THE VITAMINS AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS

Name	Important Sources	Functions	Deficiency Diseases
Vitamins “Vit”= “Vital”(essential for life);"amine =(chemical nature of these components ). Hence the name (coined by J. Funk in 1912)  required in very small amounts, but very important for various functions. If amount is less than the required it results in deficiency diseases.
Lipid-soluble vitamins (a)Vitamin A (Retinol) (b)Vitamin D (Calciferol) (c)Vitamin  E or tocopherol anti-sterility vitamin (d)Vitamin K  (clotting vitamin) anti-hemorrhagic 2. Water-soluble vitamins (a) Vitamin B complex (i) thiamine (B₁) (ii)Riboflavin (B₂)	Plants form carotene in green leaves, carrots, etc; is changes in liver to animal form present in fish-liver oil (shark); both forms in egg yolk, butter, milk Fish-liver oils, especially tuna, les in code; beef fat; also exposure of skin to  sunlight (ultraviolet radiation) Green leaves, wheat-germ oil and other vegetable fats, meat, milk Green leaves, also certain bacteria, such as those of intestinal flora Yeast , germ of cereals (especially wheat, peanuts, other leguminous seed), roots, egg yolk, liver, lean meat Green leaves, milk, eggs, liver, yeast	Maintains integrity of epithelial tissues, especially nucous membrane; needed as part of visual purple in retina of eye Regulates metabolism of calcium and phosphorus; promotes absorption of calcium in intestine, needed for normal growth & mineralization of bones Antioxidative;  maintains integrity of membranes Essential to production of prothrombin in liver, necessary for blood clotting. Needed for carbohydrate metabolism; thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) an essential coenzyme in metabolism Essential for growth; forms prosthetic group of FAD enzymes	Xerophthalmia (dry cornea, no tear secretion), phyrnoderma (toad skin) night blindness, growth retardation, nutritional croup (hoarseness) in birds Rickets in young (bones soft, yielding, often deformed); osteomalacia (soft bones), especially in women of Asia  Sterility in male fowls and rats, degeneration  of tests with failure of spermatogenesis, embroyonic growth disturbances, suckling paralysis and muscular dystrophy in young animals Blood fails to clot On diet high in polished rice, results in Beriberi (nerve inflammation); loss of appetite, with loss of tone and reduced motility in digestive tract; cessation of growth; polyneuritis (nerve inflammation Cheilosis (inflammation and cracking at corners of mouth), digestive disturbances
(iii)Nicotinic acid, or niacin (iv)Folic acid (v)Pyridoxine (B₆) (vi)Pantothenic acid (vii) Biotin (vitamin H) (viii) Cyanocobalamin (B₁₂) (b)Vitamin C, or ascorbic	Green leaves, wheat germ, egg yolk, meat, liver, yeast Green leaves, liver, soyabeans, yeast, egg yolk Yeast, cereal gains, peanuts, egg yolk, milk, liver Yeast, cane molasses, peanuts, egg yolk, milk, liver  Yeast, cane molasses , peanuts, egg yolk, milk, liver Liver, fish, meat, milk egg yolk, oysters, bacteria and fermentations of streptomyces; synthesized only by bacteria Citrus fruits, tomatoes, vegetables; also produced by animals (except primates and guinea pigs)	Forms active group of nicotinamide adenine dinuleotide (NAD), which functions in dehydrogenation reactions Essential for growth and formation of blood cells Present in tissues as pyriodoxal phosphate which serve as coenzyme Forms coenzyme A Essential for growth ; functions in functions in CO₂ fixation Formation of blood cells, growth; coenzyme Maintains integrity of capillary walls; involved in formation of “inter-cellular cement”	Pellagra in humans (Symptoms –Tip and lateral margins of tongue, mouth and gums become red, swollen and develop ulcers) Anaemia, haemorrhage in humans  Anaemia, dermatitis Dermatitis Dermatitis with thickening of skin Pernicious anaemia Scurvey (bleeding) in mucous membranes, under skin, and into joints)