Vitamins are organic molecules that provide essential micronutrients to the human body. Since the body cannot produce these substances, they must obtain from the diet. Fortunately, they are easy to obtain from a variety of sources. Read on to discover more about the functions and sources of vitamins. You’ll feel more confident about your choices for healthy living.
Water-soluble
Water-soluble vitamins easily absorb by the body. Because they are water-soluble, they do not need to store in large quantities. Excess amounts are removed from the body by the kidneys. Therefore, you need to replace them regularly to ensure optimal health. Water-soluble vitamins are important for the immune system. Some are essential for energy production, such as thiamin and riboflavin. Others have key roles in building and metabolizing proteins, like biotin.
Water-soluble vitamins easily absorb into tissues and are not store in the body like fat-soluble vitamins. Excess amounts of water-soluble vitamins excrete in the urine and rarely accumulate to toxic levels. Some examples of water-soluble vitamins include vitamin C, vitamin B1, and vitamin B complex vitamins. They are essential for body growth and metabolism, and they also play important roles in the nervous system. Vitamin B2 promotes healthy skin and is essential for the conversion of amino acids tryptophan to niacin.
Vitamin D is one of the most important vitamins, but it is essential to consult your health care provider before taking it. Excessive amounts of vitamin D can cause birth defects, blurred vision, and problems with the heart and liver. To prevent these health problems, you should take your daily dose in the recommended amount.
Other examples of water-soluble vitamins are ascorbic acid, thiamin, riboflavin, folacin, vitamin B12, biotin, and pantothenic acid. Vitamin C is active in two forms: L-ascorbic acid (L-ascorbic acid) and dehydroascorbic acid (D-ascorbic acid). It functions mainly as a cofactor of an enzyme that hydroxylates prolyl residues to form connective tissue proteins. It also maintains the body’s 1.5 g pool of protein, which is sufficient to prevent scurvy.
Vitamin D is important for healthy teeth, bones, and gums, while Vitamin E promotes the absorption of phosphorous and calcium and helps to keep red blood cells healthy and fights infections. Vitamin K aids in blood clotting and bone health. Both vitamin D and E are the most easily recognizable vitamins, but other vitamins may be necessary for a healthy life. Remember to consult your doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements, as some vitamins interact with medications or complicate existing health conditions.
Chemical names
Vitamins are chemical compounds with different functions. The names of these nutrients are, derived from Greek. Vitamin A is water-soluble, but it is also available as retinol and found in oranges and ripe yellow fruits. Vitamin B1 is also water-soluble and found in liver, cashew nuts, and avocados. Meanwhile, vitamin D, is fat-soluble and can be found in cod liver oil, fish, and cereals.
Vitamins are essential for proper growth and development and can be found in many foods, including milk, seeds, and meat. Their importance was first recognized in the early twentieth century, when an English biochemist named Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins was awarded the Nobel Prize for identifying the various vitamins in nature. For more information, check out our articles about vitamins and their uses.
Vitamins are organic compounds present in natural foods. The body needs them for normal metabolism. Some are fat-soluble and some are water-soluble. The body can store fat-soluble vitamins in fatty tissue, but only four are water-soluble. Vitamin A is a compound that includes retinol and four other compounds called carotenoids.
Vitamin B is the water-soluble counterpart of vitamin A. It is, derived from the word “vital amine” and was, coined in 1912. The term “vitamin” originally referred to thiamine, a form of vitamin B. Vitamin B was later discovered as a two-part substance, and was given the names B1 and B2, respectively. Eventually, all vitamins had chemical names that made sense.
There are thirteen, recognised vitamins in the alphabet, including vitamins A to E and a range of B vitamins. Until recently, these nutrients were group into different families. Vitamin Bs originally considered a single vitamin, but later research revealed that they are not all essential to human consumption. For this reason, it is important to know the difference between vitamin names.
Functions
Vitamins are essential micronutrients that cannot synthesize by the body and must obtain through food. They perform many important functions in the body, including regulating cell growth and tissue metabolism. Vitamins also serve as cofactors for enzymes and act as antioxidants. Although vitamins are essential for human health, they must consume in smaller quantities than other nutrients.
Vitamin D exerts its function by binding to membrane and nuclear receptors. It activates the nuclear receptor, which regulates muscle growth and proliferation. It also regulates intracellular and extracellular ion levels and stimulates PTH secretion. In addition, it inhibits the expression of myostatin, a negative regulator of muscle mass.
Sources
Sources of vitamins A, C, and E are, found in a wide variety of foods. Among the fruits and vegetables, carrots were the most common source of vitamin A. According to the study, carrots provide nearly one-quarter of the recommended daily intake of vitamin A. Oranges and bananas also contribute significant amounts to vitamin A intake. Fruit juices also make up a large portion of the fruit and vegetable consumption.
Vitamin A can found in orange, yellow, and green vegetables. Liver products also contain vitamin A, but in high quantities they can cause harm to the unborn child, so it is not recommended to consume too much liver while pregnant. Vitamins B1 and B2 are essential for the body, while vitamin B12 is important for the immune system and cell repair.
Vitamin D is also, found in food and is an essential part of a healthy diet also found naturally in sunlight, but you can also get it from fortified plant products. It is also present in sunflower seeds, whole grains, and nuts. It is also, found in animal products such as milk, meat, and eggs.
Vitamins can also synthesize in the body. Certain vitamins convert from a precursor substance into an active form by the intestinal bacteria. These include vitamin A, vitamin D, and niacin. Some of these vitamins produce within the body by the body from foods, but the efficiency of this process varies.
