Water Soluble Vitamins in Clinical Chemistry

Water Soluble Vitamins

Vitamin B Complex

• Composed of: Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), Pantothenic acid (B5), Pyridoxine (B6), Biotin (B7), Folic acid (B9), and Cobalamine (B12)
• All Vitamin B complexes are coenzymes

Energy Releasing Vitamins

• Thiamine (B1)
• Riboflavin (B2)
• Niacin (B3)
• Biotin (B7)
• Pantothenic acid (B5)

Hematobiotic Vitamins

• Folic acid (B9)
• Cobalamine (B12)

Others

• Pyridoxine (B6)

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

• Key role in carbohydrate metabolism
• Acts as a coenzyme
• Helps convert carbohydrates, fats, and protein into energy
• Plays a role in the nervous system and good brain function
• Deficiency leads to Beriberi, which can affect the cardiovascular system or central nervous system
• Deficiency symptoms: mental problems, weak muscles, and cardiovascular symptoms

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)

• Plays a vital role in maintaining the body's energy supply
• Helps break down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates
• Contributes to the production of ATP
• Biologically active forms: Flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and Flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)
• Functions:
  • Converting tryptophan into niacin
  • Keeping eyes, nerves, muscles, skin, and liver healthy
  • Absorbing and activating iron, folic acid, and vitamins B1, B3, and B6
  • Hormone production by the adrenal glands
• Deficiency: Ariboflavinosis, characterized by:
  • Angular cheilitis
  • Inflammation of the lining of the mouth and tongue
  • Mouth ulcers
  • Sore throat
  • Iron-deficiency anemia

Vitamin B3 (Niacin)

• Forms: Nicotinic acid and nicotinamide
• Can be synthesized in the body from tryptophan
• Functions:
  • Precursor for coenzymes NAD and NADP in oxidation-reduction reactions
  • Converts nutrients into energy, creates cholesterol and fats, and exerts antioxidant effects
• Deficiency: Pellagra, characterized by:
  • Dark, scaly rash on skin exposed to sunlight
  • Bright redness of the tongue
  • Constipation/diarrhea

Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)

• Part of Coenzyme A, essential for energy metabolism
• Helps produce ATP from carbohydrate, protein, and fat breakdown
• Functions:
  • Helps produce antibody
  • Helps in the production of cortisol
  • Formation of Acetylcholine and epinephrine
• Deficiency: Rare, but can cause numbness and burning of hands and feet, headache, extreme tiredness, and gastrointestinal symptoms

Vitamin B6

• Acts as a precursor for coenzyme pyridoxal phosphate (PLP)
• Important in amino acid and glycogen metabolism
• Supports immune function and brain health
• Used as an anti-emetic drug
• Deficiency: Impaired immune function and neurological symptoms

Vitamin B9 (Folic acid)

• Essential for one-carbon metabolism and biosynthesis of several compounds
• Need increases during pregnancy and cell multiplication
• Function: Essential for the production of DNA and RNA
• Deficiency: Megaloblastic anemia and neural tube defects

Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)

• Important for maintaining healthy nerve cells
• Helps in the production of DNA and RNA
• Works closely with vitamin B9 to help make red blood cells and iron function
• Deficiency: Pernicious anemia and neurological problems

Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)

• Active form: Ascorbic acid
• Humans cannot synthesize vitamin C and must obtain it from an external supply
• Function:
  • Synthesis of collagen, the principal tissue protein
  • Acts as an antioxidant
• Deficiency: Scurvy, characterized by skin changes, bleeding gums, tooth loss, fragile blood capillaries, and bone fracture

This quiz covers the classification and functions of water soluble vitamins, including Vitamin B complex and Vitamin C. It's a part of clinical chemistry lectures by Dr. Wael Sobhy Darwish.