The word, vitamin came from Vita in Latin which means life and the -amin
suffix is short for amine, an organic compounds containing nitrogen as the
key atom in the amine functional group. Most of the time, the term Vitamin
is collectively referred to as organic molecule whose insufficiency in the
diet can result in disease thus acquiring vitamins are reduced only at diet.
From the span of several years, several vitamins along with its sources have
been discovered.
Retinol or what is commonly called vitamin A is a fat-soluble, antioxidant
vitamin that can help improve or maintain good vision and bone growth.
Vitamin A can be sourced from different foods. Cod liver oil is one of the
main sources of vitamin A. Egg, butter, whole milk, carrots, spinach,
squash, breakfast cereals and sweet potato are foods rich in Vitamin A.
Insufficiency could result to night blindness or sometimes referred to as
impaired dark adaptation. Vitamin A overdose could result to death. Regular
dietary allowance for regular adult is 900mcg a day or 3000iu.
Thiamine (thiamin) or previously called Vitamin B1 is another form of
vitamin essential to the body that is water-soluble B-complex vitamin. It is
a coenzyme that is an organic non-protein molecule that is a functional part
of an enzyme. It functions in the metabolism of carbohydrates and functions
in the pentose phosphate pathway to synthesize NADPH and the pentose sugars
deoxyribose and ribose. Rich sources of this vitamin are pecans, spinach,
orange, cantaloupe, milk, cooked egg, whole wheat bread, long grain white
rice, and wheat germ breakfast cereal. Lack of vitamin B1 could cause
Beriberi with symptoms such as eight loss, emotional disturbances, impaired
sensory perception, weakness, and periods of irregular heartbeat. It affects
the cardiovascular, nervous, muscular, and gastrointestinal systems.
Riboflavin or vitamin B2 is sourced from milk, cheese, leafy green
vegetables, liver, yeast, almonds and mature soybeans which aids metabolism
of protein, carbohydrates, and fats. Though deficiency is a rarity symptom
may include ore throat, redness and swelling of the lining of the mouth and
throat among others. Niacin or vitamin B3 is another form of vitamins that
could be acquired in several fruits and vegetables such as broccoli,
tomatoes, mushrooms and more. It can also be sourced from chicken, fish,
milk and eggs, nuts and grains. Deficiency causes pallegra which often
results to the four Ds: dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia, and death. Other
Vitamin B include: pantothenic acid or vitamin B5, vitamin B6 that comes in
pyridoxine and pyridoxamine, biotin or vitamin H or B7, folic acid or
vitamin B9, and Cyanocobalamin, also known as Cobalamin or vitamin B12.
Vitamin C or the ascorbic acid that can be acquired in numerous citrus
fruits like lime, lemon, orange, grapefruit, tomatoes, and potatoes,
vegetables, meat and fishes can prevent scurvy.
Vitamin D comes in many forms: Vitamin D1 or Lamisterol, Vitamin D2 or
Ergocalciferol, vitamin D3 or Calciferol, Vitamin D4 or Dihydrotachysterol,
and Vitamin D5 or 7-dehydrositosterol. All these prevent the Rickets,
Osteomalacia, muscle weakness and pain.
The vitamin E or the Tocopherol is a fat-soluble vitamin that comes in eight
form: alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-, and four tocotrienols (also alpha-,
beta-, gamma- and delta-). Commonly used as skin lotions and creams, vitamin
E aids skin healing and reducing scarring after injuries such as burns.
Finally, we have the Vitamin K or the Naphthoquinone that helps in
posttranslational modification of certain proteins, mostly required for
blood coagulation.
With a normal supply of these vitamins, the human is maintained healthy and
beautiful.
[http://www.for-your-vitamins.com]
