Search
Language
Vitamins distribution, sources and functions
Table of Contents
1. The distribution of vitamins
Vitamins are classified according to the physical properties of solubility: water-soluble vitamins: B1 (tiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B12 (cyanocobalamin), C (ascoric acid) biotin, folic acid; vitamin soluble in fats: A (retinol and its derivatives), D (cholecalciferol), E (tfopherol), K (philoquinone).2. Functions of vitamins
The concept of vitamin was introduced by Kazimierz Funk in 1911. The name is derived from the combination of the two words vita (life) and amina (a substance of basic nature). A Polish scientist discovered and named vitamin B1, valuable in the fight against berry-berry disease (a result of disorders in the breakdown of carbohydrates, affecting nerve and muscle tissue damage). This shows how important vitamins are for life and health.3. The sources of the vitamins
Vitamin K is found in green leafy vegetables and egg yolks. Full-grain, liver and yeast products are rich in vitamin B. Vitamin C with antioxidant properties can be found in citrus, red pepper and wild rice. Thanks to a varied, colorful diet, fresh products can provide all the nutrients necessary for the body (Taamin 1).4. Demand for vitamins
The body's demand for vitamins is very diverse. It is determined by physiological condition, age, sex and physical activity. As mentioned earlier, vitamins are among the substances that need to be supplied from the outside. However, under specific physiological conditions, the human body is able to synthesize several of them from pro-vitamins. These include vitamin A synthesized from carotenoids, vitamin D3 made from 7-dehydrocholesterol, vitamin PP as a derivative of tryptophan.5. Summary of knowledge on vitamins table
Table 2. Demand for vitamins, functions of vitamins in the body Developing own based on: Dietary norms for the population of Poland, ed. Jarosza M., Warsaw 2017. Although vitamins do not provide energy to the body and are not a building material, they are necessary for proper functioning. Monotonous diet, stress and excessive physical activity can lead to weakness of the body due to lack of adequate amounts of vitamin.
