Vitamins

Organic molecules
For health, growth and reproduction
Source: DIETARY
Deficiency metabolic defect
o intake
o absorption
o production
Classified according to their solubility:
o Water-soluble
o Fat-soluble = ADEK

Water-soluble Vitamins

Vitamin Name
B
B1

Thiamine

Brain function
*HPLC
common in
pregnancy

Food
Sources

Deficiency

Diagnosis

Yeast,
Legumes,
Enriched
Gram
Products &
Pork

Beri-beri

Clinical
evaluation,
confirmed
w/
therapeutic
response to
thiamine
administrati
on

B2

Riboflavin

Part of cofactor
FAD (flavin
adenine
dinucleotide)

Yeasts, Meats,
Legumes, Milk

B3

Niacin or

Part of cofactor
of NAD &
NADP+
Part of
coenzyme A

Liver, Yeast,
Milk, Meats,
Whole grain
Widely
distributed

Nicotinic Acid
B4

Pantothenic
acid

B5

Biotin

B6

Pyridoxine

Tissue source:
liver, adrenals,
kidney, brain
heart, testes
coenzyme

Cofactor of

B9 and
B12

Folic Acid
Cyabocobal
amin

Decarboxylase
Deaminase
transaminase

Associated w/
anemia

Greasy & sealing

dermatitis
Angular stomatitis of
the lips
Cheilosis
glossitis
Pellagra

Burning feet syndrome

Widely
distributed

Widely
distributed in
foods

Folic acid:
green-leafy
vege
Cyabocobala
min: Meat

Wet form - 1 Cardiac

Failure
Dry form Nerve
damage
Cerebral form
Wernicke-Korsakoff
syndrom

Scaly dermatitis
Glossitis
Hair loss
Aorexia
Depression
Hypercholesteronemi
a
Cheilosis
Angular stomatitis
Glossitis
Dermatitis
Polyneuritis
Anemia

Fat-soluble Vitamins

Vitami
n

Name

Retinol
Retinoic acid

Food
Sources
From dietary
sources retinyl
esters or from
metabolism of
dietary
carotenoids
(provitamin A)
primarily carotene

Deficiency

Animal
products,
pigmented
fruits and
veggie
(carotenoids)

irradiated
foods,
commercially
prepared
milk

Rickets (young)
Osteomalacia
(adult)

Mild hemolytic
anemia (newborn)
RBC fragility
Ataxia

Night blindness
(Nyctalopia)
Growth retardation
Abnormal taste
response
Dermatitis
Recurrent infections

Stored in liver
Transported in
circulation

Cholecalcifer
ol

Tocopherol

Phytomenadi
one

Essential for
vision, cellular
differentiation,
growth,
reproduction,
and Immune
system fx
Proper skeleton
formation &
mineral
hoomeostasis

Antioxidant and
1 defense
against harmful
oxidations
Protect RBC
membrane from
oxidant stress
Formation of
Prothrombin and
at least 5 coag
proteins
F7,F9,F10,C,S

Small
amounts in
butter, egg
yolks, liver,
sardines,
herring, tuna,
and salmon
vegetable oil,
fresh leafy
vegetables,
egg
yolk,
legumes,
peanuts, and
margarine
cabbage,
cauliflower,
spinach and
other leafy
vegetables,
pork, liver,
soybeans,
and vegetable
oils

Hemorrhage (easy
bruising to massive
bruising, esp. posttraumatic bleeding

Diagnosis