Lecture 5
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Vitamin
Vitamins are essential organic nutrients, required in
small amounts.
They cannot be synthesized by the body. Must be
obtained by outside sources like diet, rumen bacteria
& sun.
Required for growth, maintenance, reproduction and
lactation.
Two type
1. water soluble vitamin
2. fat soluble vitamin
Classes of Vitamins
Fat Soluble Vitamins: Water Soluble Vitamins:
stored in tissues not stored in tissues, must
have constant supply
Examples
A Examples
D B, B1, B2, B6 & B12
E Niacin
K Folic Acid
C
14 Essential Vitamins For Human Being
vitamins
water -soluble lipid-soluble
Vit C Vit B A,D,E,K
B1, B2, B6, B12, PP, patothenic acid，
folic acid,biotin ,lipoic acid
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Vitamins
Vitamins are heterogeneous group of compounds i.e., they do
not have any chemical or structural similarities.
They take part in diverse biochemical reactions, thus perform
many different metabolic functions in body
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Vitamins commonalities
The commonalities which are the very essence of bringing them
together as a group of food compounds are:
(a) They all are organic substances.
(b) The body requirement of vitamins is very less.
(c) They are present in minute quantity in natural foodstuffs.
(d) Vitamins (except vitamin D) are not synthesized in human cells.
(e) Deficiency of vitamin(s) leads to ill health.
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Vitamins classes
Vitamins are classified as either water-soluble or fat-soluble. In
humans there are 13 vitamins divided into:
Water-soluble vitamins dissolve easily in water and, in
general, are readily excreted from the body, to the degree that
urinary output is a strong predictor of vitamin consumption.
Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K ) are absorbed through
the intestinal tract with the help of lipids (fats).
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Section Ⅱ
Water-soluble Vitamins
Common features:
﹡water soluble，easy to be discharged through urine
﹡not easy to be stored in the body，requiring diet
inception
Classification
Vitamin B family
Vitamin C
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The Water soluble Vitamins
Include the B- Vitamins and Vitamin C.
They share few common properties besides their solubility
characteristics.
Since they are water soluble excess can be excreted through urine.
Most of these vitamins act as coenzymes.
The B- Vitamins are essential and must be provided through diet: these
include:
Thiamine -B1, Riboflavin - B2, Niacin –B3 , Pantothenic acid -B5
- Vitamin B6, Biotin, Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) and Folic Acid
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Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)
Function: required for the normal metabolism of
carbohydrates, fat, amino acid, glucose, and alcohol
Deficiency signs: loss of appetite, muscular weakness,
severe nervous disorders, general weakness and wasting
(BeriBeri).
Sources: raw, whole grains and especially their seed
coats and embryos; fresh green forage; and yeast, milk
and rumen synthesis.
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
Function: 1. necessary for normal embryo development,
important in the metabolism of amino acids and carbohydrates.
2. Act as coenzyme in many oxidation-reduction reactions
Deficiency signs:
1. poor reproduction
2. digestive disturbances, general weakness and eye
abnormalities.
3. sore throat, lesions of the lips and mucosa of the mouth,
glossitis, conjunctivitis,
4. Dry and scaling skin- keratitis, dermatitis and iron-deficiency
anemia
Sources: milk and dairy by-products, yeast, green forages, well
cured hay (especially alfalfa), whole grains, wheat bran and
synthetic riboflavin rumen synthesis.
Niacin (nicotinic acid) (B3)
Niacin (nicotinic acid) derivatives include nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide
(NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP), which are
coenzymes in oxidation-reduction reactions vital in cell metabolism.
Dietary niacin deficiency causes pellagra, a disease characterized by dermatitis,
gastrointestinal disorders, and mental disturbances.
The main results of pellagra can easily be remembered as "the four D's": diarrhea,
dermatitis, dementia, and death.
Mushrooms and fish are good sources of niacin.
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Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5)
Pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5) is widely distributed in foods, and high amounts
are found in whole grain cereals, legumes, eggs, and meat.
Pantothenic acid is needed to form Acetyl coenzyme-A (CoA), and is critical in
the metabolism and synthesis of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
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Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 includes a group of closely related compounds: pyridoxine, pyridoxal,
and pyridoxamine.
Precursor of active coenzyme pyridoxalphosphate
They are metabolized in the body to pyridoxal phosphate, which acts as a
coenzyme in many important reactions in blood, central nervous system, and skin
metabolism.
Vitamin B6 is important in the biosynthesis of heme and nucleic acid, as well as
in lipid, carbohydrate, and amino acid metabolism.
Vitamin B6 is found in a variety of vegetables and meats.
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Vitamin B6 Function
Vitamin B6 is needed for more than 100 enzymes involved in protein
metabolism.
It is also essential for red blood cell metabolism and hemoglobin
formation.
The nervous and immune systems need vitamin B6 to function
efficiently.
Synthesis of Antibodies
It is also needed for the conversion of tryptophan to niacin (vitamin
B3).
Vitamin B6 also helps maintain blood glucose within a normal range.
When caloric intake is low, vitamin B6 helps to convert stored
carbohydrate or other nutrients to glucose to maintain normal blood
sugar levels.
Vitamin B6 deficiency
Signs of vitamin B6 deficiency include:
Skin: dermatitis (skin inflammation), stomatitis
(inflammation of the mucous lining of any of the
structures in the mouth), glossitis (inflammation or
infection of the tongue ).
Neurological abnormalities: Depression, confusion, and
convulsions.
Vitamin B6 deficiency also can cause anemia.
Biotin (Vitamin B7/ Vitamin H)
Biotin (Vitamin B7) is Prosthetic group of pyruvate
carboxylase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase and other ATP-dependent
carboxylases.
Liver, meat, kidney, yeast, egg yolk, mushrooms, green
vegetables milk and diary products and whole grains are rich
sources of biotin
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Folic Acid or Folate (Vitamin B9)
Folate, also called Vitamin B9, is involved in maturation of red blood cells and
the synthesis of purines and pyrimidines which are required for development of
the fetal nervous system.
Folate is absorbed in the duodenum and upper jejunum.
Deficiency produces megaloblastic anemia indistinguishable from that due to
vitamin B12 deficiency.
A deficiency of folate in old age significantly increases the risk of developing
dementia.
Folic acid is found in dried peas, dried beans, yeast, and leafy green vegetables.
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Vitamin B12(Cobalamin)
Cobalamin is a general term for compounds with biologic
vitamin B12 activity.
Chemically most complex vitamin
They are necessary for the formation of normal red blood cells.
Vitamin B12 is found in chicken, beef, and pork.
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Function
1. Essential for the maturation of erythrocytes.
2. Protects against pernicious anemia.
3. Essential for cell growth and reproduction.
4. Essential for the formation of myelin and
nucleoproteins.
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Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)
Function: has an effect on the metabolism of calcium in the
body.
• Vitamin C act as Antioxidant
Cofactor in the synthesis of norepinephrine from dopamine.
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) plays a role in collagen, carnitine,
hormone, and amino acid formation.
Deficiency : scurvy (swollen and painful joints and bleeding
gums) and brittleness of bones, internal bleeding, impaired
wound healing.
Sources: citrus fruits, tomatoes, leafy vegetables and
potatoes.
Fat Soluble Vitamins
The fat-soluble vitamins, A, D, E, and K, are stored in the body
for long periods of time and generally pose a greater risk for
toxicity when consumed in excess than water-soluble vitamins.
Eating a normal, well-balanced diet will not lead to toxicity in
otherwise healthy individuals.
However, taking vitamin supplements that contain megadoses
of vitamins A, D, E and K may lead to toxicity.
The body only needs small amounts of any vitamin.
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Vitamin A (Retinol)
Function: development healthy skin and nerve tissue. Aids
in building up resistance to infection. Functions in eyesight
and bone formation. ALL ANIMALS require a source of
Vitamin A. It is important in the ration of pregnant females.
Vitamin A (retinol) is required for the formation of rhodopsin,
a photoreceptor pigment in the retina.
Deficiency signs: retarded growth in the young, the
development of a peculiar condition around the eyes known
as Xerophthalmia, night blindness and reproductive
disorders.
Sources: whole milk, carotene, animal body oils (cod fish
and tuna), legume forages and can be synthetically
produced.
Vitamin D (Calciferol)
Function: is essential for the proper utilization of
calcium and phosphorus to produce normal, healthy
bones.
Vitamin D is synthesized in skin by exposure to sunlight
(ultraviolet radiation)
Deficiency signs: Inadequate exposure to sunlight may
cause vitamin D deficiency.
retarded growth, misshapen bones (rickets),
lameness and osteoporosis.
Sources: Whole milk, sun-cured hays, forage crops,
fish liver oils, irradiated yeast.
Vitamin E (tocopherols)
Function: normal reproduction.
They act as antioxidants, which prevent lipid peroxidation of
polyunsaturated fatty acids in cellular membranes.
Deficiency signs: poor growth, "crazy chick" disease, Muscular Dystrophy,
"white muscle" disease in ruminants and swine and "stiff lamb" disease
(affects the nerves and muscles).
Vitamin E deficiency causes degeneration of the axons of neurons (nerve
cells) resulting in neurologic deficits, and fragility of red blood cells which is
generally diagnosed as hemolytic anemia.
Sources: synthetic for poultry and swine, cereal grains and wheat germ oil,
green forages, protein concentrates, oil seeds (peanut and soybean oil).
Vitamin E rapidly destroyed in rancid or spoiled fats. That is why these
may cause white muscle disease. Utilization of Vitamin E is dependent on
adequate selenium.
Vitamin K (phylloquinone)
Function: Vitamin K controls the formation of
coagulation factors II (prothrombin), VII, IX, and X in
the liver.
necessary for the maintenance of normal blood
coagulation.
Deficiency signs: Blood clotting disorders – dangerous
in newborns, life-threatening bleeding (hemorrhagic
disease of the newborn).
Sources: green leafy forages, fish meal, liver,
soybeans, rumen and intestinal synthesis, and the
synthetic compounds.
