This document provides information on vitamins, including their classification as either water-soluble or fat-soluble. It then discusses several specific vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, biotin, folic acid, cobalamin) detailing their biologically active forms, functions, dietary sources, recommended daily allowances, and potential deficiency symptoms. The document serves as a reference for the key properties and roles of important vitamins.

1. Aamir Ali Khan
M.Phil Biochemistry
Head of Pathology Department
Northwest Institute of Health sciences

2. Vitamins Classification Chart

3. Vitamins
• Water-soluble
– Thiamine
– Riboflavin
– Niacin
– Pyridoxine
– Biotin
– Folic acid
– Cobalamin
– Ascorbic acid
– Pantothenic acid
• Fat-soluble
– VitaminA
– Vitamin D
– Vitamin K
– Vitamin E

4. Thiamine B1
• Vitamin B1
• Biologically active form
– thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP)
– Also can have TTP
• Function
– cofactor in oxidative decarboxylation of a- keto acids (TCA, AAdegradation)
– RC(O)COOH to RC(O)OH + CO2
– Other coenzymes also involved in process
• Sources
– pork, whole grains, legumes, tuna, soy milk
• RDA
– 0.5 mg/1000 Cal intake or min 1 mg/day
• Deficiency
– decreased ATPproduction
– impaired cellular function
– Beriberi

5. Riboflavin B2
• Vitamin B2; vit G?
• Biologically active forms
– Flavin mononucleotide (FMN)
– Flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)
• Function
– Electron transfer
– FMNH2, FADH2
– Redox reactions (TCA, glycolysis, etc.)
– Needed for good vision and healthy skin
• Sources
– Milk, mushrooms, tomatoes, liver, green leafy vegetables
• RDA
– 1.1-1.3 mg/day
• Deficiency
– Growth retardation
– Ariboflavinosis
• Glossitis (Glossitis can mean soreness of the tongue).
• Stomatitis (Stomatitis is inflammation of the mouth and lips)

6. Niacin B3
• Biologically active forms
– NAD+, Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide
– NADP+
– Nicotinamide (readily deaminated, also in diet)
• Function
– Coenzymes in redox reactions (TCA, FAsynthesis, gluconeogenesis, etc.)
– DNArepair
• Sources
– Unrefined grains, fortified cereal, meat, fish, tomatoes, mushrooms, milk,
liver, rice
– Metabolism of tryptophan whenAAis abundant (needs riboflavin and B6)
• RDA
– 14-16 NE/day (NE = niacin equivalents = 1 mg niacin or 60mg
tryptophan)
• Deficiency
– Pellagra = “rough skin”
• Toxicity
– Skin inflammation, heartburn, nausea, liver damage

7. Pyridoxine B6
• Vitamin B6, pyridoxal, pyridoxamine
• Biologically active form
– pyridoxal phosphate (PLP)
• Function
– Coenzyme for transamination reactions, esp. AAs(neurotransmitters)
– Decarboxylation of carboxylic acids
• Sources
– Wheat, corn, egg yolk, liver, potato, banana, fish, chickpeas
• RDA
– 1.3-1.7 mg
• Deficiency
– Induced by TB drug isoniazid (supplement given)
– Dermatitis, fatigue
– Depression, confusion
– Convulsions, seizures
– Microcytic hypochromic anemia
– Epidemic in 1950s
• Toxicity
– Neurological disorders at > 2 g /day

8. Biotin B7
• Biologically active form
– Binds to lysine residue of enzyme
• Function
– Cofactor in carboxylation reactions, carrier of CO2 (acetyl-CoAto
malonyl-CoA, synthesis of fatty acids)
– Regulation of gene expression
• Sources
– Almost all food, esp. milk, egg yolk, tomato, almond, peanuts, avocado,
mushroom
– Also synthesized by intestinal bacteria
• RDA
– At least 30 mg/day
• Deficiency
– Deficiency does not occur naturally unless eat 20 raw egg whites perday
(protein avidin binds biotin irreversibly and excreted)

9. Folic acid
• Biologically active form
– Tetrahydrofolate (THF)
• Function
– Stimulates digestive acids; appetite
– Receive one carbon fragments from donors and transfer them in AAsynthesis
and nucleotide synthesis
• Sources
– Green leafy veggies (“foliage”), organ meats, legumes, okra, whole grain cereals
• RDA
– 400 mg/day, more during pregnancy and lactation
• Deficiency
– Megaloblastic /macrocytic anemia and growth failure
– Once, most common vitamin deficiency in US; now fortified cereals
– Absorption inhibited by many medicines, so a problem with the elderly

10. Cobalamin 12
• Vitamin B12
– Corrin ring system with Co in center (Corrin is an heterocyclic compound. It is
the parent macrocycle related to substituted derivative that is found in vitamin
B12. Its name reflects that it is the "core" of vitamin B12)
• Function
– Synthesis of Met
– Methylmalonyl-CoA to succinyl-CoA
• Degradation of odd-chain FA, enter TCA
– Transfer of methyl groups
– Produce red blood cells
• Sources
– Liver, whole milk, cottage cheese, oysters, salmon, clams, eggs, shrimp, pork,
chicken (animal sources)
• RDA
– 2.4 mg/day
• Deficiency
– Caused by pernicious anemia
– Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA)