Types of vitamins and their functions in the body
Vitamins are substances that the human body cannot make, but that it needs to carry out important biological functions. Types of vitamins and their functions
For this reason, vitamins , as well as minerals , must be incorporated into the body through the diet; hence the importance of choosing appropriate foods, rich in these components, especially to give to children in the first years of life, when their soft tissues and bones are still being formed. In the case of athletes, there is usually a higher vitamin demand due to the great physical effort they make. Pregnancy is also a critical period in which vitamin intake must be rigorously controlled.
The discovery of the role of vitamins came from the study of diseases that used to appear in individuals deprived of certain foods. These diseases are known today as avitaminosis or hipovitaminosis; among them scurvy, rickets, and pellagra are well known.
Types of vitamins
Vitamins have traditionally been classified according to their ability to dissolve in biological compartments, which are water (from serum) or fats (from adipose tissue and certain organs). All are designated by a letter or a letter plus a number, but they also have their own names. Types of vitamins and their functions
Water- soluble vitamins: are those that dissolve in water. Within this group we find nine vitamins. Being soluble in water, they need to be ingested on a regular basis, since they have no way of being stored and are permanently eliminated in the urine. Included here are the B complex vitamins, which are eight, and vitamin C. Types of vitamins and their functions
- Group B vitamins: These vitamins are present in foods such asfish, liver, brewer’s yeast, dairy products, whole grains and eggs. Also inleafy vegetables.
- B1 (thiamine): its deficiency produces diseases such as peripheral neuritis (inflammation of the nerves that are outside the brain) or beriberi
- B2 (riboflavin): important in body development, carbohydrate metabolism and in the formation of red blood cells.
- B3 (niacin): is the precursor of NAD (nicotinamide), which is involved in important oxidation-reduction reactions (redox). Its extreme deficiency leads to pellagra, a disease that affects the skin, the digestive system and the nervous system.
- B5 (pantothenic acid): it is required for the correct assimilation of carbohydrates, proteins and fats; its lack produces a decrease in the natural defenses to fight infections, also hemorrhages, weakness and dizziness. It is found in almost all foods (especially those of animal origin) and also intestinal bacteria can synthesize it, so its deficiency is quite rare Types of vitamins and their functions
- B6 (pyridoxine): necessary for the synthesis of hemoglobin; It is also involved in the metabolism of steroid hormones and in the synthesis of several neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine or gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA).
- B8 (biotin): can only be synthesized by bacteria , yeasts, fungi, algae and some plant species. It is essential for growth and development. Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency include hair loss, scaly rashes around the eyes or nose, lethargy, hallucinations, and numbness or tingling in the extremities.
- B9 (Folic Acid): Found in green leafy vegetables, orange juice, and enriched flours or grains. Very important in the first months of pregnancy, its deficiency can cause serious defects of the unborn baby’s neural tube.
- B12 (cyanocobalamin): contributes to the formation of red blood cells, prevents tiredness and fatigue. It is necessary for growth. It is present in the viscera (liver, kidneys), in eggs, in dairy products. Vegetables are poor in this vitamin.
- Vitamin C (ascorbic acid): found in raw fruits and vegetables; it is a substance sensitive to oxygen and light, so it must be consumed immediately to exert its recognized antioxidant effect. It intervenes in the formation of collagen and is required for healing, among other functions. Its deficiency gives rise to a pathology called scurvy, which is why it is also called antiscorbutic vitamin.
Fat- soluble vitamins : are those that dissolve in the body’s fatty elements. These can remain in reserve in the fatty tissues of the body, so only these could accumulate to toxic levels. They are the following:
- A (retinol): Found in milk, egg yolks, and various vegetables; its insufficiency is the cause of eye disorders that can be serious. It also participates in the keratinization of the skin and bone growth. Types of vitamins and their functions
- D (calciferol): it is also known as the antirachitic vitamin, because it is involved in the absorption of calcium and in the correct formation of bones, or as the sun vitamin, because it is ingested as a provitamin and the body transforms it into an active vitamin when exposed to solar radiation. This vitamin prevents the onset of diseases such as osteoporosis and protects against bone fractures. It is also important for dental health. It is found in milk and eggs, also in other foods.
- E (tocopherol): Cereals and dried fruits (walnuts, hazelnuts) contain this vitamin, as well as leafy vegetables, dairy products and eggs. Lack of vitamin E can cause neurological and reproductive disorders. It stimulates the immune system.
- K (phytomenadione): it is present in various leafy vegetables (cabbage, cauliflower, spinach), also in cereals and in dairy products. It is essential for blood coagulation processes, so that hemorrhages do not occur.
Classification of Vitamins
Water soluble |
Fat soluble |
| Vitamin B1→ Thiamine Vitamin B2→ Riboflavin Vitamin B3→ Nicotinamide /Niacin Vitamin B5→ Pantothenic acid Vitamin B6→ Pyridoxine , Pyridoxamine and pyridoxal Vitamin H, Vitamin B7 or Vitamin B8→ Biotin Vitamin B9 or Vitamin M→ Folic acid Vitamin B12→ Cobalamin , Cyanocobalamin Vitamin C→ Ascorbic Acid |
Vitamin A→ Retinol Vitamin D→ Calciferol Vitamin E→ Tocopherol Vitamin K Types of vitamins and their functions |
Fat-soluble vitamins Types of vitamins and their functions
Fat-soluble vitamins are more stable and resistant to the effects of oxidation, heat, light, acidity and alkalinity than water-soluble vitamins. Its functions, food sources and consequences of its deficiency are listed in the following table:
| Vitamin | Functions | Sources | Consequences of disability |
|---|---|---|---|
| A (retinol) | Maintaining healthy vision Differentiation of epithelial cells |
Liver, egg yolk, milk, carrots, sweet potato, pumpkin, apricot, melon, spinach and broccoli | Blindness or night blindness, throat irritation, sinusitis, ear and mouth abscesses, dryness of the eyelids |
| D (ergocalciferol and cholecalciferol) | Increases intestinal calcium absorption
Stimulates the production of bone cells Decreases the excretion of calcium in the urine |
Milk, cod liver oil, herring, sardines and salmon Sunlight (responsible for activating vitamin D) |
Knee varus, knee valgus, skull deformation, tetany in infants, bone fragility |
| E (tocopherol) | antioxidant | Vegetable oils, whole grains, green leafy vegetables and nuts | Neurological problems and anemia in premature babies |
| K | Contributes to the formation of clotting factors
Helps vitamin D synthesize a regulatory protein in bones |
Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and spinach | Prolongation of clotting time |
Water-soluble vitamins Types of vitamins and their functions
Water-soluble vitamins have the ability to dissolve in water and are less stable than fat-soluble vitamins. The following table lists the water-soluble vitamins, their food sources and the consequences of a deficiency in these vitamins:
| Vitamin | Functions | Sources | Consequences of disability |
|---|---|---|---|
| C (ascorbic acid) | collagen formation
antioxidant iron absorption |
Fruit and fruit juices, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, green and red peppers, melon, strawberry, kiwi and papaya | Bleeding of mucous membranes, inadequate wound healing, softening of bone ends, and weakening and loss of teeth |
| B1 (thiamine) | Carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism | Pork, beans, wheat germ and fortified cereals | Anorexia, weight loss, muscle weakness, peripheral neuropathy, heart failure, and Wernicke’s encephalopathy |
| B2 (riboflavin) | Protein metabolism | Milk and dairy products, eggs, meat (especially liver) and fortified cereals | Lip and mouth lesions, seborrheic dermatitis, and normocytic normochromic anemia |
| B3 (niacin) | Production of energy Synthesis of fatty acids and steroid hormones |
Chicken breast, liver, tuna, other meats, fish and poultry, whole grains, coffee and tea | Symmetrical bilateral dermatitis on the face, neck, hands and feet, diarrhea and dementia |
| B6 (pyridoxine) | Amino Acid Metabolism | Beef, salmon, chicken breast, whole grains, fortified cereals, bananas and nuts | Mouth sores, drowsiness, fatigue, microcytic hypochromic anemia, and seizures in newborns |
| B9 (folic acid) | DNA formation
Formation of blood, intestinal and fetal tissue cells |
Liver, beans, lentils, wheat germ, peanuts, asparagus, lettuce, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and spinach | Fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, palpitations, and megaloblastic anemia |
| B12 (cyanocobalamin) | DNA and RNA synthesis
Amino acid and fatty acid metabolism Synthesis and maintenance of myelin |
Meat, fish, poultry, milk, cheese, eggs, nutritional yeast, soy milk and fortified tofu | Fatigue, pallor, shortness of breath, palpitations, megaloblastic anemia, loss of sensation and tingling of the extremities, locomotion abnormalities, memory loss and dementia |
Function of vitamins in the body
Vitamins are substances that help in the functioning of the metabolic processes of the human body. Without them, the body suffers failures that lead to muscular, neurological and vision problems, for example. Types of vitamins and their functions
Unfortunately, the body does not have the ability to synthesize them, requiring them to be obtained from external sources such as food.
Find out below the main functions of each vitamin and where they can be found.
Vitamin A
Function: healthy vision
Where it is found: broccoli, melon, spinach, carrots, sweet potatoes, milk and egg yolks
Vitamin D Types of vitamins and their functions
Function: increased calcium absorption by the intestine, energy, stimulation of bone cell production
Where Found: Sunlight, Sardines, Salmon, Herring, Milk
Vitamin E Types of vitamins and their functions
Function: Antioxidant
Where Found: Whole Grains, Nuts, Vegetable Oils and Leafy Greens
Vitamin C Types of vitamins and their functions
Function: Antioxidant, Iron Absorption, Collagen Formation
Where Found: broccoli, green and red peppers, melons, papaya and citrus fruits
Vitamin B2
Function: protein metabolism
Where it is found: red meats, eggs, milk and dairy products
Vitamin B12 Types of vitamins and their functions
Function: metabolization of amino acids and fatty acids, synthesis of DNA, RNA and myelin. Types of vitamins and their functions
Where found: meat, fish, poultry, eggs and animal milk