Water Soluble Vitamins

Dr. Wasim

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Water soluble vitamins
• Occurs in the human body as free thiamin and its
phosphorylated forms
Thiamin
• Also known as vitamin B1 & is one of the first organic
compounds to be recognized as a vitamin
1. Thiamin monophosphate (TMP)
2. Thiamin triphosphate (TTP)
3. Thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP) or Thiamin diphosphate
• Rapidly converted to its active form, thiamin
pyrophosphate, TPP, in the brain and liver by specific
enzymes

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 Thiamin
Functions
• Thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP) is a required coenzyme for
a different enzymes,
1. Pyruvate dehydrogenase
2. α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase
3. Branched chain ketoacid (BCKA) dehydrogenase

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Sources
• Yeast, egg yolk, liver, wheat germ, nuts, red meat and
cereals
Deficiency
• Severe thiamin deficiency results in beriberi
• Beriberi is termed dry, wet, and cerebral, depending on the
systems affected by severe thiamin deficiency
• During early stages of dry (paralytic or nervous)
beriberi "burning feet syndrome" may occur

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Causes of thiamin deficiency
• Inadequate intake
• Increased requirement during fever,
pregnancy, breastfeeding, and adolescent
growth
• Presence of anti-thiamin factors (ATF) in
foods e.g. presence of thiaminases in fish

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Riboflavin or B2
• It is primarily found in the body as an integral component
of the coenzymes:
1. Flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)
2. Flavin mononucleotide (FMN)
• Coenzymes derived from riboflavin are also called flavins
& enzymes that use a flavin coenzyme are called
flavoproteins
Functions
• It has antioxidant functions

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Riboflavin
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• Flavins are critical for the metabolism of
carbohydrates, minerals, fats, and proteins
• Participate in the metabolism of several
other vitamins (vitamin B6, niacin & folic
acid)
• Sources
• Dairy products, liver, vegetables, eggs,
cereals, fruit, yeast

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Deficiency
• Riboflavin deficiency is often seen in chronic
alcoholics due to their poor dietetic habits
• Riboflavin decomposes when exposed to
visible light that can lead to riboflavin
deficiencies in newborns
• Symptoms associated with riboflavin
deficiency include, glossitis, angular
stomatitis, and photophobia

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Niacin or vitamin B3
• Niacin is not a true vitamin in the strictest definition
since it can be derived from the amino acid tryptophan
• Niacin refers to nicotinic acid and nicotinamide, which
are both used by the body to form the coenzymes
1. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)
2. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phospate (NADP)

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Nicotinamide Nicotinic Acid

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Function
• Participate in oxidation-reduction (redox)
reactions
• Sources
• Yeast, meat, poultry, fish, cereals, legumes,
milk, green leafy vegetables, coffee & tea

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Deficiency
• The late stage of severe niacin deficiency is known as
pellagra
• The word "pellagra" comes from the Italian phrase for
rough or raw skin
• In the skin, a thick, scaly, darkly pigmented rash develops
symmetrically in areas exposed to sunlight
• Other symptoms include bright red tongue, vomiting,
diarrhea, memory loss etc.
• Pellagra may result from inadequate dietary intake of
niacin and/or tryptophan and also deficiency of other
nutrient like iron

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Pantothenic Acid or B5
• Essential to all forms of life
• It is found throughout living cells in the
form of coenzyme A (CoA), vital in
numerous chemical reactions
• Required for the metabolism of
carbohydrate, all fats and proteins
• At least 70 enzymes have been identified as
requiring CoA or for their function

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Pantothenic Acid

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sources
• Milk, meat, cereals, broccoli, lentils, peas,
avocado, mushrooms etc.
Deficiency
• Extremely rare due to its widespread
distribution in whole grain cereals, legumes
and meat
• Symptoms of deficiency are difficult to
assess since they resemble those of other B
vitamin deficiencies
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Vitamin B6
• It was discovered in 1934
• There are six forms of vitamin B6:
1. Pyridoxal (PL)
2. Pyridoxine (PN),
3. Pyridoxamine (PM)
4. Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP)
5. Pyridoxine 5'-phosphate (PNP)
6. Pridoxamine 5'-phospate (PMP)
• PLP is the active coenzyme form, and is the most important
in human metabolism

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Pyridoxal Pyridoxine Pyridoxamine

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Functions
• Must be obtained from the diet because humans cannot
synthesize it
• PLP plays a vital role in the function of approximately 100
enzymes that catalyze essential chemical reactions in the
human body
• PLP helps in the synthesis of the neurotransmitters
• Important in the synthesis of heme, a component of
hemoglobin
• Helps in the synthesis of niacin from tryptophan

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• May have implications for diseases affected
by steroid hormones, such as breast cancer
and prostate cancer
• Involved in the synthesis of nucleic acids
Sources
• Banana, chicken, potato, spinach, vegetable
juice cocktail

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Deficiency
• Severe deficiency of vitamin B6 is
uncommon
• Alcoholics are thought to be most at risk of
vitamin B6 deficiency, due to a low intake
and impaired metabolism of the vitamin
• symptoms of deficiency include irritability,
depression, and confusion; inflammation of
the tongue, ulcers of skin at the corners of
the mouth

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Biotin
• Required by all organisms but can only be synthesized by
bacteria, yeasts, molds, algae, and some plant species
Functions
• In its physiologically active form biotin is attached at the
active site of four important enzymes, known as
carboxylases
• Each carboxylase catalyzes an essential metabolic reaction
• May play a role in DNA replication and transcription

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Biotin

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Sources
• Whole wheat bread, cheddar cheese, avocado, raspberries
raw cauliflower,
Deficiency
• Deficiency is generally seen only after long antibiotic
therapies which deplete the intestinal fauna or following
excessive consumption of raw eggs
• The latter is due to the affinity of the egg white protein,
avidin, for biotin preventing intestinal absorption of the
biotin

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Folic acid (B9)
• Folic acid occurs rarely in foods or the human body, but is
the form most often used in vitamin supplements and
fortified foods
Functions
• Folate helps in the metabolism of several amino acids such
as histidine, glycine, serine, and methionine
• The synthesis of DNA from its precursors is dependent on
folate coenzymes

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Folate

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• Folic acid is essential for cell division,
production of DNA and RNA, and assists the
prevention of changes in DNA, which may
lead to cancer
• Sources
• Orange juice (from concentrate) Spinach,
Lentils, Rice etc.

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Deficiency
• Deficiency occurs due to low dietary intake
and diminished absorption, as in
alcoholism, can result in a decreased supply
of folate
• Certain conditions like pregnancy or cancer
result in increased rates of cell division and
metabolism, leading to an increase in the
body's demand for folate

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Cobalamin or Vitamin B12
• The largest and most complex of all the vitamins
• Unique among vitamins in that it contains a metal ion,
cobalt
• Contrary to other water-soluble vitamins, B12 can be stored
in the body for extended amounts of time, even for years
Functions
• Helps oxidation of several compounds
• It helps nerve cells, red blood cells, and the
manufacturing/repair of DNA

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Cyanocobalamin

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• It is vital for processing carbohydrates,
proteins and fats, which help make all of the
blood cells in our bodies, also assists memory
Sources
• Synthesized only by bacteria, also present in
animal products such as meat, poultry, fish
(including shellfish), and to a lesser extent
milk, but it is not generally present in plant
products or yeast

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Deficiency
• The most common causes of vitamin B12
deficiency are autoimmune condition
known as pernicious anemia and food-
bound vitamin B12 malabsorption
• Deficiency results in Pernicious anemia,
constipation, heart disease, permanent
nerve damage, loss of appetite, weight loss,
difficulty in maintaining balance, memory
loss etc.

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Vitamin C
• Unlike most mammals, humans do not have the ability to
make their own vitamin C therefore, we must obtain
vitamin C through our diet
Functions
• Required for the synthesis of collagen, an important
structural component of blood vessels, tendons,
ligaments, and bone
• Plays an important role in the synthesis of the
neurotransmitters
• involved in the metabolism of cholesterol to bile acids,
which may have implications for blood cholesterol levels

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Ascorbic acid

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• Highly effective antioxidant & even in small
amounts vitamin C can protect
indispensable molecules in the body, such
as proteins, lipids (fats), carbohydrates, and
nucleic acids
• May also be able to regenerate other
antioxidants such as vitamin E
sources
• Orange juice, grapefruit juice, orange,
grapefruit, strawberries, potato etc.

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deficiency
• Severe vitamin C deficiency results in potentially fatal
disease, scurvy
• Symptoms of scurvy include bleeding and bruising easily,
hair and tooth loss, joint pain and swelling
• Such symptoms appear to be related to the weakening of
blood vessels, connective tissue, and bone, which contain
collagen
• It is rare in developed countries because it can be
prevented by as little as 10 mg of vitamin C daily

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