Vitamins

Vitamins are organic compounds that are necessary for normal growth and maintenance of life.  As we are unable to synthesize vitamins, we must rely on foods and food supplements to maintain adequate amounts in our body.

Thirteen essential vitamins have been isolated and these are divided into two categories, water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins.  The water-soluble vitamins include Vitamin C and the group of B-Vitamins.  These water-soluble are not stored by the body and can be readily depleted.  The fat-soluble vitamins A, D, and E remain in the body for longer periods of time.

Vitamins are nutrients required in very small amounts for essential metabolic reactions in the body. The term vitamin does not include other essential nutrients such as dietary minerals, essential fatty acids, or essential amino acids. Nor does the term refer to the large number of other nutrients that promote health, but are not strictly essential.

Vitamins are biomolecules that act both as catalysts and substrates in chemical reactions. When acting as a catalyst, vitamins are bound to enzymes and are called cofactors, for example vitamin K forms part of the proteases involved in blood clotting. Vitamins also act as coenzymes to carry chemical groups between enzymes, for example folic acid carries various forms of carbon groups (methyl, formyl or methylene) in the cell.

Until the 1900s, vitamins were obtained solely through food intake. Many food sources contain different ratios of vitamins. Therefore, if the only source of vitamins is food, changes in diet will alter the types and amounts of vitamins ingested. However, as many vitamins can be stored by the body, short-term deficiencies (e.g. during a particular growing season) do not usually cause disease.

Vitamins have been produced as commodity chemicals and made widely-available as inexpensive pills for several decades, allowing supplementation of the dietary intake.

Minerals

Although minerals make up only a small fraction of total body weight (4-5%), they are essential for human metabolism.  Minerals act as the catalysts for many biochemical reactions within the human body.  They are involved in responses of the nervous system and muscles, the absorption and secretions of the body's fluids, and maintain a delicate water balance within the body.  The bones and teeth of our body have high mineral contents which accounts for their hardness and rigidity.  Minerals, like vitamins, must also be supplied by dietary means as we are unable to synthesize them in our body.

Vitamin List

Here is a list of vitamins your body needs to function properly. 

Vitamin A

Vitamin a is a fat soluble vitamin. 

Vitamin a in food 

Deficiency of vitamin a leads to

You should not take too much vitamin A.

Excessive intake of vitamin A can lead to 

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Vitamin B

Vitamin b is a water soluble vitamin. Actually, we should talk about vitamin b complex. A family of vitamins. Vitamin b complex is a mixture of  vitamin b that is found together in the food we eat. Broan rice and whole grains are rich in vitamin b.

B vitamin list

Vitamin b complex consists of 

Vitamin B6 benefits

Vitamin B12 Information

Deficiency of vitamin b results in beri beri. The symptoms of this vitamin b deficiency disease are

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Vitamin C

Vitamin c is a water soluble vitamin.

Vitamin c in food

Deficiency of vitamin c leads to scurvy.

Symptoms of scurvy, the vitamin c deficiency disease include

Long ago, sailors often died of scurvy on long trips and sea. When the cause of scurvy was traced to the lack of vitamin c, sailors started bringing citrus fruit on board the ships with them to give them their daily vitamin c intake, hence preventing scurvy.

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Vitamin D facts

Vitamin d is a fat soluble vitamin.

Vitamin d is found in

Your skin can make vitamin d when exposed to sunlight, hence it is known as the sunshine vitamin.

Deficiency of vitamin d leads to rickets. Rickets is a disease in children who do not get enough vitamin d.

Symptoms of rickets include

In adults, vitamin d deficiency leads to osteomalacia, which is characterised by the softening of bones. Vitamin d with calcium gives you strong bones and teeth.

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Facts about vitamin E

Vitamin E, or tocopherol is a fat soluble vitamin.

Vitamin E is found in

Lack of vitamin E in children can cause

E vitamin deficiency in adults can lead to

Do not take too much vitamin e either. Excess vitamin e can cause

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Facts about vitamin E

Vitamin K

Vitamin k is a fat soluble vitamin.

Food contain vitamin k include

Vitamin k deficiency can lead to

Vitamin k aids the healing of the skin.

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A few Facts about Vitamins resources

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Facts about Vitamins

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