Vitamins Explained: Definition, Composition, and Classification Made Simple

Vitamins Explained: Definition, Composition, and Classification Made Simple

Define and classify vitamins.
Answer.

Definition Of Vitamins

• Vitamins are defined as organic compounds occurring in natural foods, which are required in minute amounts for normal growth, maintenance and reproduction
• Chemically they were found to be amines and they were vital to life, hence Funk named them “vitamins”

Classification Of Vitamins

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Fat-soluble Vitamins

• Vitamin A, D,E and K are known as fat or lipid – soluble vitamins.
• Their availability in the diet, absorption and transport are associated with fat.
• They are soluble in fats and oils, and also in  the fat solvents (alcohol, acetone, etc.) They are stored in the liver and adipose tissue.

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They are not readily excreted in urine. But with feces via the enterohepatic circulation
Excess consumption may lead to accumulation and toxic effects.

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Water Soluble Vitamins

• Heterogeneous group of compounds since they differ chemically from each other.
• Common character – solubility in water.
• Readily excreted in urine and not toxic to body.
• Not stored in large quantities in the body (except vitamin B12).

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Classification and chemical nature of vitamins

• Stores depleted within weeks and deficiency symptoms results.
• Hence need to be continuously supplied through the diet.