2 of 11

ADITHYA P CHACKO

NATURAL SCIENCE

3 of 11

Vitamins�

Benefits and essentials

5 of 11

What are vitamins?

It is an organic compound, required in small amounts by an organism to obtain cellular functions.
It is called vitamin, when it can not be synthesized in sufficient quantities by the organism, and must therefore be supplied by the diet.

6 of 11

History of Vitamins

In ancient Egypt: Feeding of patients with liver to prevent night blindness (now known as vitamin A deficiency)
In 1749, the prevention of scurvy by citrus foods, was first discovered by the Scottish surgeon James Lind.
In the Orient: Beriberi was common (a disease caused by the deficiency of Vitamin B1), because of polished white rice.

7 of 11

The discovery of Vitamins and their sources

Year of discovery	Vitamin	Source
1909	Vitamin A (Retinol)	Cod liver oil (a fish)
1912	Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)	Rice bran
1912	Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)	Lemons
1918	Vitamin D (Calciferol)	Cod liver oil
1920	Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)	Eggs
1922	Vitamin E (Tocopherol)	Wheat germ oil
1926	Vitamin B12 (Siano Cobalamin)	Liver
1929	Vitamin K (Phylloquinone)	Luzerne
1931	Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)	Liver
1931	Vitamin B7 (Biotin)	Liver
1934	Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)	Rice bran
1936	Vitamin B3 (Niacin)	Liver
1941	Vitamin B9 (Folic acid)	Liver

8 of 11

In Humans: How do these Vitamins dissolve?

Vitamins are classified as either:

1) water- soluble (can dissolve in water solutions) – these are readily excreted from the body. There are 9 water soluble vitamins.

2) fat-soluble (can dissolve in lipid solutions)- these are absorbed through the intestinal tract with the help of lipids (fat)- There are 4 types of fat soluble vitamins.

9 of 11

Vitamin Name	Chemical name	Solubility	Rec. Diet. Allowances	Deficiency diseases	Upper Intake level	Overdose disease
Vitamin A	Retinol, carotenoids	Fat	900µg	Night blindness keratomalacia	3000µg	Hyper vitaminosis A
Vitamin B1	Thiamine	Water	1.2 mg	Beriberi	N/D
Vitamin B2	Riboflavin	Water	1.3 mg	Ariboflavinosis	N/D
Vitamin B3	Niacin, niacinamide	Water	16 mg	Pellagra	35.0mg	Liver damage
Vitamin B5	Pantothenic acid	Water	5 mg	Paresthesia	N/D
Vitamin B6	Pyridoxine, pyridoxamine	Water	1.3-1.7 mg	Anemia	100 mg	Nerve damage
Vitamin B7	Biotin	Water	30µg	Dermatitis, enteritis	N/D
Vitamin B9	Folic acid, folinic acid	Water	400µg	Birth defects	1,000µg	Proprioception, nerve damage
Vitamin B12	Cyanocobalamine	Water	2.4µg	Megaloblastic anemia	N/D
Vitamin C	Ascorbic acid	Water	90 mg	Scurvy	2,000 mg
Vitamin D	Ergocalciferol, Cholecalciferol	Fat	5µg-10µg	Rickets, osteomalacia	50µg	Hypervitaminois D
Vitamin E	Tocopherols, tocotrienols	Fat	15 mg	Hemolytic anemia	1,000 mg	Possible heart problems
Vitamin K	Phylloquinone, menaquinones	Fat	120µg	Bleeding diathesis	N/D	Increased coagulation

10 of 11

Vitamins as supplement

Many researchers have claimed that vitamin supplementation do not only provide no real health benefits, but could also be the source of increased mortality.
In some cases, dietary supplementation could have unwanted effects, especially with other dietary supplements and medicines.

11 of 11

�No wonder that an apple a day keeps the doctor away!��Thank you!

1 of 11