Vitamins are nutrients that our bodies cannot produce on their own and must be obtained through foods or supplements. They are essential for good health and many bodily functions. Vitamins are classified as either water-soluble or fat-soluble. Water-soluble vitamins like vitamin C and the B vitamins dissolve in water and are not stored in the body, so must be consumed regularly. Fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E and K are stored in body fat and tissues. Vitamins play important roles in growth, development, energy production and disease prevention. Deficiencies can lead to various health conditions.

1. VITAMINS
Prepared by:
Ms. Simran Pal Kaur
Nursing Tutor
DMCH, Ludhiana

2. WHATARE
VITAMINS ?
 Nutrients that our body does not make on its own. Thus we must
obtain them from the foods we eat, or via vitamin supplements.
 They are essential for providing good health and are necessary for
many life functions.
 Everybody must eat a certain amount of vitamins to stay healthy.
 Vitamins are chemicals found in very small amounts in many
different foods.

3. CHARACTERISTICS
 Vitamins are required in small quantities in the diet because they
cannot be synthesized by the body.
 Water soluble vitamins cannot be stored in human tissues. Their
excess is excreted with urine.
 Significant amounts of fat soluble vitamins can be stored in adipose
tissue and the liver.
 Synthetic vitamins are identical to natural vitamins.
 Once growth and development are completed, vitamins remain
essential nutrients for the healthy maintenance of the cells, tissues,
and organs.

4. FUNCTIONS
Vitamins are helpful for the health and life of the body in the
following respects:
(a) They build up the resistance of the body against diseases.
(b) Prevent and cure various diseases caused by deficiency.
(c) Help the digestion and utilization of mineral salts and
Carbohydrates in the body.
(d) Stimulate and give strength to digestive and nervous system.
(e) Help health protection.
(f) Help maintenance of proper health and normal growth

5. CLASSIFICATION
Vitamins
Water soluble
vitamins
Fat soluble
vitamins.

8. WATERSOLUBLE
VITAMINS
VITAMIN B
VITAMIN C

9. WATER
SOLUBLE
VITAMINS
 Vitamins that dissolve in water. Because our body is a watery
environment, these vitamins can move through our body pretty
easily, and they can also be flushed out by the kidneys.
 These are not stored in the body, so you need to have them more
frequently.
 Water soluble vitamins are found in a wide range of foods
including fruits, vegetables, potatoes, grains, milk and dairy
products.
 They can be destroyed by heat or being exposed to air.
 Water-soluble vitamins include the B-complex vitamins and
vitamin C.

10. WATER
SOLUBLE
VITAMINS
Vitamin C
Eight B-
Complex
Vitamins, i.e.
• Thiamine (Vitamin B1)
• Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
• Niacin (Vitamin B3)
• Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6)
• Cobalamin (Vitamin B12)
• Folate
• Biotin
• PantothenicAcid (Vitamin B5)

11. VITAMINC
Dietary Sources, Functions, Deficiency andTreatment

12. VITAMINC
 It is also called ascorbic acid and antibiotic vitamin.
 It is powerful antioxidant
 Synthesized by most animals (not by human).
 It is highly soluble in water and most easily destroyed.
 Human needs this vitamin daily in their diet because body stores
only small amount ofVitaminC.

13. DIETARY
SOURCES

14. FUNCTIONS
 Protects you body from free radicals
 Helps form connective tissue that hold your bones, muscles, and
tissues together (collagen)
 Aids in the healing of wounds
 Aids the body in absorbing iron from plant sources
 Helps to keep your gums healthy
 Helps your body to fight infections
 Aids in the prevention of heart disease
 Helps prevent some forms of cancer
 Converts cholesterol to bile acids

15. DEFICIENCY
 In adults deficiency of vitamin C causes scurvy. But it rarely occurs
in normal people.The symptoms of scurvy are
(a) Hemorrhages in various tissues particularly in inside of thigh,
calf and forearm muscles. It may be due to capillary fragility.
(b) General weakness and anemia.
(c) Swollen joints, swollen gums and loose tooth.
(d) Susceptible for infections.
(e) Delayed wound healing.
(f) Bone fragility and osteoporosis.

17. TREATMENT
 This is to replace the vitamin C that is lacking in you. This can be
achieved by taking vitamin C supplements and eating diet rich in
vitamin C.

18. VITAMIN B

19. THIAMINE
B 1
 It is also calledAnti Beri-Beri factor,Anti Neuritic factor, and also
Aneurin.
 It is colorless basic organic compound composed of a sulfated
pyramiding ring.
 All living organisms use thiamine, but it is synthesized only in
bacteria, fungi, and plants.
 Contains sulfur and nitrogen group
 Destroyed by alkaline and heat

20. DIETARY
SOURCES

21. FUNCTIONS

22. THIAMINE
DEFICIENCY
Adult beriberi:
Early signs of beri beri are insomnia, headache, dizziness, loss of
appetite, muscle weakness, numbness and pricking sensation in
lower limbs and fatigue.

23. BERI-BERI
If not treated it leads to
(a) Wet beri beri. In which cardiovascular system is affected and it is
characterized by edema. Edema appears in lower limbs, trunk,
face and serous cavities. Blood pressure becomes abnormal.
Heart becomes weak and death occurs due to heart failure.
(b) Dry beri beri. In which central nervous system is affected. In
addition to early signs severe muscle wasting occurs. As a result
individual is unable to walk and becomes bed ridden. Death may
occur if not treated.
Infantile beri beri. In infants thiamine deficiency causes infantile beri
beri. It occurs in infants between 2-10 months of age.

24. RIBOFLAVIN
 It is also called as beauty vitamin.
 It is yellowish green fluorescent compound soluble in water.
 The word riboflavin is derived from 2 sources ribose – means many
ribose sugar found in several vitamins flavin – yellow.
 It is widely involved in oxidationreduction reaction.

25. DIETARY
SOURCES

26. FUNCTIONS

27. RIBOFLAVIN
DEFICIENCY
In humans riboflavin deficiency causes oral, facial, occular lesions.
(a) Angular Stomatitis: Lesions of mouth particularly at corners of
mouth.
(b) Cheilosis: Red swollen and cracked lips.
(c) Vascularization of cornea and conjunctiva and blood shot eyes.
(d) Glossitis: Inflamed magenta coloured tongue.

28. TREATMENT  Oral administration of 10 mg riboflavin should be given for a
period of 1 month to adult to adult with deficiency of riboflavin.

29. NIACIN
B 3
 Vitamin B3 is also known as niacin or nicotinic acid.
 It is essential for metabolism of carbohydrate, protein & fat.

30. DIETARY
SOURCES

31. FUNCTIONS

32. DEFICIENCY
 Niacin deficiency causes pellagra in which skin, gastrointestinal
tract and nervous system are affected.
 Dermatitis, Diarrhoea and Dementia are characteristic symptoms of
pellagra.

33. TREATMENT  50 mg BD for a week in injection form followed by oral dose 100
mg bd for 3 weeks.

34. PANTOTHENIC
B 5
 Vitamin B5 is also known as Pantothenic Acid, is a water-soluble
vitamin. It was discovered by Roger J.Williams in 1919.
 Tissue extracts from a variety of biological materials provide a
growth factor for yeast this growth factor identified as
pantothenic acid
 This word derived from greek word pantos meaning everywhere.
 Essential for metabolism of CHO, fat, protein

35. DIEATARY
SOURCES

36. FUNCTIONS
 Vitamin B5 plays an important role in helping release energy from
sugars, starches, and fats.
 Vitamin B5 is important for releasing energy stored as fat, it is
equally important for the creation of fat. Two basic types of fats -
fatty acids and cholesterol - both require the CoA form of B5 for
their synthesis.
 Sometimes it is important for the body to make small chemical
changes in the shape of cell proteins, thus vitamin B5 is used in
this case.
 They are essential for the cell metabolism.
 They are very helpful in the cholesterol metabolism.
 Accelerates wound healing.
 It is also used as anti-stress factor.
 Allergies, headaches, arthritis, psoriasis, insomnia, asthma, and
infections have all been treated with some effectiveness using
vitamin B5.

37. DEFICIENCY It cause burning feet, abdominal cramps, restlessness and fatigue in
humans

38. PYRIDOXINE
B 6
 Vitamin B6 refers to a group of chemically very similar compounds
which can be interconverted in biological systems.
 Vitamin B6 is part of the vitamin B complex group, and its active
form, Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) serves as a cofactor in many
enzyme reactions in amino acid, glucose, and lipid metabolism.
 It is white crystalline substance soluble in water and alcohol.

39. DIETARY
SOURCES

40. FUNCTIONS
 Make antibodies: Antibodies are needed to fight many diseases.
 Maintain normal nerve function
 Make haemoglobin: Haemoglobin carries oxygen in the red blood
cells to the tissues. A vitamin B6 deficiency can cause a form of
anaemia.
 Break down proteins: The more protein you eat, the more vitamin
B6 you need.
 Keep blood sugar (glucose) in normal ranges
 Assists in the balancing of Sodium and Potassium levels.
 Promotes RBC production.
 Production of Serotonin, Dopamine, Noradrenaline and Adrenaline

41. DEFICIENCY
 It is rare in human adults.
 In children vitamin B6 deficiency causes epileptic form convulsions
(seizures) due to decreased formation of neuro transmitters like
GABA, serotonin and catecholamines.

42. CYANOCOBALAMIN
B 12
 Vitamin B12 is complex organomatrix compound called as
cobalamin which is cobalt containing porphyrin. It is freely soluble
in water.

43. DIETARY
SOURCES  Vitamin B12 is mostly found in animal products such as meat,
shellfish, milk, cheese, and eggs. Clams, Oysters, Mussels, Caviar
(Fish Eggs), Octopus, Crab and Lobster r the great source of B12

44. FUNCTIONS
 Red Blood Cells – it is essential for production of RBCs
 Nervous – It improves concentration, memory, & balance.
 It is important for metabolism of fat, carbohydrate ,proteins, folic
acid.
 It promotes growth and increases apatite.

45. DEFICIENCY
 ANEMIA: it leads to megaloblastic or pernicious anemia.
 Demyelination & irreversible nerve cell death.

46. BIOTIN
B 7
 It is a part of B complex group of vitamins. Biotin is required to
metabolize carbohydrates, fats and amino acids like all B vitamins.
It is a water-soluble vitamin. It means the body does not store it.
However, in the intestine biotin can made.

47. DIETARY
SOURCES

48. FUNCTIONS
 Sufficient intake of vitamin B7 (biotin) is important as it helps the
body to-
 convert food into glucose, which is used to produce energy
 produce fatty acids and amino acids (the building blocks of
protein)
 activate protein/amino acid metabolism in the hair roots and
fingernail cells.

49. DEFICIENCY  Biotin deficiency is rare in humans because it is present in most of
the common foods.

50. FOLATE
FOLICACID
B 9

51. FUNCTIONS

52. DEFICIENCY
 Megaloblastic anemia is the main symptom of folic acid
deficiency. It is most common in pregnant women and in un-
weaned children

53. FATSOLUBLE
VITAMINS
VITAMIN A, D,E & K

54. VITAMINA

55. DIETARY
SOURCES

56. FUNCTIONS

57. DEFICIENCY
Night blindness
 In early stages, the affected individual is not able to see clearly in
dim light or night due to block in the resynthesis of rhodopsin.
 In the later stage of deficiency the affected individual cannot see
or read in dim light.
 Thus loss of night vision (night blindness) is the major initial
symptom ofVitamin A deficiency.
 Night blindness in adults or in preschool children is common in
countries where intake of vitamin A is low.
Growth of bone and formation of tooth are defective.Thick and
long bones are formed.
Nerve growth also affected. Degeneration of myelin sheath occurs.

58. DEFICIENCY
 Keratinisation of mucous secreting epithelial cells (hyperkeratosis)
lining respiratory tract and reproductive tract occurs. Mucous
secretion by salivary and lacrymal glands is also affected.
 Deposition of keratin in skin (xeroderma) gives rise to
characteristic toad skin appearance.
 Reproductive disorders like testicular degeneration, resorption of
foetus or foetal malformation are observed.
 Degenerative changes in kidneys

59. VITAMIN D

60. VITAMIN D
 Vitamin D refers to a group of fat-soluble secosteroids (a type of
steroid with a "broken" ring) found in liver and fish oils, or
obtained by irradiating provitamin D with ultraviolet light and are
responsible for enhancing intestinal absorption of calcium, iron,
magnesium, phosphate and zinc. It is also called SUNSHINE
VITAMIN.

61. FORMS
It is available in 2 forms
Ergocalciferol D2 is obtained artificially by
irradiation of ergo-sterol and is called
ergocalciferol.
Cholecalciferol D3 is made from 7-dehydro-
cholesterol in the skin of animals and
humans.

62. DIEATRY
SOURCES

63. FUNCTIONS

64. ABSORPTION
TRANSPORT
STORAGE
• Dietary vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 are absorbed in the small
intestine in presence of bile salts.
• Absorbed Vit D is incorporated into chylomicrons and enters
circulation via lymph.
•Vitamin D is stored in liver and adipose tissue.

65. DEFICIENCY
1. Rickets: In children vitamin D deficiency causes rickets, results
in soft bones. This leads to deformities in skull, chest, spine, legs
and pelvis.
2. Osteomalacia: Vitamin D deficiency causes osteomalacia in
adults. It is seen in pregnant women and women with
inappropriate diet. Skeletal pain is early sign. Deformities of ribs,
spine, pelvis and legs are seen.
3. Osteoporosis:
 Vitamin D deficiency causes osteoporosis in old people.
Photolysis of provitamins dcreases with age. This and together
with decreased sex hormone production may lead to
deficiency.
 Symptoms are bone pain and porous bones. Bone fractures are
common

66. TREATMENT  Large dose of vitamin D, i.e. 1000-5000 IU daily for 1 month,
followed by 800 IU daily for 6 months.

67. VITAMIN E

68. VITAMIN E
 Vitamin E refers to a group of compounds that include both
tocopherols and tocotrienols. They are naturally occurring anti-
oxidant.
 It is also called anti-aging factor.
 It is yellow oily liquid freely soluble in fat solvent.

69. DIETARY
SOURCES

70. FUNCTIONS

71. ABSORPTION
STORAGE
 Vitamin E like other fat soluble vitamins is absorbed along with fat
in intestines. It is stored in the liver, muscles and body fat.

72. DEFICIENCY
 It causes following disorders:
 Vitamin E deficiency is very rare problem that results in
damage to nerves.
 It also causes reproductive failure.
 Its severe deficiency increases hemolysis or red blood cells.
 It may lead to muscular dystrophy.

73. VITAMIN K

74. VITAMIN K
 Vitamin K refers to a group of structurally similar, fat soluble
vitamins the human body needs for complete synthesis of certain
proteins that are required for blood coagulation, and also certain
proteins that the body uses to manipulate binding of calcium in
bone and other tissues.
 Vitamin K is naturally produced by the bacteria in the intestines.
 It is essential for production of a type of protein called prothrombin
& other factor involve in blood clotting mechanism. Hence it is
known as anti – hemorrhagic vitamin.

75. Vitamin K
includes two
natural vitamins :
Vitamin K1
(phylloquinone)
Vitamin K2
(menaquinones)
Obtained from green leafy
vegetables
Obtained from meats,
cheese and eggs

76. DIETARY
SOURCES

77. FUNCTIONS

78. ABSORPTION
AND
TRANSPORT
 Vitamin K is absorbed along with fat in the diet. Bile is essential for
its absorption. The absorbed vitamin K passes through the
lymphatic system to the general circulation. Liver stores
appreciable amounts.

79. DEFICIENCY
1. Haemorrhage in the new born is most common vitamin K
deficiency symptom. uncontrolled bleeding through nose
(epitaxis) and gastrointestinal tract is likely to occur. However it
can be treated successfully with intra muscular injections of
vitamin K.
2. In adults vitamin K deficiency rarely occurs. However prolonged
use of antibiotics may cause vitamin K deficiency due to
elimination of intestinal flora.