Different types of Vitamins ,Sources, and deficiency symptoms
:Vitamins
Vitamins, also termed “accessory food factors” are special organic compounds which are needed in extremely small
quantities in the diet of animals.
- Vitamins regulate the metabolic processes in the cell by
acting as co-enzymes.
- Some enzymes are concerned with the maintenance of the
structure of epithelial tissues, cartilage, collagenous tissues
and bone.
- Not all vitamins are present in our food, some have to be
prepared inside our body, not by the body itself but by certain
microorganisms living in the large intestine, e.g. vitamin k.
Also a vitamine may be taken in the diet in the form of its
precursor or provitamin. This provitamin is later changes inside the body into the active vitamin e.g. carotines and
.provitamin A
Vitamin B1
*Exists mainly in: meat, egg yolk, liver and spinach.
* Adeficiency of this vitamin causes: beri-beri disease
(Theses diseases are caused by the accumulation of
pyruvic acid in the body cells, which results in muscle
weakness, decreased digestive secretion, weak peristaltic
movements of the alimentary canal and loss (of apetite)
Vitamin B2
* Exists mainly in: milk, liver, eggs, leafy vegetables, and
some fruits as banana and oranges.
* It is important for cellular respiration as it acts as a
carrier of oxygen, It also essential for growth.
* Adeficiency of this vitamin causes: dermatitis in the
face, hand and feet, redness of the tongue and
inflammation in the alimentary canal
Vitamin B6
* Exists mainly in: milk and liver.
* It is important for tissue respiration and amino acid
metabolism.
* Adeficiency of this vitamin causes: nervous disorders
and muscular weakness.
Vitamin B7
* Exists mainly in: kidney and liver.
* It enters in the formation of many co-enzymes necessary
for cell functions
* Adeficiency of this vitamin causes:pellagra showen by
roughened skin on the hand, arms, feet, face and neck;
diarrhea; nervous disturbances and mental disorders.
Vitamin B12
* Exists mainly in: meat, fish and liver.
* It is essential for growth and enters in the formation of
red blood cells.
* Adeficiency of this vitamin causes:pernicious anaemia
and slows growth in young individuals.
Vitamin C
*This is a water-soluble vitamin, exists mainly in:
citrus fruits, tomatoes, cabbage and some animal
organs as the adrenal glands liver and kidneys.
* It is essential for the healing of injuries, and for the
formation of new cells and antibodies.
* Adeficiency of this vitamin causes: *scurvy (a disease
characterized by bleeding in different places especially
under the skin and gums.
* Leads to retardation in the development of fibrous
tissues and intracellular material
Vitamin D
*This is a group of fat-soluble vitamins, D1 to D5. The
most important are D2 and D3.
* Exists mainly in: yolk, milk, cod liver oil and liver.
* D2 and D3 are produced by the action of sunlight and
facilitate absorption of calcium and phosphorus from
the intestine and regulate their levels in the body.
* Adeficiency of this vitamin causes: rickets which is a
disturbance in the formation of bones
Vitamin E
*This is a fat-soluble vitamin.
* * Exists mainly in: germinating wheat and in green
plants of lettuce.
* Adeficiency of this vitamin causes: reduction in
fertility in experimental animals.
* In female, abortion may occur as a result of this
vitamin deficiency.
*In males, degeneration of the germinal epithelium
occurs (therefore, it is also called antisterilitic).
Vitamin K
- *This is a fat-soluble vitamin.
* Exists mainly in: green vegetables as spinach, cabbage,
soyabean, tomatoes, egg yolk and liver.
* It is necessary for the formation of prothrombin in the
liver cells.
* Adeficiency of this vitamin causes: haemorrhage due to
reduced coagulability of the blood, thus it is also called
antihaemorrhagic.