Vitamins
Dr.Sivaraman Dhanasekaran
Department of Biotechnology
School of Energy Technology
1
UNIT 1
Vitamins
• Vitamins are organic compounds that are essential for normal growth, development, and
metabolic processes in the body.
• They are required in small amounts and typically must be obtained from the diet because
the body either does not produce them at all or does not produce them in sufficient
quantities.
13 essential vitamins
Water-soluble Fat-soluble
Vitamin C and the B vitamins Vitamins A, D, E, and K
Fat -soluble Water-soluble
13 Vitamins and Its Classification
• Vitamin A (Retinol, Retinal, Retinoic acid) • Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
• Vitamin D (Calciferol) • Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
• Vitamin E (Tocopherols and Tocotrienols) • Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
• Vitamin K (Phylloquinone and • Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)
Menaquinones) • Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine, Pyridoxal, Pyridoxamine)
• Vitamin B7 (Biotin)
• Vitamin B9 (Folate or Folic Acid)
• Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)
• Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
Key Difference
Vitamins Vitamers
Vitamins are a group of organic compounds Different chemical compounds that belong
that are essential for normal physiological to the same vitamin family and exhibit
functions similar biological activity.
Vitamin A Vitamers: Includes retinol,
Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E retinal, and retinoic acid
Vitamins that the body can
synthesize
Vitamin K
Gut bacteria
Large intestine Calcium and phosphorus
absorption
Blood clotting and bone
health. Bone health, immune
function
Vitamins from Other Sources
Vitamin C Vitamin B Vitamin E
• Citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, • Vegetable oils (sunflower,
• Bananas, Whole grains, safflower, and wheat germ
grapefruits),
legumes, nuts, Egg, Rice,
• Strawberries, kiwi, bell peppers, oil), nuts (almonds,
Spinach and seeds. hazelnuts),
broccoli,
Vitamin A
• Carrots, sweet potatoes and
spinach
Energy Production
Co- Enzymes
• B Vitamins: Vitamins such as
B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5
(pantothenic acid), and B7
Citric Acid Cycle
(biotin)
• Act as coenzymes in metabolic ATP Production
pathways, such as the Krebs
cycle, which is essential for
ATP production, the primary
energy currency of the body.
Blood
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)
and B9 (Folate) Vitamin K
Synthesis of clotting
Red blood cell formation factors
Formation of Preventing excessive
Haemoglobin bleeding
Carrying oxygen
throughout the body
Immune System Support &
Brain Function
Vitamin C Vitamin E B Vitamins
Growth and repair of Neurotransmitter
Antioxidant
tissues synthesis
Healthy skin and eyes and
Production and function Brain development and
supports the immune
of white blood cells Memory function
system
Supports the immune
system
Cell Growth and Development
B1 (thiamine) and
Vitamin A Vitamin B9 (Folate) Vitamin D
Absorption of calcium and
Rhodopsin DNA synthesis
phosphorus
Vision in low-light Cell division and the Bone growth and
conditions development of the development
nervous system.
Vision, immune function
Primary functions and the deficiency of
Vitamins
Vitamin A Vision, immune function, Night blindness, xerophthalmia
skin health, (dry eyes), Dry skin
Scurvy (bleeding gums, joint
Vitamin C Antioxidant protection,
pain, swollen gums, poor
immune support
wound healing, fatigue)
Rickets in children (bone
Vitamin D Calcium absorption, bone
deformities), osteomalacia in
health
adults
Primary functions and the deficiency of
Vitamins
Vitamin K Blood clotting, bone
Increased bleeding
health
Vitamin E Antioxidant protection, Nerve and muscle damage,
immune support vision problems
Vitamin B9/B12 Anemia (fatigue, weakness,
Blood Cell Production
pale skin)
Additional information on Vitamins
Vitamin Deficiency disease(s) Food sources
Vitamers (incomplete) allowances
from animal origin as Vitamin A / all-
trans-Retinol: Fish in general, liver
and dairy products;
all-trans-Retinol, Retinals,
and from plant origin as provitamin A /
alternative provitamin A- all-trans-beta-carotene: orange, ripe
functioning Carotenoids Night yellow fruits, leafy vegetables,
including all-trans-beta- blindness, hyperkeratosis, carrots, pumpkin, squash, spinach
Vitamin A carotene 900 µg/700 µg and keratomalacia
Eggs, liver, certain fish species such
Cholecalciferol (D3), Ergocal as sardines, certain mushroom
Vitamin D ciferol (D2) 15 µg/15 µg Rickets and osteomalacia species such as shiitake
Deficiency is very rare;
mild hemolytic anemia in Many fruits and vegetables, nuts and
Vitamin E Tocopherols, Tocotrienols 15 mg/15 mg newborn infants seeds, and seed oils
Phylloquinone, Menaquinon AI: Leafy green vegetables such as
Vitamin K es 110 µg/120 µg Bleeding diathesis spinach; egg yolks; liver
Pork, wholemeal grains, brown
Beriberi, Wernicke-Korsakoff rice, vegetables, potatoes, liver,
Vitamin B1 Thiamine 1.2 mg/1.1 mg syndrome eggs
Ariboflavinosis, glossitis, angular Dairy products, bananas, green
Vitamin B2 Riboflavin 1.3 mg/1.1 mg stomatitis beans, asparagus
Meat, fish, eggs, many
Niacin, Niacinamide, Nicotinamid vegetables, mushrooms, tree
Vitamin B3 e riboside 16 mg/14 mg Pellagra nuts
Vitamin B5 Pantothenic acid 5 mg/5 mg Paresthesia Meat, broccoli, avocados
Pyridoxine, Pyridoxamine, Pyridox 1.3–1.7 mg/1.2– Anemia,[17] Peripheral Meat, vegetables, tree nuts,
Vitamin B6 al 1.5 mg neuropathy bananas
Vitamin B7 Raw egg yolk, liver, peanuts, leafy
/ Vitamin H Biotin AI: 30 µg/30 µg Dermatitis, enteritis green vegetables
Megaloblastic anemia and
deficiency during pregnancy is
associated with birth defects, Leafy vegetables, pasta, bread,
Vitamin B9 Folates, Folic acid 400 µg/400 µg such as neural tube defects cereal, liver
Cyanocobalamin, Hydroxocobala
min, Methylcobalamin, Adenosylc
Vitamin B12 obalamin 2.4 µg/2.4 µg Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia[19] Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk
Vitamin C Ascorbic acid 90 mg/75 mg Scurvy Many fruits and vegetables, liver
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