acid
 It is also known as antioxidant
 RDA- 50mg/day
 Dietary sources
 Widely available in foods of plant origin, especially fresh fruits

and vegetables. Amla is richest source. Guava, citrus fruits are

good source
Function
 Collagen formation: the structural material which acts as
cementing material between the cells is formed with help of
vitamin C.
 Wound healing
 Synthesis of neurotransmitter
 Prevention of gall stone formation
 Iron absorption
 Drug detoxification
 Absorption and Metabolism
 Vitamin C is absorbed in Jejunum

 Deficiency
 1. defect in collagen formation
 2.Delayed wound healing
 3. Scurvy- most severe form of Vit C deficiency
 4. Cessation of Bone growth
Hypervitaminosis Vitamin C
 Vit C excessive consumption is nontoxic as it is water soluble
 May cause kidney stone in certain individuals
 Other problems: gastro intestinal disturbances, interference

with anticoagulants, destruction of RBCs, excessive iron

absorption