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| A '''vitamin''' (''vita'' in Latin is ''life'' and ''-amin'' suffix is short |
A '''vitamin''' (''vita'' in Latin is ''life'' and the ''-amin'' suffix is short for '']'') is an organic compound that cannot be synthesized (at all or in quantities that meet all needs) by a given organism and must be taken (in trace quantities) with food for that organism's continued good health. The name was invented by the ] ] ] in ]. (] are ] trace nutritional requirements.) | ||
| Vitamins were first recognised by the diseases that |
Vitamins were first recognised by the diseases that occur from a lack of certain foods; for example, the British ] recognised that a constituent of limes prevented ] (one result of not having enough ] over an extended period of time), so limes were added to the diet of sailors. ] prevents ], and so forth. | ||
| Vitamins can be divided in two groups by their solubility in water |
Vitamins can be divided in two groups by their solubility in water: | ||
| Water-soluble vitamins |
'''Water-soluble vitamins''' | ||
| * ] (]) | * ] (]) | ||
| * ] (]) | * ] (]) | ||
| * ] (]) | * ] (]) | ||
| * ] (]) (also called ] or ] -- for |
* ] (]) (also called ] or ] -- for pellagra preventing) | ||
| * ] (]) | * ] (]) | ||
| * ] (]) | * ] (]) | ||
| * ] ] | * ] ] | ||
| * ] (]) | * ] (]) | ||
| * ] (]) | * ] (]) | ||
| Fat-soluble vitamins |
'''Fat-soluble vitamins''' | ||
| * ] and derivatives) (]) | * ] and derivatives) (]) | ||
| * ]- see below (]) | * ]- see below (]) | ||
| * ] (]) | * ] (]) | ||
| * ] (and derivatives) (]) | * ] (and derivatives) (]) | ||
| Unlike food, water, and |
Unlike food, water, and — for aerobic organisms — air, an organism can survive for some time without vitamins, although prolonged vitamin deficit results in a ] state. | ||
| === Vitamin |
=== Vitamin deficiency diseases === | ||
| Several diseases are caused by lack of adequate vitamin intake. These can become severe, even life-threatening. | Several diseases are caused by a lack of adequate vitamin intake. These can become severe, even life-threatening. | ||
| Some vitamin deficiency diseases: | Some vitamin deficiency diseases include: | ||
| :Deficiency in Vitamin A causes night blindness | |||
| <table width="50%" align="center"> | |||
| :Deficiency in Vitamin B1 causes ] | |||
| <tr><th>deficient vitamin</th><th>disease</th></tr> | |||
| :Deficiency in Vitamin B2 causes ] | |||
| <tr><td>A</td><td>night blindness</td></tr> | |||
| :Deficiency in Vitamin B12 causes ] | |||
| <tr><td>B1</td><td>]</td></tr> | |||
| :Deficiency in Niacin causes ] | |||
| <tr><td>B2</td><td>]</td></tr> | |||
| :Deficiency in Vitamin C causes ] | |||
| <tr><td>B12</td><td>]</td></tr> | |||
| :Deficiency in Vitamin D causes ] | |||
| <tr><td>niacin</td><td>]</td></tr> | |||
| <tr><td>C</td><td>]</td></tr> | |||
| <tr><td>D</td><td>]</td></tr> | |||
| </table> | |||
| Other vitamin deficiencies are simply called after the name of the vitamin, like vitamin K deficiency disease. | Other vitamin deficiencies are simply called after the name of the vitamin, like vitamin K deficiency disease. | ||
| === Is ] a real vitamin ? === | === Is ] a real vitamin ? === | ||
| Vitamin D is synthetized by human body, but in quantities that are not always sufficient. | Vitamin D is synthetized by human body, but in quantities that are not always sufficient. The level of synthesis depends on exposure to sunlight, so in winter and in polar areas it acts more like a vitamin, and in summer and in equatorial areas it acts less like a vitamin. | ||
| ⚫ | So it's usually treated as a vitamin, but one that isn't required in some areas and seasons. | ||
| Level of synthesis depends on sun activity, so in winter and in polar areas it's more like a vitamin, and in summer and in equatorial areas it's less like a vitamin. | |||
| ⚫ | So it's usually treated as a vitamin, but one that isn't required in some areas |
||
| === Vitamins A and K === | === Vitamins A and K === | ||
| Neither ] nor ] is a single chemical substance, | Neither ] nor ] is a single chemical substance, | ||
| but all derivatives |
but all derivatives fulfill the same functions in organisms (or are converted into the active form by the organism), so taking just one of the derivatives is sufficient for good health. The derivatives differ in chemical structure and level of activity. | ||
| === Names === | === Names === | ||
| Some obsolete vitamin names: | Some obsolete vitamin names: | ||
| * Vitamin B - actually complex of |
* Vitamin B - actually a complex of several vitamins: B-''number'', H, and M. | ||
| ⚫ | * Vitamin G - another name for riboflavin (vitamin B2) | ||
| ⚫ | * Vitamin G - another name for |
||
| The usage of names in the format "vitamin ''letter''" and "vitamin ''letter number''" is diminishing. | |||
| This is especially true for vitamins H, M, B1, B2, B3 and B5, which are usually called by their proper chemical names. | This is especially true for vitamins H, M, B1, B2, B3, and B5, which are usually called by their proper chemical names. | ||
| On the other hand, vitamins D and E are still usually called |
On the other hand, vitamins D and E are still usually called by their symbolic names, | ||
| and A and K don't even have proper chemical names. | and A and K don't even have proper chemical names (since they are mixtures of chemicals). | ||
| The names ] and ] are used with similar frequency. | The names ] and ] are used with similar frequency. | ||
| It's very probable that in some distant future, all vitamins will be named with common | |||
| chemical names. We can see this evolution in case of ] nowadays. | |||
| === Non-human vitamins === | === Non-human vitamins === | ||
| Different organisms need different trace organic substances. The list of vitamins in this article refers to humans. Most ] need, with few exceptions, the same vitamins ( |
Different organisms need different trace organic substances. The list of vitamins in this article refers to humans. Most ] need, with few exceptions, the same vitamins (except that most species don't need ]). The further we go from ]s, the more diverse organisms' requirements become. For example, some ] need ]. | ||
| See ]. | See ]. | ||
Revision as of 22:45, 8 June 2002
A vitamin (vita in Latin is life and the -amin suffix is short for amine) is an organic compound that cannot be synthesized (at all or in quantities that meet all needs) by a given organism and must be taken (in trace quantities) with food for that organism's continued good health. The name was invented by the Polish biochemist Kazimierz Funk in 1912. (Minerals are inorganic trace nutritional requirements.)
Vitamins were first recognised by the diseases that occur from a lack of certain foods; for example, the British Royal Navy recognised that a constituent of limes prevented scurvy (one result of not having enough vitamin C over an extended period of time), so limes were added to the diet of sailors. Vitamin D prevents rickets, and so forth.
Vitamins can be divided in two groups by their solubility in water:
Water-soluble vitamins
- Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
- Thiamin (vitamin B1)
- Riboflavin (vitamin B2)
- Niacin (vitamin B3) (also called nicotinic acid or vitamin P -- for pellagra preventing)
- Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5)
- Pyridoxine (vitamin B6)
- Cobalamin vitamin B12
- Biotin (vitamin H)
- Folic acid (vitamin M)
Fat-soluble vitamins
- Retinol and derivatives) (vitamin A)
- Calciferol- see below (vitamin D)
- Tocopherol (vitamin E)
- Naphthoquinone (and derivatives) (vitamin K)
Unlike food, water, and — for aerobic organisms — air, an organism can survive for some time without vitamins, although prolonged vitamin deficit results in a disease state.
Vitamin deficiency diseases
Several diseases are caused by a lack of adequate vitamin intake. These can become severe, even life-threatening.
Some vitamin deficiency diseases include:
| deficient vitamin | disease |
|---|---|
| A | night blindness |
| B1 | beriberi |
| B2 | ariboflavinosis |
| B12 | pernicious anemia |
| niacin | pellagra |
| C | scurvy |
| D | rickets |
Other vitamin deficiencies are simply called after the name of the vitamin, like vitamin K deficiency disease.
Is vitamin D a real vitamin ?
Vitamin D is synthetized by human body, but in quantities that are not always sufficient. The level of synthesis depends on exposure to sunlight, so in winter and in polar areas it acts more like a vitamin, and in summer and in equatorial areas it acts less like a vitamin. So it's usually treated as a vitamin, but one that isn't required in some areas and seasons.
Vitamins A and K
Neither vitamin A nor vitamin K is a single chemical substance, but all derivatives fulfill the same functions in organisms (or are converted into the active form by the organism), so taking just one of the derivatives is sufficient for good health. The derivatives differ in chemical structure and level of activity.
Names
Some obsolete vitamin names:
- Vitamin B - actually a complex of several vitamins: B-number, H, and M.
- Vitamin G - another name for riboflavin (vitamin B2)
The usage of names in the format "vitamin letter" and "vitamin letter number" is diminishing.
This is especially true for vitamins H, M, B1, B2, B3, and B5, which are usually called by their proper chemical names.
On the other hand, vitamins D and E are still usually called by their symbolic names, and A and K don't even have proper chemical names (since they are mixtures of chemicals).
The names ascorbic acid and vitamin C are used with similar frequency.
Non-human vitamins
Different organisms need different trace organic substances. The list of vitamins in this article refers to humans. Most mammals need, with few exceptions, the same vitamins (except that most species don't need ascorbic acid). The further we go from mammals, the more diverse organisms' requirements become. For example, some bacteria need adenine.
See pharmacology.