What are vitamins?
Vitamin A is an organic (carbon-containing) chemical compound that your body needs in small amounts for normal growth, metabolism (producing energy in your cells) and health. Vitamins are needed to make enzymes and hormones, which are important substances that the human body uses to carry out all the chemical reactions it needs to survive. There is no way your body can make vitamin molecules by itself, so the vitamin molecules must come through the food you eat. Most of us get enough vitamins from our diet, but some may need to take a vitamin supplement because persistent deficiency of the vitamin can lead to health, weakness and disease.
The body needs at least 13 types of vitamins to function properly: Vitamin A - retinol; Vitamin B complex (B1 - thiamine; B2 - riboflavin; B3 - niacin; B6 - pyridoxine; B12 - cyanocobalamin; B9 - folic acid; B5 - pantothenic acid; H - biotin); Vitamin C - ascorbic acid; Vitamin D - Calciferous (can be obtained from sunlight); Vitamin E - tocopherol; Vitamin K
There are two types of vitamins: *** soluble and water-soluble.
*** Soluble vitamins
Vitamins A, E, D and K *** - soluble, they are soluble in *** but not in water. Once these vitamins are absorbed in the body, they are mostly stored in adipose tissue and the liver. *** - Soluble vitamins are stored in your body for up to six months. The liver provides the primary storage tissue for vitamins A and D. vitamin E is mainly stored in the body *** and to some extent in the reproductive organs. Relatively low vitamin K is stored. When you need these vitamins, your body does without, storing them for use.
Since you can store these vitamins, you do not need to supply them every day. However, eating undigested fats or oils can lead to a deficiency of *** - soluble vitamins. On the other hand, high intake of these vitamins, especially vitamins A and D can lead to toxic levels in the body and cause problems.
Vitamin A (retinol)
Vitamin A, also known as retinol, is a *** - soluble vitamin that performs many functions in the body. It helps the eyes adjust to light changes, plays an important role in growth, tooth development, reproduction, cell division and genetic expression. Vitamin A helps control the immune system, which helps prevent or fight infection by making white blood cells that kill harmful bacteria and viruses. Also, the skin of the mouth, nose, throat and lungs, eyes and mucous membranes depend on vitamin A to stay moist.
Symptoms of vitamin A deficiency include night blindness, dry scaly skin, low resistance to infection, tooth decay, slow **** growth, gall and kidney stones, sinus problems, poor digestion, and ear tumors.
Excessive alcohol intake reduces vitamin A reserves. Dietary sources of vitamin A: liver, butter, whole milk, cottage cheese, egg yolks. Food sources for vitamin A: Carrots, leafy vegetables, sweet potatoes, zucchini, winter squash, apricots, cantaloupe.
Vitamin D (Calciferous)
Vitamin D is a *** soluble vitamin found in food and is also produced in your body after exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. Sunlight is an important source of vitamin D because UV rays from sunlight stimulate the synthesis of vitamin D in the skin.
Vitamin D plays an important role in the body's calcium and phosphorus consumption. It increases the amount of calcium absorbed from the small intestine and helps build and maintain bones. **** vitamin D works in conjunction with other vitamins, minerals and hormones to promote mineralization. Without vitamin D, bones can become thin, brittle or deformed. Children especially need adequate amounts of vitamin D to develop strong bones and healthy teeth.
Vitamin D deficiency can cause rickets and brittle bones, bent legs, elbow and wrist joints ************* as well as muscle cramps and muscle aches.
In general depression, abnormalities can occur as a result of high amounts of vitamin D.
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