Vitamins, classification and their functions
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Vitamins, classification and their functions
Introduction
The vitamins are essential organic compounds that our body needs but in the small amounts to perform the functions properly. They have different roles in the various processes of the body such as in the production of the energy, to support the immune system and cell growth.
The vitamins are not the source of the energy themselves but they are important for the biochemical reactions that makes our body enables to use the energy from these nutrients.
Classification
The 13 essential vitamins each has its own unique functions and their sources.The vitamins are divided into two groups.
- Fat soluble vitamins
- Water soluble vitamins
Fat soluble vitamins
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The vitamins such as vitamin A, D, E and K are called as the fat soluble vitamins.They are stored in the fat tissues of the body and dissolved in the fats and therefore they are named as the fat soluble vitamins. The fat soluble vitamins are stored in the liver and the fat tissues of the body therefore we don't have need to take them daily.
Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin which plays an important role in the vision health and support the immune system and also play important role in the process of the reproduction and the cell growth.It is originated from both sources the animals and the plants.
Vitamin D is essential for the absorption of the calcium in the bones and support the bone health. It is produced in the skin when it is enough exposed to the light of the sun and can also be gained from the plant sources such as fish, and many dairy products.
Vitamin E is an antioxidant which protects the body from the oxidative damage. It provides support to the system of the immunity. The sources of the vitamin E are the seeds , nuts and some vegetable oils.
Vitamin K plays an important role in the clotting of the blood.It is present in the green leafy vegetables. The clotting factors are very essential which prevents the person from bleeding our excessively. The clotting factors are produced in their inactive forms the vitamin K converts them into their active forms.
Water soluble vitamins
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These are not stored in the body and we have need to consume them on regular basis in the diet. The vitamin C and the vitamin B are the water soluble vitamins and they are easily soluble in the water so therefore named as the water soluble vitamins.
The vitamin C is also called as the ascorbic acid and it is an antioxidant which has an important role to support the immune system and also essential in the synthesis of the collagen.
There are 8 vitamins in the vitamin B group and all these have an important role in the metabolic of the energy, call growth and the functions of the nerve.
The B1 is very important vitamin which is vital for the metabolism of the carbohydrates and also helpful to support the nerve functions.These vitamins play important roles in the metabolism of the carbohydrates, fats and the proteins. They also have role in the synthesis of the hormones and energy production.