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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
Vitamin A
- 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.
Vitamin B1
- Chemical Name : Thymine.
- Water soluble vitamin.
- Deficiency Causes : Beriberi
- Sources : Groundnut, Rapseed, Dried Chilli, Pulses, Liver, Egg, Vegetables etc.
Vitamin B2
- Chemical Name : Riboflavin.
- Water soluble vitamin.
- Deficiency Causes : Cracking of Skin, reddish eye, cracking of tongue
- Sources : Meat, Green vegetables, Milk etc.
Vitamin B3
- Chemical Name : Niacin/ Nicotinamide .
- Water soluble vitamin.
- Deficiency Causes : Pellagra, Whitening of hair.
- Sources : Meat, fish, eggs, many vegetables, mushrooms, tree nuts etc.
Vitamin B5
- Chemical Name : Pyridoxine
- Water soluble vitamin.
- Deficiency Causes : Anaemia peripheral neuropathy.
- Sources :Meat, broccoli, ground potatoes etc.
Vitamin B6
- Chemical Name : Pantothenic acid
- Water soluble vitamin.
- Deficiency Causes : Paresthesia
- Sources :Meat, vegetables, tree nuts, bananas etc.
Vitamin B7
- Chemical Name : Biotin
- Water soluble vitamin.
- Deficiency Causes : Dermatitis, enteritis
- Sources :Raw egg yolk, liver, peanuts, certain vegetables etc.
Vitamin B9
- 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.
Vitamin B12
- Chemical Name : Cyanocobalamin
- Water soluble vitamin.
- Deficiency Causes : Pernicious anemia
- Sources :Meat and other animal products
- Vitamin B12 contains – Cobalt.
Vitamin C
- Chemical Name : Ascorbic acid
- Water soluble vitamin.
- Deficiency Causes : Scurvy
- Sources : Lemon, orange, Tomato, Sour substances, Chilly, Sprouted grain.
Vitamin D
- 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.
Vitamin E
- Chemical Name : Tocopherol
- Fat soluble vitamin.
- Deficiency Causes : Less Fertility
- Sources : Leafy Vegetables, Milk, Butter, Sprouted wheat, Vegetable oils etc.
Vitamin K
- 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.
Also Check :
Parts of Cell and their Functions
