Introduction
A vitamin is an organic substance present in very minute amounts in natural foods and stuff. Vitamins are essential for the body for overall good health, growth, maintenance, and repair, and reproduction. Some vitamins are synthesized in the body while some others are not. The vitamins that are not synthesized by the body are required to be supplied to the body from other sources, ie, food. Such vitamins fall under the category of essential nutrients as they are not synthesized by the body but are essential for the normal functioning of the body itself which is sufficed through food. The vitamins under the category of essential nutrients are Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Vitamin E. Vitamin K is an important vitamin that is produced and synthesized by the body itself. Vitamin K helps in the coagulation of blood. In this article, students will learn about the different types of vitamins that are supplied through diet and their functions and effects.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is present in meat, fruits, vegetables, fish and dairy, and vegetable-based products. Vitamin A helps maintain a clear cornea as a component of rhodopsin, in cell differentiation as retinoic acid, it also helps in normal growth in the form of retinol. Vitamin A also provides immunity by acting as the first line of defense against disease-causing microorganisms.
Vitamin B
Vitamin B occurs in many forms out of which Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B6, B12 are required to be taken from food. Vitamin B1 is highly essential as a coenzyme component in several metabolic reactions. Vitamin B2 helps in breaking down fats, drugs, and steroid hormones. Vitamin B3 is important for the normal functioning of the skin, the nervous system, and the intestinal tract. Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin and is required for the metabolism and synthesis of lipids and is very much needed for iron utilization in RBC. Vitamin B12 is also water-soluble and is required for DNA synthesis and in growth and cell division.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is mainly found in citrus fruits, guava, broccoli, bell peppers, strawberries, and other food sources. Vitamin C has an enzymatic activity in many biochemical functions of the body and plays a very essential role in collagen synthesis and acts as a powerful antioxidant. It is also useful in bone formation and wound healing.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is synthesized by the sun in our body and is vital for bone formation and helps in the absorption of calcium. It is also very important to maintain a number of metabolic processes along with hormones such as parathyroid hormone and calcitonin.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin and is found in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, green leafy vegetables, etc. Vitamin E aids in delaying aging, maintains immunity by helping in the functioning of T-cells. It is essential for reducing free radical damage thus reducing the risk of heart diseases.
To know more about these vitamins and their functions, stay tuned to Vedantu.
FAQs on Essential Vitamins
1. What is Vitamin A essential for humans?
Vitamin A is essential for healthy teeth, skeletal and soft tissue, mucus membranes, and skin. Thus Vitamin A promotes good eyesight.
Retinol: It is found in animal liver, milk, and some fortified foods, and is important for cell differentiation.
Provitamin A carotenoids: Carotenoids are organic pigments produced in plants. There are more than 500 known carotenoids. One such carotenoid is beta-carotene.
Eating beta-carotene-rich foods may reduce the risk of cancer.
2. How can the deficiency of Vitamin A result in the eyes?
In eyes, Vitamin A deficiency can be seen commonly as-
1. Night Blindness: This is a condition in which an individual is unable to see clearly in dim.
2. Conjunctiva Xerosis: This conjunctiva becomes dry and thickened, wrinkled, and pigmented. A peculiar smoky appearance is given to the conjunctiva by the pigmentation.
3. Bitot's Spot: This is a condition where spots develop on the eyes.
4. Corneal Xerosis: When dryness spreads to the cornea there is dull, hazy, lustreless appearance due to keratinization. This leads to dryness and a lack of vision ultimately.
5. Keratomalacia: In this condition, there is a softening of the cornea.
6. Xerophthalmic Fundus: This is the last stage of eye damage due to Vitamin A deficiency that cannot be treated at all.
3. What are the functions of the different types of Vitamin B?
Vitamin B1 plays an essential role in metabolism by helping convert nutrients into energy. B2 helps break down fats, drugs and acts as antioxidants. B3 plays an important role in the normal functioning of the nervous system and skin repair. B6 is required for lipid synthesis and utilization of iron by RBC. B12 is vital for cell division and general growth.
4. How is Vitamin C beneficial to humans?
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is involved in many body functions such as absorption of iron, maintaining the immune system, maintenance of cartilage, bones, and teeth, and also helps in collagen formation. It can protect against damage caused by free radicals and is also beneficial as an anti-aging agent.
5. What is the function of Vitamin D?
1. Vitamin D has a significant role in maintaining bone health, by absorption of calcium and maintaining phosphate levels in the blood.
2. Vitamin D regulates insulin level and supports diabetic control.
3. It also supports the cardiovascular system, brain and lungs health, nervous system health.
4. Vitamin D also supports pregnancy by lowering the risk of gestational diabetes.
6. What are the sources of Vitamin D?
Food Source - Vitamin D is found in egg yolk, milk, butter, livers of all animals, fish, liver oil, etc.
Cutaneous Source - Human beings produce Vitamin D from sunlight with the help of 7-dehydrocholesterol present in the skin. If a person is dark-skinned then vitamin D synthesis is less due to the presence of melanin pigment. Direct rays of the sun are needed for vitamin D production and so production is lower in winter. Elder people synthesize less vitamin D than young. The use of sunscreen lotions, dark glass windows, etc. can prevent vitamin D synthesis.
Other Sources - vitamin D is produced in the placenta and other important issues of the body.
7. How is Vitamin E essential for the body?
Vitamin E is essential for the following reasons:
Prevention of Oxidative Stress
Vitamin E is an antioxidant that inhibits the production of reactive oxygen species molecules when fat undergoes oxidation and during the propagation of free radical reactions.
Protection of the Cell Membranes
Vitamin E increases the systematization of the membrane lipid packaging, thus allowing for tighter packing of the membrane and providing greater stability to the cell.
