Function of Vitamins

Function of Vitamins: A vitamin is an organic molecule (or a group of molecules that are chemically closely related, i.e. vitamers) that is an essential micronutrient that an organism requires in small amounts for the proper functioning of its metabolism. Because essential nutrients cannot be synthesised in the body, either totally or in adequate amounts, they must be received through diet. Vitamin C can be synthesised by certain species but not by others; it is not a vitamin in the first case but is in the second. The term vitamin excludes the three other essential nutrient groups: minerals, essential fatty acids, and essential amino acids. Most vitamins are composed of groups of related molecules known as vitamers rather than single molecules. Vitamin E, for example, has eight vitamers: four tocopherols and four tocotrienols. Some sources list fourteen vitamins, including choline, but major health organisations list thirteen: vitamin A (as all-trans-retinol, all-trans-retinyl-esters, as well as all-trans-beta-carotene and another provitamin A carotenoids), vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (pyr (phylloquinone and menaquinones). Vitamins perform a variety of biochemical functions. Vitamin A acts as a growth and differentiation regulator in cells and tissues. Vitamin D has a hormone-like function in that it regulates mineral metabolism in bones and other organs. The B complex vitamins act as enzyme cofactors (coenzymes) or as their precursors. Antioxidants are vitamins C and E. A vitamin deficiency or excess intake can both cause clinically significant illness, though excess intake of water-soluble vitamins is less likely to do so.

Function of Vitamins are divided into two categories: water-soluble and fat-soluble. Humans have 13 vitamins: four fat-soluble (A, D, E, and K) and nine water-soluble (B, C, D, E, and K) (8 B vitamins and vitamin C). Water-soluble vitamins are easily dissolved in water and expelled from the body in general, to the point where urine output is a good indicator of vitamin intake. Because they are not as easily stored, they must be consumed on a more consistent basis. With the help of lipids, fat-soluble vitamins are absorbed through the intestinal tract (fats). Vitamins A and D can build up in the body, causing dangerous hypervitaminosis. Malabsorption of fat-soluble vitamins is especially important in cystic fibrosis.

Overview: Function of Vitamins

Vitamins are chemical molecules that are needed in little amounts by humans. The body does not manufacture or produces only a limited amount of most vitamins, thus they must be taken through food. Each organism necessitates a unique set of vitamins. Humans, for example, require vitamin C from their diets, whereas dogs can produce all of the vitamin C they require. Vitamin D is not available in sufficient quantities in food for humans. When exposed to sunlight, the human body synthesizes the vitamins, making it the best source of vitamin D. Different vitamins serve different functions in the body, and each vitamin requires a different amount to keep a person healthy. Vitamins are organic compounds found in natural foods in trace amounts. A lack of any vitamin may increase the risk of developing certain health problems. A vitamin is an organic compound, which means it has carbon in it. It is also a necessary nutrient that the body may require from food.

Because most vitamins are obtained from food, they are classified as ‘essential.’ Vitamins are team players in that they help other nutrients work better. For example, vitamin D improves calcium absorption, vitamin C is required for iron absorption, and B vitamins work together in cells. Because only vitamins A, E, and B12 are stored to any significant extent in your body, it is critical to consume most vitamins on a regular basis. You can easily meet your daily vitamins requirements by eating foods from the four major food groups:

• Fruits and vegetables
• Foods made from grains
• Milk and milk products are a category of foods that include legumes, nuts, seeds, fish and other seafood, eggs, poultry, and/or red meat that has had the fat removed.

Function of vitamins

Different vitamins have different functions based on their role in biological processes and their effect; their function is best understood by understanding their deficiency diseases. The following is a list of vitamins and diseases associated with their deficiency:

• Vitamin A causes corneal hardening and night blindness.
• Vitamin B1 deficiency can result in beriberi and dwarfism.
• Vitamin B2 deficiency can result in digestive problems, skin burning sensations, and cheilosis.
• Vitamin B6 deficiency results in convulsions, conjunctivitis, and, in some cases, neurological disorders.
• Vitamin B12 deficiency can result in pernicious anaemia and a decrease in red blood cells and haemoglobin levels.
• Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin whose deficiency causes gum bleeding and scurvy.

Our bodies manufacture vitamin D when we are exposed to sunlight. Its deficiency causes abnormal bone growth, soft bones in children, and rickets.

Vitamin E deficiency causes muscle weakness and increases the fragility of red blood cells.

Vitamin K – It is essential for blood clotting. A vitamin K deficiency prolongs the time it takes for blood to clot. Severe deficiency can result in death due to excessive blood loss in the event of a cut or injury.

Also Read: Water Soluble Vitamins – Definition, Types, Functions and Metabolism

Function of Vitamin D

Vitamin D belongs to the vitamin D family, which also comprises vitamins D1, D2, and D3. When you are exposed to direct sunlight, your body creates vitamin D on its own. To ensure adequate levels of vitamin D in your blood, you can also get it from certain foods and supplements. Vitamin D serves several functions. Perhaps the most important are calcium and phosphorus absorption regulation and normal immune system function. Getting enough vitamin D is important for normal bone and tooth development, as well as improved resistance to certain diseases. Here’s more on the benefits of vitamin D, as well as information on the drawbacks, how much you need, and vitamin D-rich foods.

One of the essential fat-soluble vitamins is vitamin D, also known as the sunshine vitamin. It is extremely important in assisting the body in absorbing calcium, which is required for bone health and bone remodelling. This fat-soluble vitamin comes in two forms: Vitamin D3, also known as Cholecalciferol, which is produced naturally in the body, and Vitamin D2, also known as Ergocalciferol, which is consumed through regular dietary intake. Sunlight, particularly UVB rays (Ultraviolet- B), is a natural source of Vitamin D. The sunshine vitamin is usually found in biologically inactive form in the human body. The sun’s rays convert cholesterol in the body to cholecalciferol. Cholecalciferol is then converted in the liver into the metabolite calcifediol, which is then hydroxylated in the kidneys to produce the biologically active form Calcitriol. Calcitriol is a hormone that circulates in the blood and plays an important role in calcium absorption.

Vitamin D, which functions as both a nutrient and a hormone, is an essential nutrient that is vital to a variety of bodily functions due to its wide range of therapeutic efficacies. Calcium, the building block of bones, is absorbed by the body as a result of the presence of Vitamin D, which is extremely beneficial in the natural growth and remodelling of bones. It lowers the risk of fracture, strengthens the bones, keeps the body balanced, and gives the body a strong and perfect skeletal structure. Vitamin D is also important in building strong muscles, according to studies. A vitamin D byproduct aids in muscle contraction and relaxation. As a result, it provides strength and support to the body’s skeletal frame.

Function of Vitamin C

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid (AA), is a nutrient that is required by many multicellular organisms, particularly humans. Ascorbic acid is a water-soluble vitamin found in varying amounts in fruits and vegetables, as well as organ meats (e.g. liver and kidney). Scurvy, widespread connective tissue weakness, and capillary fragility result from vitamin C deficiency. It is used as a reagent by chemists to prepare fine chemicals, enzymatic reagents, and nanomaterials. As a result, detection and quantification of ascorbic acid in food samples, products, and nutraceuticals is gaining prominence among researchers, medical practitioners, and the pharmaceutical and food industries.
Vitamin C is one of the safest and most effective supplements, according to experts. Though it is not a cure for the common cold, vitamin C benefits may include protection against immune system deficiencies, cardiovascular disease, prenatal health issues, eye disease, and even skin wrinkling. For adults, the tolerable upper intake level (the maximum amount you can take in a day that is unlikely to cause harm) is 2000 mg per day.

Vitamin C is essential for many physiological processes in humans. It is required for tissue repair in all parts of the body. Vitamin C’s important functions include the formation of protein, which is used to make skin, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels for healing wounds and forming scar tissue, repairing and maintaining cartilage, bones, and teeth, and aiding in iron absorption. It can also be used to reduce and cap metal nanoparticles.

Function of Vitamin K

The K vitamin, a natural remedy for blood congealing, has a plethora of health benefits, including alleviating vitamin k deficiency syndromes, improving cognitive and bone health, and lowering heart ailments. The most important function of vitamin K is wound healing and reversing the harmful effects of blood thinning medications. It is also used to prevent bleeding disorders in newborns with haemorrhagic disease caused by a lack of vitamin K.

Vitamin K is essential in promoting bone health. It, along with vitamin D, ensures the calcium-binding action required for the proper functioning of the bones and gums. In older women, it strengthens the skeletal structure, increases bone density, and lowers the risk of fracture. It is also effective in treating osteoporosis and bone loss. Several scientific studies have also found that people who take vitamin K have a lower risk of developing peripheral arterial disease. It promotes overall cardiac health by preventing mineralization in the arterial walls and keeping blood pressure under control, allowing the heart to pump blood smoothly throughout the body.

Vitamin K is also known to be extremely important in improving dental health. It stimulates the production of osteocalcin, a protein required for the formation of new dentin, the calcified tissue beneath the enamel of the teeth. It also strengthens the teeth from the inside out, preventing tooth loss or decay.

FAQs

What is one of vitamin D's primary functions?

Vitamin D is both a nutrient that we consume and a hormone that our bodies produce. It is a fat-soluble vitamin that has long been known to aid the body's absorption and retention of calcium and phosphorus, both of which are essential for bone formation.

What are the three functions of vitamin K?

Vitamin K is a group of fat-soluble vitamins that aid in blood clotting, bone metabolism, and calcium regulation in the blood. Vitamin K is required by the body to produce prothrombin, a protein and clotting factor that aids in blood clotting and bone metabolism.

What is vitamin C's primary function?

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a nutrient that your body requires to form blood vessels, cartilage, muscle, and bone collagen. Vitamin C is also essential for the healing process in your body.