Vitamins

Vitamins are the organic compounds required in small amount in our diet. These are not required to provide energy but essential for regulating the metabolism in human beings. Their deficiency causes harmful diseases, also excess of vitamins is also harmful. 

Types of Vitamins

Depending upon the solubility in water or fat, vitamins are classified into two groups:

1. Fat Soluble Vitamins: These are vitamins A, D, E and K.

2. Water Soluble Vitamins: Vitamin B and C are soluble in water. These vitamins must be supplied regularly in our diet because they are readily excreted in urine (except vitamin B12).

Various Vitamins

Vitamins	Chemical Name	Deficiency
Vitamin A	Retinol	Night blindness, Xerophthalmia
Vitamin B1	Thiamine	Beri-Beri
Vitamin B2	Riboflavin	Cheilosis, cracks in skin, red eyes, cracks in tongue
Vitamin B3	Niacin, Nicotinic Acid	Pellagra and hartnup disease, hereditary abnormality
Vitamin B5	Pantothenic acid	Dermatitis, retarded growth, loss of hair, greying of hair
Vitamin B6	Pyridoxine	Dermatitis, anaemia, retarded growth, mental disorder
Vitamin B7	Biotin	Poor growth, weakness, hair fall
Vitamin B9	Folic acid	Anaemia
Vitamin B12	Cyanocobalamin	Anaemia
Vitamin B17	Laetrile	--
Vitamin C	Ascorbic Acid	Scurvy
Vitamin D	Calciferol	Rickets, osteomalacia
Vitamin E	Tocopherol	Reproductive failure, muscular dystrophy
Vitamin K     Vitamin K1     Vitamin K2     Vitamin K3	Phylloquinones Menaquinones Menadiones	Difficulty in blood clotting

Vitamin B1, B5, B6, B12 and C are destroyed by heat.

Vitamin C is the vitamin that is not present in animal food or food of animal origin.

The deficiency as well as the excess of vitamins are harmful, therefore vitamins pills should not be taken without the advice of the doctor.