Vitamins – Chemical Name, Deficiency , Sources

Vitamins – Chemical Name, Deficiency , Sources

• A vitamin is an organic molecule that is an essential micro-nutrient which an organism needs in small quantities for the proper functioning of its metabolism.
• No Calories are obtained from Vitamins but Vitamin is very essential for proper nutrition.
• Vitamins were invented by Sir F. G. Hopkins.
• The term -“VItamin” was coined by Casimir Funk.
• Water Soluble Vitamins – B, C.
• Fat Soluble Vitamins – A, D, E, K.

Details about different Vitamins

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Vitamin A

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• Chemical Name : Retinol.
• Fat soluble vitamin.
• Deficiency Causes : Night Blindness, Xerophthalmia.
• Sources : Milk, Egg, Cheese, Greenvegetable, Fish Liver oil, Carrot etc.
• Vitamin A is stored in Liver. 

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Vitamin B1

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• Chemical Name : Thymine.
• Water soluble vitamin.
• Deficiency Causes : Beriberi
• Sources : Groundnut, Rapseed, Dried Chilli, Pulses, Liver, Egg, Vegetables etc.

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Vitamin B2

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• Chemical Name : Riboflavin.
• Water soluble vitamin.
• Deficiency Causes : Cracking of Skin, reddish eye, cracking of tongue
• Sources : Meat, Green vegetables, Milk etc.

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Vitamin B3

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• Chemical Name : Niacin/ Nicotinamide .
• Water soluble vitamin.
• Deficiency Causes : Pellagra, Whitening of hair.
• Sources : Meat, fish, eggs, many vegetables, mushrooms, tree nuts etc.

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Vitamin B5

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• Chemical Name : Pyridoxine
• Water soluble vitamin.
• Deficiency Causes : Anaemia peripheral neuropathy.
• Sources :Meat, broccoli, ground potatoes etc.

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Vitamin B6

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• Chemical Name : Pantothenic acid
• Water soluble vitamin.
• Deficiency Causes : Paresthesia
• Sources :Meat, vegetables, tree nuts, bananas etc.

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Vitamin B7

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• Chemical Name : Biotin
• Water soluble vitamin.
• Deficiency Causes : Dermatitis, enteritis
• Sources :Raw egg yolk, liver, peanuts, certain vegetables etc.

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Vitamin B9

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• Chemical Name : Folic acid
• Water soluble vitamin.
• Deficiency Causes : Megaloblast and Deficiency during pregnancy is associated with birth defects, such as neural tube defects
• Sources :Leafy vegetables, pasta, bread, cereal, liver etc.

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Vitamin B12

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• Chemical Name : Cyanocobalamin
• Water soluble vitamin.
• Deficiency Causes : Pernicious anemia
• Sources :Meat and other animal products
• Vitamin B12 contains – Cobalt. 

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Vitamin C

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• Chemical Name : Ascorbic acid
• Water soluble vitamin.
• Deficiency Causes : Scurvy
• Sources : Lemon, orange, Tomato, Sour substances, Chilly, Sprouted grain.

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Vitamin D

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• Chemical Name : Calciferol
• Fat soluble vitamin.
• Deficiency Causes : Rickets ( in Children) & Osteomalasia (in Adults)
• Sources : Fish liver oil, Milk, Eggs etc.
• Chemical name of Vitamin D3 – Cholecalciferol *** 
• Vitamin D synthesis takes place in Human skin in presence of Sunlight.

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Vitamin E

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• Chemical Name : Tocopherol
• Fat soluble vitamin.
• Deficiency Causes : Less Fertility
• Sources : Leafy Vegetables, Milk, Butter, Sprouted wheat, Vegetable oils etc. 

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Vitamin K

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• Chemical Name : Phylloquinone
• Fat soluble vitamin.
• Deficiency Causes : Non-Clotting of bloods.
• Sources : Tomato, Soybean oil, Green vegetables.
• Vitamin D synthesis takes place in our colon by bacteria and form there it is absorbed.

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