Question

Different types of Vitamins are: ...

Fat soluble Vitamins are: ...

Niacin is the chemical name of which Vitamin? ...

Name the Vitamin that protects us from Pellagra disease? ...

Retinol is the scientific name of which Vitamin? ...

Vitamin C is present in: ...

Vitamin A was discovered in which year?

Answer 1

Vitamins are organic compounds that are required in small amounts in our diet but

their deficiency causes specific diseases.

 Most of the vitamins cannot be synthesized in our body but plants can synthesize

almost all of them, so they are considered as essential food factors.

However, the bacteria of the gut can produce some of the vitamins required by us.

 All the vitamins are generally available in our diet. Different vitamins belong to

various chemical classes and it is difficult to define them on the basis of structure.

 They are generally regarded as organic compounds required in the diet in small

amounts to perform specific biological functions for normal maintenance of

optimum growth and health of the organism.

 Vitamins are designated by alphabets A, B, C, D, etc. Some of them are further

named as sub-groups e.g. B1, B2, B6, B12, etc.

 Vitamin A keeps our skin and eyes healthy.

 Vitamin C helps body to fight against many diseases. Vitamin C gets easily destroyed

by heat during cooking.

 Vitamin D helps our body to use calcium for bones and teeth.

 Excess of vitamins is also harmful and vitamin pills should not be taken without the

advice of doctor.

 The term “Vitamine” was coined from the word vital + amine since the earlier

identified compounds had amino groups.

 Later work showed that most of them did not contain amino groups, so the letter ‘e’

was dropped and the term vitamin is used these days.

 Vitamins are classified into two groups depending upon their solubility in water or

fat.

Fat soluble vitamins

 Vitamins which are soluble in fat and oils but insoluble in water are kept in this

group. These are vitamins A, D, E and K. They are stored in liver and adipose (fat

storing) tissues.

Water soluble vitamins

 B group vitamins and vitamin C are soluble in water so they are grouped together.

 Water soluble vitamins must be supplied regularly in diet because they are readily

excreted in urine and cannot be stored (except vitamin B12) in our body.