Vitamins are organic compounds that are crucial for our body, we cannot produce them in our bodies. They have to be ingested through food, as we are always advised by doctors. But Why Are Vitamins Necessary In The Diet? Let’s find out.

1. Why Are Vitamins Necessary In The Diet?

2. About Vitamins
● Vitamins are organic compounds that
are crucial for our body and needs
to be ingested through food.
● Performs many functions including
tissue building and energy
production.
● Antioxidant properties prevent the
formation of free radicals, which
can lead to many diseases.
● Strengthens our immune system.
● Vitamin content of food depends on
factors like climatic conditions,
maturity and storage & processing.
● Freezing slows down the decay while
heating accelerates the breakdown of
the vitamins.

3. Types Of Vitamins
Fat Soluble Vitamins
● Due to their chemical
structure, vitamins E, D, K and
A are readily soluble in fats.
● Fat-soluble vitamins are
involved in protein synthesis.
● Fat-soluble vitamins are
absorbed in the body by the
small intestine together with
the fats.
● Excessive storage of these
vitamins would lead to
headache, hair loss, nausea and
visual disturbances.
Water Soluble Vitamins
● Vitamin C, the B vitamins and
folic acid use water as a
solvent.
● An overdose of these vitamins
is very unlikely because they
are hardly stored in the body
So have to be fed continuously.
● The body cannot compensate for
a shortage of food for a long
time.
● Vitamin B12 is an exception as
it is stored in the liver and
excreted through the kidneys,
so there is no risk of
overdosing.

4. Why are Vitamins Necessary in the Diet?
1. Vitamin A
● Vitamin A is an indispensable part
of the vision.
● It is also an antioxidant and
radical scavenger and therefore a
protective factor for the skin and
mucous membranes.
● Vitamin A is only readily found in
animal foods.
● Sources of vitamin A are liver,
liver sausage, tuna, egg yolk, milk
products, carrots, spinach, pumpkin
and apricots.
● Deficiency of Vitamin A causes
problems related to vision.

5. Why are Vitamins Necessary in the Diet?
2. Vitamin C
● Vitamin C is a radical scavenger and
antioxidant.
● It helps support immune function and
build connective tissue.
● Sources of vitamin C are citrus
fruits, cherries, black currants,
broccoli, peppers, potatoes and
cabbage.
● Vitamin C promotes iron absorption
from food and often used as
preservative.
● Deficiency symptoms include
fatigue, susceptibility to infection
and scurvy.

6. Why are Vitamins Necessary in the Diet?
3. Vitamin D
● Vitamin D forms in our skin under the influence of sunlight, but mostly it
is ingested with food.
● A lack of vitamin D is shown by muscle weakness, soft bones that are prone
to fractures.
● In infants, a deficiency also leads to rickets, which results in skeletal
deformities.
● Since vitamin D drives calcium and phosphate absorption through the
intestine, it is particularly important for bone structure and tooth
development.
● Vitamin D deficiency may cause diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer
and autoimmune diseases

7. Why are Vitamins Necessary in the Diet?
4. Vitamin E
● Vitamin E acts as a radical
scavenger and antioxidant in
cell membranes because it
prevents the destruction of the
cell walls.
● Due to its antioxidant
properties, vitamin E is
important for athletes in order
to reduce stress-induced tissue
damage.
● The early symptom of a vitamin
E deficiency is a shortened
lifespan of the red blood cells
5. Vitamin K
● Vitamin K is required for the
production of some proteins in
the body.
● It also works in bone formation
and bone metabolism.
● Vitamin K deficiency leads to
bruises and nosebleeds.
● The bone density decreases,
which can more easily lead to
broken bones.
● Vitamin K is found in the
highest concentrations in green
vegetables such as spinach and
cabbage.

8. Why are Vitamins Necessary in the Diet?
B Vitamin
● Numerous B vitamins are involved in
the functioning of the metabolism.
● A lack of B vitamins can lead to
reduced performance, which is why
they are often added to energy
drinks.
● The increased metabolism increases
the need for B Vitamins in athletes.

9. Why are Vitamins Necessary in the Diet?
1. Vitamin B12
● Vitamin B12 is essential for the formation of red blood cells.
● Vitamin B12 with folic acid and Vitamin B6 detoxifies the amino acid
homocysteine in our body, which is a waste product of the metabolism.
● Vitamin B12 also contributes to the breakdown of fatty acids and protein.
● Sources of vitamin B12 include animal foods such as meat, fish and milk.
● It is also found in small amounts in fermented, plant-based foods such as
sauerkraut or beer.
● B12 deficiency leads to disruption of cell division in the bone marrow and
the result is anaemia and degeneration of the spinal cord areas.

10. Why are Vitamins Necessary in the Diet?
2. Folic Acid
● Folic acid is important for growth, development and metabolic processes as
well as for haemoglobin formation.
● sources of folic acid are green leafy vegetables, meat and fruit.
● Deficiency of folic acid can lead to increased homocysteine levels and
contribute to anaemia in the long term.
● Pregnant women usually take folic acid supplements to prevent damage to
embryonic development.
● Folic acid may increase the protective factor against colon cancer.

11. Why are Vitamins Necessary in the Diet?
3. Vitamin B2:
● It is used for the metabolism of
fats, proteins and carbohydrates.
● Vitamin B2 with vitamin A, it
promotes skin healing processes.
● A lack of riboflavin can be
recognized by small tears in the
corners of the mouth, on the nose,
lids and on the nail bed.
● Anaemia and visual disturbances
can occur due to lack of Vitamin
B2.

12. Why are Vitamins Necessary in the Diet?
4. Vitamin B3
● Niacin or nicotinic acid is
found in all cells and is
necessary for many metabolic
processes.
● Skin and mucous membranes in
particular need vitamin B3.
● Meat and fish in particular,
but also peanuts and
whole-grain cereals contain
niacin.
● Constant sugar consumption can
lead to a lack of niacin, as
sugar is incompatible with
vitamin B3.
5. Vitamin B5
● Vitamin B5 is found in almost
everything we eat and is needed
for energy metabolism.
● It is also used for the
formation of hair, nails,
connective tissue and mucous
membranes.
● Dry, cracked skin and brittle
hair and stiff joints can
indicate a lack of vitamin B5.

13. Why are Vitamins Necessary in the Diet?
6. Vitamin B6
● It is responsible for the proper
functioning of the heart, brain
and liver.
● Vitamin B6 is also a building
block of the messenger substances
that are responsible for the
transmission of stimuli between
nerve cells.
● It can alleviate pregnancy
sickness, menstrual cramps and
menopause.
● It is particularly abundant in
yeast, fish, corn, soy and dairy
products.

14. Why are Vitamins Necessary in the Diet?
7. Vitamin B7
● Vitamin B7 is involved in energy metabolism and is involved in cell growth
and DNA and protein synthesis.
● Biotin also affects the growth and maintenance of skin and hair.
● A lack of biotin can be caused by excessive caffeine consumption and may
lead to brittle hair and cracked fingernails.
● Biotin is found in offal, milk and egg yolk and is found in nuts and
legumes.

15. Thank You
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