Vitamins are organic compounds that are required in small amounts with our regular diet in order to carry out certain biological functions and for the maintenance of our growth. Apart from the normal food that we take, our body requires a certain number of compounds in small amounts for the proper functioning and deficiency of these compounds may cause diseases. Vitamins – Scientific Name, Sources and Deficiencies are all discussed below.
Given below is the List of Vitamins – Scientific Name, Sources and Deficiencies :
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Symptoms of Deficiency | Food Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A (Fat-soluble) | Retinol, Retinoic acid | Ocular disturbances leading to lost of eye sight, growth retardation, dry skin, diarrhea, vulnerability to infection | Green leafy vegetables, nuts, tomatoes, oranges, ripe yellow fruits, guava, milk, carrots, broccoli, watermelon. |
| Vitamin B1 (Water-soluble) | Thiamine | Impairment of nerves and wasting of heart muscles | Fresh fruits, corn, cashew nuts, potatoes, sweet potatoes, peas, wheat, milk, dates, black beans, etc. |
| Vitamin B2 (Water-soluble) | Riboflavin | Inflammation of tongue, lips and skin; ocular problems and nervous symptoms | Bananas, grapes, mangoes, peas, pumpkin, dates, yoghurt, milk, mushrooms, popcorn, beef liver, etc. |
| Vitamin B3 (Water-soluble) | Niacin | Gastrointestinal, skin lesions, nervous symptoms | Meat, eggs, fish, milk products, guava, mushroom, peanuts, cereals, green peas, etc. |
| Vitamin B5 (Water-soluble) | Pantothenic Acid | General weakness, gastrointestinal disturbance, fatigue, sleep disturbance, restlessness, nausea and nervous symptoms | Meat, egg yolk, broccoli, peanuts, fish, chicken, milk, yoghurt, legumes, mushrooms, avocado, etc. |
| Vitamin B6 (Water-soluble) | Pyridoxine, Pyridoxal, Pyridoxamine | Mental depression, confusion, dermatitis, anemia | Pork, chicken, fish, bread, wholegrain cereals, eggs, vegetables, soya beans, etc. |
| Vitamin B7 (Water-soluble) | Biotin | Dermatitis, hair loss, conjunctivitis, neurological symptoms | Walnuts, peanuts, cereals, milk, egg yolks, salmon, pork, mushroom, cauliflower, avocados, bananas, raspberries, etc. |
| Vitamin B9 (Water-soluble) | Folic Acid, Folacin, Folate | Impaired formation of red blood cells, irritability, headache, palpitations, inflammation of mouth, neural tube defects in foetus | Citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, whole grains, legumes, beets, etc. |
| Vitamin B12 (Water-soluble) | Cobalamin, Cyanocobalamin | Gastrointestinal disturbances, nervous symptoms, smoothness of the tongue | Fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, etc. |
| Vitamin C (Water-soluble) | Ascorbic acid | Swollen, bleeding gums, soreness or stiffness of joints, lower extremities, bleeding under the skin and in deep tissues, slow wound healing, anemia | Fresh citrus fruits such as orange and grapefruit, broccoli, goat milk, black currant and chestnuts. |
| Vitamin D (Fat-soluble) | Calciferol | Defective bone growth in children, soft bones in adults | Fish, beef, cod liver oil, egg yolk, liver, chicken breast and cereals. |
| Vitamin E (Fat-soluble) | Tocopherol, alpha-tocopherol, Tocotrienol | Breakdown of red blood cells, peripheral neuropathy | Potatoes, pumpkin, guava, mango, milk, nuts and seeds. |
| Vitamin K (Fat-soluble) | Phytonadione, Menaquinone | Impaired clotting of the blood and internal bleeding | Tomatoes, broccoli, mangoes, grapes, chestnuts, cashew nuts, beef and lamb. |
Vitamins are generally classified as water-soluble vitamins and fat-soluble vitamins:
Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat soluble and are insoluble in water. They are stored in liver and adipose tissues. Vitamin B and C are water soluble. They are not stored in the body (except vitamin B12). They are readily excreted out so have to be supplemented regularly in diet.
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