VITAMINS CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO

SOLUBILITY
Glycolysis – degenerative pathway where
glucose is converted to pyruvate Fat – Soluble Vitamins:

Citric acid cycle – the complete oxidation  A

of acetyl CoA to yield energy under aerobic  D
condition forming CO2, NADH & FADH2 as  E
the final product  K
Glycogenesis – synthesis of glycogen Water – Soluble Vitamins
Glycogenolysis – breakdown of glycogen  C
to glucose or glucose 6- phosphate  B – complex vitamins
Gluconeogenesis – synthesis of glucose B – Complex Vitamins
from a large variety of noncarbohydrate
substrate.  B1 – Thiamine
 B2 – Riboflavin
- “accessory growth factors”
- Organic compounds present in small  B3 – Niacin
amounts and are essential for  B5 – Pantothenic Acid
normal health and growth.  B6 – Pyridoxine
- A specific deficiency disease can  B9 – Folate
develop when they are not  B12 – Cobalamin
adequately supplied by the diet or  Biotin
improperly absorbed from the food
FUNCTIONS
General characteristics
 Act as precursors to or become
1. not catabolized as a source of components of coenzymes
energy  They are required in several stages
2. serves as coenzymes in the metabolic pathway to extract
energy from carbohydrates, lipids,
vitamins absorbed from the diet must first and protein
be converted into active form
Provitamins and antivitamins – two
COENZYMES groups of compounds that are chemically
related to vitamins and are of nutritional
- organic molecule that binds to the
importance
active sites of certain enzymes to
assist in the catalysis of a  Provitamins or precursors –
reaction chemical precursors of vitamins that
- function as intermediate carriers of are converted within the body to
electrons during these reactions active vitamins. ex. Beta-carotene
 Antivitamins or Antagonists –
substances chemically related to
true vitamins but cannot perform the
biologic function of the true vitamins.
e.x Avidin
Preformed Vitamins – naturally occurring
active form

Avitaminosis – condition resulting from

lack of a vitamin

Hypervitaminosis – vitamin toxicity

Vitamers - multiple forms of vitamin

FAT-SOLUBLE VITAMINS VITAMIN D

VITAMIN E
Vitamin A
Other names:
- Generic term for compounds that
possess the biological activity of 1. Tocopherol
retinol 2. Antisterility factor
3. Antioxidant vitamin
Example Forms

1. Retinal – aldehyde form Alpha tocopherol – most widespread and

2. Retinol – alcohol form biologically active
3. Retinoic acid – acid form
 Susceptible to destruction by
Provitamin A – precursor of Vitamin A oxygen, metals, light, and heat
(plant based)  Readily oxidized in the presence of
rancid fats or lead & iron salts
Beta-carotene – most potent form of  Vitamin content in food is expressed
provitamin A as tocopherol equivalents

Carotenes – precursor of vitamin A; FUNCTIONS

present in plant
1. Maintenance of intracellular
DEFICIENCY membrane integrity by being an
antioxidant.
 Night blindness 2. Prevents oxidation of vitamin a,
 Bitot spot carotene, vit c, and unsaturated fatty
 Corneal xerosis acids
 Corneal ulcer 3. Normal functioning of the immune
system
 Corneal scars
 Fundus xerophthalmicus
Vitamin e & selenium bot function to
protect the cells from the destructive effects
FOOD SOURCES
of oxygen radicals
Provitamin A (carotene) :
Vitamin E & sulphur – containing amino
acids, together with zinc, manganese &
 Green leafy vegetables
copper, are interrelated.
 Yellow fruits and vegetables
When vit A is deficient, vit E lowers the rate
Preformed vitamin A : in which vit A is depleted from the liver
 Liver Requirements of vit E increase with
 Organ meats increased intake of PUFA
 Egg yolk
 Fish liver oil
 Butter
 Fortified margarine
DEFICIENCY AT-RISK INDIVIDUALS OF VITAMIN K
DEFICIENCY
 Rare and manifested only in
premature infants & among  Newborn infants
individuals with defective fat  Those with renal insufficiency
absorption  Those being treated chronically with
antiobiotic
TOXICITY

 May interfere with blood clotting

action of vitamin K; may cause
haemorrhage

FOOD SOURCES

 Plant oils
 Green & leafy vegetables
 Whole grain products
 Liver
 Egg yolk
 Nuts and seeds

VITAMIN K

- Belongs to a group of chemicals

called quinones
1. Phylloquinone (K1) – present in
plant foods
2. Menaquinone (K2) – found in
animal tissues and synthesized by
intestinal bacteria
3. Menadione (K3) – synthetic form
- Yellow colored
- Heat resistant but easily destroyed
by alkalis, strong acids, light, and
oxidizing agents

FUNCTIONS

1. Essential for the synthesis of several

proteins involved in blood clotting
2. Participates in the synthesis of bone
protein
3. Needed in the gamma-carboxylation
of certain glutamate residues
allowing a firm binding of calcium
VITAMIN C

 a generic term used to refer to all

compounds with biologic activity of
ascorbic acid

Other names

 ascorbic acid
 antiscorbutic factor
 cevitamic acid
 hexuronic acid

human lack the liver enzyme L-

gunolactone oxidase needed to convert
glucose to ascorbic acid

absorbed by jejunum by sodium-dependent

active transport system