Vitamins: Classification, Deficiency, Uses, and Adverse Effects
Vitamins are organic compounds essential for normal metabolic functions. They are classified into two categories:
1. Fat-Soluble Vitamins
- Vitamin A (Retinol)
- Vitamin D (Calciferol)
- Vitamin E (Tocopherol)
- Vitamin K (Phylloquinone)
2. Water-Soluble Vitamins
- Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
- Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)
- Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
- Vitamin B7 (Biotin)
- Vitamin B9 (Folic acid)
- Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)
Deficiency, Therapeutic Uses, and Adverse Effects
1. Vitamin A (Retinol)
- Deficiency: Night blindness, xerophthalmia, immune system impairment.
- Therapeutic Uses: Treatment of vitamin A deficiency, acne, psoriasis.
- Adverse Effects: Hypervitaminosis A causing nausea, liver damage, bone abnormalities.
2. Vitamin D (Calciferol)
- Deficiency: Rickets, osteomalacia, osteoporosis.
- Therapeutic Uses: Bone health, osteoporosis, vitamin D deficiency treatment.
- Adverse Effects: Hypercalcemia, kidney stones, soft tissue calcification.
3. Vitamin E (Tocopherol)
- Deficiency: Neurological issues like ataxia, peripheral neuropathy.
- Therapeutic Uses: Skin health, antioxidant, cardiovascular disease prevention.
- Adverse Effects: Increased bleeding risk at high doses.
4. Vitamin K (Phylloquinone)
- Deficiency: Bleeding disorders due to impaired clotting.
- Therapeutic Uses: Treating anticoagulant overdose, preventing hemorrhagic disease in newborns.
- Adverse Effects: Rare; can interfere with anticoagulants at high doses.
5. Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
- Deficiency: Scurvy, bleeding gums, joint pain, impaired wound healing.
- Therapeutic Uses: Preventing scurvy, enhancing iron absorption, antioxidant.
- Adverse Effects: High doses cause gastrointestinal distress and kidney stones.
6. Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
- Deficiency: Beriberi, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.
- Therapeutic Uses: Thiamine deficiency treatment in alcoholics.
- Adverse Effects: No significant toxicity.
7. Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
- Deficiency: Ariboflavinosis, sore throat, cracks on the lips.
- Therapeutic Uses: Riboflavin deficiency treatment, migraine prevention.
- Adverse Effects: Yellow-orange urine discoloration at high doses.
8. Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
- Deficiency: Pellagra (dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia).
- Therapeutic Uses: Lowering cholesterol, treating pellagra.
- Adverse Effects: Flushing, liver toxicity, gastrointestinal distress at high doses.
9. Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)
- Deficiency: Fatigue, depression, confusion.
- Therapeutic Uses: Adrenal insufficiency treatment, wound healing support.
- Adverse Effects: No significant adverse effects.
10. Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
- Deficiency: Peripheral neuropathy, irritability, depression.
- Therapeutic Uses: Treatment of deficiency and premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
- Adverse Effects: High doses may cause nerve damage.
11. Vitamin B7 (Biotin)
- Deficiency: Hair loss, skin rashes, neurological symptoms.
- Therapeutic Uses: Hair and nail health.
- Adverse Effects: No known adverse effects.
12. Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid)
- Deficiency: Megaloblastic anemia, neural tube defects in fetuses.
- Therapeutic Uses: Preventing neural tube defects, treating folate deficiency.
- Adverse Effects: High doses may mask B12 deficiency.
13. Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)
- Deficiency: Pernicious anemia, fatigue, neurological symptoms.
- Therapeutic Uses: B12 deficiency treatment and related neurological conditions.
- Adverse Effects: Rare; high doses may cause acne.