Vitamins and their functions in the body

Posted By Suborna Fermi Posted on Jun 02, 2022

What are Vitamins?

Vitamins are biological substances which exist in certain amounts in foods. These substances are required for normal function of body cells, development and growth. However, insufficient or excessive amounts of these organic carbons might cause serious health damage. There lies the basic importance of a vitamin profile test.

Here are the names of the 13 critical vitamins:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin B
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin K
• Vitamin B1
• Vitamin B2
• Vitamin B3
• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin B7 (Biotin)
• Vitamin B9 (Folate)
• Vitamin B12

Types of vitamin:

• Fat-soluble vitamins: Fat-soluble vitamins are vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K. Dietary fats help our body in absorbing these vitamins efficiently. These are stored in the body’s fatty tissues, muscles, and liver for days or months.
• Water-soluble vitamins: Water-soluble vitamins are vitamin C and all the B vitamins. These are not stored in the body, remnant vitamins released with urine. Only vitamin B12 can be stored in the body for years. You have to consume water-soluble vitamins everyday to prevent vitamin deficiency.

Functions of the vitamins:

• Vitamin A: This is a fat-soluble vitamin, and the chemical name is retinol, beta carotene, retinal, and the four carotene. This vitamin is extremely essential for our eye, teeth, skin, soft tissues, and mucous membrane health.
• Vitamin B1: The chemical name of this vitamin is thiamine, which is a water-soluble vitamin. This vitamin helps in generating various enzymes which break down the blood sugar.
• Vitamin B2: This water-soluble vitamin’s chemical name is riboflavin, which is essential for the body's cell growth and development.
• Vitamin B3: This water-soluble vitamin helps in generating energy and hormones.
• Vitamin B6: This is a water soluble vitamin, critical for the formation of red blood cells.
• Vitamin B7: The chemical name of this water-soluble vitamin is biotin, helps in metabolizing protein, and carbohydrates. Also, helps in producing cholesterol and hormones.
• Vitamin B9: The chemical name of this vitamin is folic acid and is a water-soluble vitamin. This vitamin has an integral part in making DNA and RNA.
• VItamin B12: This water-soluble vitamin’s chemical name is cyanocobalamin, which is very crucial for the hearty nervous system.
• Vitamin C: Vitamin C is also identified as ascorbic acid, helps in producing collagen, bone development, and wound healing.
• Vitamin D: This is fat-soluble, which helps in bone formation, and makes them strong.
• Vitamin E: The antioxidant vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin, which helps in the formation of red blood cells.
• Vitamin K: This fat-soluble vitamin is extremely helpful for blood clotting.

These are all the crucial functions of vitamins in our body. They are essential for our normal body functions. Do consume these vitamins in your everyday diet to prevent vitamin deficiencies including vitamin D deficiency. A Vitamin deficiency test can help to determine the chances of any specific type of vitamin in the body. .