Vitamins Classification: Fat Soluble Vitamins

Classification of Vitamins

• Vitamins are classified into two categories: Fat Soluble Vitamins and Water Soluble Vitamins

Fat Soluble Vitamins

• Vitamin A is derived from plant carotenoids and has three active forms: Retinol, Retinal, and Retinoic acid
• Vitamin A is essential for the synthesis of glycoproteins, regulation of cell growth, and iron transport protein transferrin synthesis
• Deficiency of vitamin A leads to drying of epithelial tissues, hyperkeratosis, and anemia
• Vitamin D synthesis requires sunlight exposure
• Vitamin D deficiency leads to nutritional rickets (in children) and osteomalacia (in adults)
• Vitamin E is a naturally occurring antioxidant that refers to a family of 8 related compounds, with Tocopherol being the most active
• Vitamin E is essential for stabilizing ATP production, preventing atherosclerosis, and maintaining normal immune function
• Deficiency of vitamin E leads to neurological symptoms and increased susceptibility to infection and cancer
• Vitamin K is a Quinone derivative that helps in blood clotting and bone metabolism
• Deficiency of vitamin K leads to hypoprothrombinemia and hemorrhagic disease in newborns

Water Soluble Vitamins

• Water soluble vitamins are excreted once their concentration is high, making toxicities rare
• Deficiencies of water soluble vitamins occur relatively quickly on an inadequate diet
• Water soluble vitamins are converted to coenzymes used in pathways for energy generation or hematopoiesis

Folic Acid

• Folic acid deficiency can occur due to poor diet, chronic alcoholism, inadequate absorption, or increased demand during pregnancy or lactation
• Folic acid deficiency leads to megaloblastic anemia, characterized by weakness, tiredness, irritability, and headache
• Deficiency symptoms of folic acid include anemia, smooth red tongue, mental confusion, weakness, fatigue, and irritability
• Toxicity symptoms of folic acid include masking vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms and an increased risk of neural tube defects

Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)

• Vitamin B12 is required for two reactions: conversion of methylmalonyl-CoA to succinyl-CoA and the methionine synthase reaction
• Deficiency symptoms of vitamin B12 include pernicious anemia, megaloblastic anemia, and neuropathy
• Deficiency of vitamin B12 leads to accumulation of methylmalonyl-CoA, which causes neuropathy

Other Water Soluble Vitamins

• Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) is a cofactor for mixed function oxidases involved in the hydroxylation of lysine and proline

• Deficiency of vitamin C leads to scurvy, characterized by bleeding gums, swelling joints, and impaired wound healing

• Vitamin C is required for normal leukocyte function and histamine level decrease, making it recommended for the prevention of cold

• Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) is a coenzyme for transamination, deamination, decarboxylation, and condensation reactions

• Deficiency of pyridoxine leads to poor activity of PLP-dependent enzymes, causing deficient amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, and neurotransmitter synthesis

• Deficiency symptoms of pyridoxine include irritability, nervousness, depression, peripheral neuropathy, and convulsions

• Biotin (Vitamin B7) is part of a coenzyme used in energy metabolism, fat synthesis, amino acid metabolism, and glycogen synthesis

• Deficiency symptoms of biotin include depression, lethargy, hallucinations, numb or tingling sensation in the arms and legs, and hair loss

• Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) is part of coenzyme A, used in energy metabolism

• Deficiency symptoms of pantothenic acid include vomiting, nausea, stomach cramps, insomnia, fatigue, depression, and irritability

Explore the classification of vitamins, focusing on fat soluble vitamins, particularly vitamin A, its active forms, and its importance in growth regulation and mucus secretion.