What is Vitamin?
In 1881 Scientist Lunin at first examined that protein, fat and water is not enough for a body growth. So, there is a need of a food that can supply complete nutrition to the body. Scientist Hopkins called this type of food as essential food source of human body. In 1911 Scientist Casimir Funk called this food as Vitamin.
Classification of Vitamins:
Vitamin is classified according to its soluble nature. There are two types of vitamins; one is Fat soluble vitamins and other is Water soluble vitamins.
Vitamin A, D, E, and K are Fat soluble vitamins.
Vitamin B, C and P are Water soluble vitamins.
| Vitamin and its chemical description, food sources and functions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamins | Chemical names | Chemical formulas | Food sources | Deficiency diseases |
| A | Retinol | C20H29OH C10H27OH | cod,carrot,milk,butter,fish,egg,green vegetables,liver,orange | Night blindness,hyperkeratosis |
| B1 | Thiamine | C12H17ON4S | egg,nuts,carrot,vegetables,brown rice,beans | Beriberi,loss of apetite,heart disease |
| B2 | Riboflavin | C17H20O6N4 | liver,egg,milk,green vegetables,nuts | Ariboflavinosis,hair fall,skin diseases |
| B3 | Niacin or pantothenic acid | C9H17O5N | liver,egg,meat,milk,peas,potatoes | Liver disease,pellagra |
| B6 | Pyridoxine | C8H11O3N | milk,egg,fish,meat,green vegetables,bananas | Anemia,sleeping disorder |
| B12 | Sinocobalamin | C63H88O14N14PCO | fish,meat,mil,egg | slow growth level,anemia |
| C | Ascorbic acid | C6H8O6 | milk,fish,meat,tomatoes,Fruits and vegetables | Scurvy |
| D | Calciferol | C28H48OH | cod,milk,egg,butter,vegetables,liver | Rickets,osteomalacia |
| E | Tocopherol | C28H48O2 | egg,fish,meat,fruits and vegetables | Sterility |
| G | Niacin or Nicotinic acid | C6H5O2N | egg,fish,meat,milk,liver,tomatoes,beans | pelegra,anemia,underweight |
| K | Phylloquinone or Napthoquinone | C31H45O2 | sea fish,egg,milk,meat,vegetables,tomatoes | Bleeding diathesis |
| M | Folic acid | C19H19O6N7 | egg,liver,green vegetables | anemia,slow growth |
| P | Citrin | SLC25A13 | orange,mango,tomatoes,vegetables and fruits,egg,meat | scurvy |