Vitamins

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to highlight the significance of the presence of vitamins in a human body. There are thirteen different types of vitamins that are essential for the survival of a body. Each vitamin has its own importance, as a result physicians advise their patients to take multivitamin supplements. However, because of the processing and cooking of food products, it is found that the vitamin content reduces to less than twenty percent. For that reason, it is recommended to take vitamin supplements in order to fight against any deficiencies. Nevertheless, the presence of hypovitaminosis D, that is the deficiency in vitamin D results in increase in bone turnover and decrease in bone mass to states of impaired, and finally absent, mineralization with generalized osteomalacia. On the other hand, hypervitaminosis is produced by excessive intake of vitamin A and B. Excessive intake of supplements results in a misbalance of diet that could have a far reaching consequences leading to severe diseases and eventually death.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION1

DISCUSSION1

CLASSIFICATON1

HYPOVITAMINOSIS D2

HYPERVITAMINOSIS3

MULTIVITAMINS4

CONCLUSION5

REFERENCES7

Vitamins

Introduction

Nature has developed a process through which each and every body grows and develops substances known as vitamins. A body needs thirteen different kinds of vitamins such as, A, C, D, E, K and the B vitamins—thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12 and folate). These vitamins are produced through the food intake whereas Vitamin D and K can also be made by our body. Each and every vitamin plays an important role in formulating a healthy body (http://www.nlm.nih.gov). However, an individual having low levels of vitamin may develop deficiencies leading to long term diseases. On the other hand individuals taking excessive vitamin supplements can also damage the natural working of their body leading to severe diseases.

Discussion

Classification

Vitamin A is a prevailing antioxidant that has a critical role in the immune system of a body. The growth of hair and healthy skin can be gained by a balanced intake of the specified vitamin. Animal products such as milk, cheese, eggs, butter and fish oil contains Vitamin A (Worden, 2011). Additionally, it is found in a substance known as beta-crotene contained in orange and green vegetables, this in turn is by the body in to vitamin A. A balanced intake would prevent eye disorders, acne and facilitate in healing of wounds.

This is a complex vitamin that includes a group of substances including B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (nicotinic acid), B6 (puridoxine), B12 (cobalmin) and folic acid. Only a little amount of vitamin B1, B2 and B3 (Worden, 2011) is required by a body. However, B6 and B12 assist the body to utilize folic acid and play an important role in facilitating repairing of cells, digestion process and the production of energy in the immune system. The sources for vitamin B include animal products meat, poultry), yeast extracts and other animal products as well as brown rice, wheat germ and wholegrain cereals.

People who have a diet below the required level are prone to have lack of folic acid that results in ...