BIOLOGY FROM 4 SCIENCE

CHAPTER 1 : NUTRITION

VITAMINS

Vitamins are organic substance required in minute quantity or amount for the proper functioning of the body. Vitamin are essential in metabolic processes and also form parts of enzymes systems. However, they different from enzymes in that they are not synthesized in the body they are therefore only taken in food.

There are several types of vitamins which are classified other two main groups whose on their solubility.

1)Water soluble vitamins eg complex vitamns and vitamin C

2) Fat soluble vitamins eg vitamin A,D,E,K

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FAT SOLUBLE AND WATER SOLUBLE

Fat soluble vitamins	Water soluble vitamins
Absorb in the lymph and go to blood	Absorb directly into blood
Many require protein carrier for transportation	Travel’s freely
Less readily excreted bend to romain in fat storage sites	Kidney detect and move excess urine
Likely to reach toxic level when consumed from supplement	Possible to reach toxic levels when consumed from supplement
Needed in periodic doses(week)	Needed in frequent doses(1-3 days)
Toxic	Non-Toxic

Vitamin	Origination	Function
Vitamin A(Retinol)	Ingested to precursor form found in animal sources such as milk and egg, carrot	Growth and development reproduction and vision
Vitamin B6	Chic peas, fruits, potatoes, salmon,funa	Immune function Nervous system function Red blood cell formation
Vitamin B12	Eggs,meat,Poultry,fortified cereals,sea food	Conversion of food into energy. Nervous system function
Vitamin C	Brocolli, Pepper, strawberries,tomatoes, kiwi,fruits,citruis	Unti oxidant Collagen and connective tissues formation Immune function
Vitamin D	Eggs,fish,fortified cereals fortified, magurine fortified,orange,juice	Bone growth Calcium balance Blood pressure regulation
Vitamin K	Green vegetables,collard	Blood clotting Strong bones
Vitamin E	Nuts and seed vegetables oil peanut and peanut butter	Formation of blood vessels Immune function

par Claude Foumtum

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