Vitamin Information Center

VITAMINS ARE organic compounds necessary for all metabolic reactions as well as protection for all systems of our body from foreign diseases. These are the essential chemical compounds, which must be present in our daily diet. Each vitamin is required in a very small amount for our body and each vitamin has specific functions and no vitamin is a substitute for other. Our body is unable to synthesise maximum vitamins therefore we need to take them with diet. Vitamins and their derivatives generally act as co-enzymes. Both the hypervitaminosis (except water soluble vitamins) and hypovitaminosis of vitamins in our body systems causes serious problems. All water soluble vitamins like vitamin-B complex and Vitamin-C are excreted out from the body if become excess.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND :
Scientist Casimir Funk in 1912, isolated some active chemical in rice polishing that could be used for the treatment of Beriberi. Since the chemicals are essential for life i.e. vitaland were found chemically amine. Later it was discovered that all such compounds are not chemically amines. In 1920, scientist Sir Jack Drummond coined the term ‘vitamin’ removing the letter ‘e’. As vitamins are made up of different functional groups so giving a specific chemical name was not correct. Since his experiments to isolate vitamin B1, a cure for dietary diseases such as Beriberi, it was found that human beings require 13 different vitamins, which have different functions and chemical structures. They were initially lettered from A to P as they were identified, but F, L, and P were later found not to be vitamins. Vitamin-H (biotin) and Vitamin-G (Niacin) and Vitamin-M (folic acid) are now included under the group of vitamin B-Complex.

IMPORTANT FEATURES OF VITAMINS
1. Vitamins are required in very low amount and they can act in very low concentration.
2. Vitamins are essential for our body to maintain metabolic activities and protection of body from different diseases.
3. Vitamins are present in general foods in low amount.
4. Vitamins are organic catalysts. Some of them are fat soluble and some are water soluble.

Pseusovitamins, Provitamins and Anti-vitamins :
Some organic chemicals are almost structurally equivalent with a vitamin, but not functionally. These are called pseudo-vitamins. For example, methaylcobalamin is a pseudovitamin of Vitamin B12. Many vitamins are synthesised from other chemicals called provitamins. For example, carotene is the provitamin of Vitamin-A. Some chemicals destroy a vitamin and called an anti-vitamin. For example, galactoflavin is the anti-vitamin of Riboflavin.

Discussion on different fat soluble vitamins :

VITAMIN-A or RETINOL
1). RETINOL is also called anti-xeropthalmic vitamin and it is of two types A1 and A2. The molecular formula of vitamin-A1 and vitamin-A2 are C20H29OH and C20H27OH respectively.

2). Food Sources :
a) Plant sources of Vitamin-A are carrot, tomato, spinach, pea pods, cabbage etc.
b) Animal sources of Vitamin-A are Liver extract oil of Cod, Shark, Halibut (very high amount) fishes, milk, egg yolk, fishes, butter etc.
3). Important functions of Vitamin-A are :
a) Helps in the formation of rod cells of retina of eye.
b) Helps in the formation of epithelial tissues.
c) Maintains the activities of nerve tissue and the normal action of bone cells.

4. Deficiency diseases/symtoms :
a) Night blindness or nyctalopia.
b) Drying of cornea or xeropthalmia.
c) Keratomalacia-ulceration and softening of cornea.
d) Degeneration of nerve tissue, renal stone etc.
e) Phrynoderma or toad skin.

VITAMIN-D or CALCIFEROL
1). CALCIFEROL prevents rickets so are also called anti-rachitic vitamin. The molecular formula of Calciferol is C28H43OH

2). Sunlight converts seven-dehydro-cholesterol(in skin) and ergosterol (in vegetable oils) into vitamin-D. These are called provitamins of vitamain-D3 and vitamin-D2 respectively.

3). Food Sources :
a) Plant source of vitamin-D is rare. But it is found in some vegetable oils.
b) Animal sources of vitamin-D are Liver extract oil of cod, shark, halibut (very high amount) fishes, milk, egg yolk, fishes, butter etc.

4). Main functions of Vitamin-D are :
a) Helps in the formation of teeth and bones.
b) Helps in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus.
c)Controls the activity of parathyroid gland.

5). Deficiency diseases/symtoms :
a) Rickets in young and osteomalacia in adults.
b) Prevention in growth of teeth and teeth decaying.

VITAMIN-E or TOKOPHEROL

1). TOKOPHEROL is of three categories, α, β, and γ. The molecular formula of this vitamin is C28H48O2. This vitamin is also called anti-sterility vitamin.

2). Food Sources :
a)Plant sources of vitamin-E are Lactuca, the germinating seed of Wheat, Pea pods, vegetative oils.
b) Animal sources of vitamin-E are rare, but found in egg yolk and milk.

3). Main functions of Vitamin-E are :
a) Controls the normal growth of muscles.
b) increases fertility power of adults.
c) prevents sterility (research works on rats)
d) Its functions are still not properly known in human body.

4). Deficiency diseases/symtoms :
a) sterility and metabolic disorder.
b) decreased lactation.
c) the normal growth of embryo in uterus is hampered.

VITAMIN-K or PHYLLOQUINONE:
1). Scientist Dam discovered this vitamin in 1933. It is of two types, K1 and K2. The molecular formula of this vitamin is C31H46O2. This vitamin is also called anti-hemorrhagic vitamin.

2). Food Sources :
a) Plant sources of vitamin-K are cabbage, cauliflower, tomato, gram, soya bean, leafy vegetables.
b) Animal sources of Vitamin-K are eggs, milk, liver extract oil of pig, fishes etc.

3). Main functions of Vitamin-K are :
a) This vitamin controls the normal amount of prothrombin in blood, so helps in the blood clotting after an injury.

4). Deficiency diseases/symtoms :
Prolonged bleeding after an injury.

Discussion on different water soluble Vitamins :

VITAMIN-C or ASCORBIC ACID
1). Ascorbic Acid is destroyed if heated. It is also called anti-scorbutic vitamin because it prevents Scurvy disease. The molecular formula of Ascorbic acid is C6H8O6.

2). Food Sources :

a) The plant sources of this vitamin are mainly comprises of sour fruits like Guava, Lemon, Orange, Amla, Mango. This vitamin is also found in Papaw, Tomato, germinating gram, green chilly.
b) In animal sources of food vitamin remains in very low amount. In milk (unboiled), egg, fishes this vitamin is present in very low amount. The breast milk of mothers contains this vitamin.

3). Main functions of Vitamin-C are :
a) Helps in the formation of Red blood corpuscles and Platelets.
b) Keeps the gums healthy.
c). Increases immunity power of the body.

4). Deficiency diseases/symtoms :
a) Scurvy occurs due, to which teeth become ugly and spongy, gum bleeding occurs.
b) Wounds do not heal easily and properly.
c) A tendency to be affected by cold easily.
d) sometimes Anaemia occurs.

VITAMIN-B-COMPLEX

1). This is a group of vitamins composed of several vitamins. These are listed below :
a). Vitamin B1 or Thiamine or aneurine.
b). Vitamin B2 or Riboflavin or Lactoflavin.
c). Lipoic acid or thio-acetic acid.
d). Vitamin B3 or Pantothenic acid
e). Vitamin G or Niacin or Nicotinic acid.
f). Vitamin B6 or Pyridoxin.
g). Vitamin-M or Folic acid.
h). Vitamin B12 or Cyanocobalamin.
i). Vitamin-H or Biotin.
j). PABA or Para amino benzoic acid.
k). Inositol.
l).Choline.
m). Vitamin B4 (Helps in the growth of Pigeon).
n). Vitamin B5 (Helps in the growth of Pigeon).

2). Food Sources:
a) General Plant sources of the vitamins of B-complex are pulses, rice processed by husking-pedal, nut, carrot, germinated seeds, yeast, gram, pea pods, soya beans, leafy vegetables etc.
b) General Animal sources of vitamins of B-complex are eggs, milk, meat, goat liver, fishes etc.

3) Main functions of Vitamin-B complex are :
a). Vitamin B1 : Co-enzyme in cellular respiration.
b). Vitamin B2 : Helps in cellular respiration
c). Lipoic acid : Normal growth
d). Vitamin B3 : Helps in growth and nutrition
e). Vitamin G : Mainly helps in normal growth, and skin care.
f). Vitamin B6 : Synthesis of Haemoglobin, metabolism of protein.
g). Vitamin-M : Formation of RBC.
h). Vitamin B12 : Formation of blood cells, synthesis of nucleic acids, regulation of nerve activity, and controlling of normal growth of body.
i). Vitamin-H : Normal growth.
j). PABA : Not properly known.
k). Inositol : Not properly known.
l). Choline : Not properly known.
m).
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Vitamin B4 : Helps in the growth of pigeon.
n). Vitamin B5 : Helps in the growth of pigeon.

4) Deficiency diseases/symtoms :
a). For Vitamin B1 : Beriberi
b). For Vitamin B2 : Stomatitis and ulcer on tongue.
c). For Vitamin B3 or Pantothenic acid : Dermatitis and nerve disorder.
d). For Vitamin G : Pellagra.
e). For Vitamin B6 : Anaemia, Nerve disorder.
f). For Vitamin-M : Anaemia.
g). For Vitamin B12 or Cyanocobalamin : Pernicious Anaemia.

Unalaska has many great things to offer, but intense sunlight is not one of them. Although the lack of powerful sun may be good for reducing our skin cancer risk, it is not good for our vitamin D levels. The body uses sunlight to make vitamin D from molecules in the skin. Many who live at northern latitudes, especially in the winter, have inadequate vitamin D levels. A study in the British Medical Journal estimates at least 1 billion people worldwide are vitamin D deficient.

Most tissues in the body have receptors for this important vitamin. All of its many functions are still being discovered. The primary role of vitamin D is maintaining normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorous. Long term vitamin D deficiency leads to rickets in children and a softening of the bones in adults.

Currently there is much research being done to discover the additional effects of vitamin D in our bodies. A recent study published in the journal Dibetologia suggests that vitamin D may play a role in preventing type 1 diabetes in children. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a 2008 article in the journal Circulation.

A 2007 article in the New England Journal of Medicine states that people who live at higher latitudes who have vitamin D deficiency, or lack exposure to the sun, have an increased risk of many cancers. The same article suggests vitamin D may also provide protection from hypertension, psoriasis, several autoimmune diseases (including multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis) and reduce the incidence of fractured bones.

Make sure that you are getting enough vitamin D. It is difficult to get enough from the sun in the summer in Unalaska and impossible in the winter. Check out this Web site from the Norwegian Institute for Air Research to calculate how much vitamin D you are getting from the sun based on your location, weather, skin color, and clothing: http://nadir.nilu.no/~olaeng/fastrt/VitD_quartMED.html.

Obtaining adequate levels of vitamin D from your diet is not easy either. Good dietary sources include fortified milk, eggs, and fatty fish. Some studies, such as one published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition last year, have shown that the vitamin D fortification of milk products is not adequate to prevent vitamin D deficiency.

Infants who are breast fed are at particular risk vitamin D deficiency according to a 2004 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Human milk contains little vitamin D, and women who are vitamin D deficient provide even less to their breast-fed infants.

There are differing opinions on the recommended daily intake, especially in light of new studies coming out every day. The USDA recommended daily intake is 400 IUs for a healthy adult. Some physicians recommend much more than that, particularly for those deficient in the vitamin. Because vitamin D can be stored in our bodies, there are high dosages available that can be taken only once a week or once a month.

A 2003 study published in the Journal of Pediatrics looked at the vitamin D levels of women and infants in Alaska. Based on this study, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a universal supplement for all infants not receiving vitamin D fortified milk. Talk to your health care provider about getting the right amount of vitamin D for your health.

Tiffany Kelly is medical student from the University of Washington who visited Unalaska for the month of July, 2008. She now lives in Anchorage.