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Vitamins are a group of 13 chemical compounds which are needed in limited amount by the body but is a vital nutrient without which the body fails to work metabolically. Deficiency of these vitamins leads to various diseases. In today's hectic life where there isn't enough time to cook and eat proper food, the necessary intake of vitamins is being withheld. Thus the need for dietary supplements especially vitamin supplements has become a stark reality. This also brings to light the necessity to describe which vitamins are needed, why they are needed, in what quantity are they needed and so on. This article acts as a one stop solution for all your vitamin supplement related queries.

Types of Vitamins:

Fat Soluble:

These vitamins are lipid soluble or fat soluble and are thus stored in fat cells(adipocytes).They include vitamins (A,D,E and K). Thus you usually don't become deficient in these vitamins but are more prone to have excess or toxic overcapacity of these vitamins.

Water Soluble:

All other vitamins which are not fat soluble are water soluble. These vitamins are absorbed into the water present in blood and easily circulates into cells. They need to be replenished more often through a balanced diet or vitamin supplements and can also be tolerated by the body in larger quantities without being toxic.

 

Vitamin Guide:

• Vitamin A

It is best known for its help in maintaining our vision but this vitamin also plays a crucial role in blood cell synthesis, bone regeneration .

Chemical Name: Retinol, retinal and four betacarotenes

Recommended dietary allowances(RAD): 900micrograms

Deficiency Disease: The different deficiency diseases include night blindness, hyperkeratosis and also keratomalacia. All of them are different diseases of the eye.

 

• Vitamin B1

It helps maintain healthy skin , muscles and brain.

Chemical Name: Thiamine

Recommended dietary allowances(RAD): 1.2milligram

Deficiency Disease: The most common disease is Beri Beri.

 

• Vitamin B2

It is involved in the absorption of iron into the blood via the intestines.

Chemical Name: Riboflavin

Recommended dietary allowances(RAD): 1.3 milligram

Deficiency Disease: Angular stomatitis is a deficiency disease seen in case of deficiency of vitamin B2.

 

• Vitamin B3

It plays the most important role with regards to health of skin, hair, nervous system and eyes

Chemical Name: Niacin

Recommended dietary allowances(RAD): 16 milligram

Deficiency Disease: Pellagra is caused by vitamin B3 deficiency.

 

• Vitamin B5

It is involved in RBC synthesis, production of steroid hormones.

Chemical Name: Panthothenic acid

Recommended dietary allowances(RAD): 5 milligram

Deficiency Disease: Paresthesia is seen as a disease here.

 

• Vitamin B6

It plays an important role in the production of the hormone serotonin which plays a vital role in sleep, appetite and also mood.

Chemical Name: Pyridoxine

Recommended dietary allowances(RAD): 1.3-1.7 milligram

Deficiency Disease: Anemia as well as peripheral neuropathy is seen as a disorder in this case.

 

• Vitamin B7

Chemical Name: Biotin

Recommended dietary allowances(RAD): 30 micrograms

Deficiency Disease: Dermatitis is a disorder seen here

 

• Vitamin B9

Chemical Name: Folic Acid

Recommended dietary allowances(RAD): 400 micrograms

Deficiency Disease: Anemia is prevalent in these patients.

 

• Vitamin B12

It helps the metabolism of amino acids as well as fatty acids.

Chemical Name: Cyanocobalamin

Recommended dietary allowances(RAD): 2.4 micrograms

Deficiency Disease: Again anemia is a leading disease seen here

 

• Vitamin C

It plays a major role in wound repair and synthesis of the protein collagen.

Chemical Name: Ascorbic Acid

Recommended dietary allowances(RAD): 90 milligrams

Deficiency Disease: Scurvy is a common disease.

 

• Vitamin D

It is said to have multiple roles which include functions related to the immune system.

Chemical Name: Ergocalciferol

Recommended dietary allowances(RAD): 10 micrograms

Deficiency Disease: Bone defect known as Rickets is seen.

 

• Vitamin E

It is an antioxidant and plays a vital role in battling and cleansing the body of free radicals.

Chemical Name: Tocopherols

Recommended dietary allowances(RAD):15 milligrams

Deficiency Disease: It is usually never deficient but if found so it seen to cause sterility problems in males and abortions I the case of females.

 

• Vitamin K

It is essential with regards to wound healing.

Chemical Name: Phylloquinone

Recommended dietary allowances(RAD): 120 micrograms

Deficiency Disease: Bleeding diathesis is a common disease in case of deficiency of vitamin K.

Considering the lifestyle habits we have inculcated we can conclude that to maintain a life free from deficiency diseases it is necessary that we have a healthy dose of vitamin supplements.