By : Neha Dhyani
Updated : Feb 3, 2022, 7:54
There are 13 vitamins in the human body:
A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7 (Biotin), B9 (Folate), B12, C, D, E and K.
The name "vitamins" was coined in 1912 by the Polish biochemist Kazimierz Funk.
Vitamins were named so because they were isolated from raw foods. They are organic compounds essential for the growth and normal functioning of the body. Vitamins cannot be synthesized by the body and can only be acquired through diet.
Some vitamins are stored in the body, but others need to be consumed daily.
There are two types of vitamins: water-soluble vitamins and fat-soluble vitamins. Water-soluble vitamins dissolve easily in water and include Vitamin C and the B vitamins (thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin etc.). Fat-soluble vitamins dissolve in fat and include Vitamins A, D, E and K.
The two most common vitamins are vitamins A and C. Vitamin A is essential for vision, immune system, reproduction and cell division. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps prevent free radical damage to the body.
Vitamins can be found in various food sources such as meat, fish, eggs, fruits, vegetables and dairy products. Some vitamins can also be found in dietary supplements and multivitamins/multimineral products.
Vitamin and mineral supplements are available in many forms, including tablets, capsules, liquids, powders, granules and pastes. Some may also be available as skin patches or as a vaginal insert.
To get the most benefit from supplements, always read the label to determine precisely what is in them. The basic information you should look for on a supplement label includes:
The amount of the vitamin or mineral in each dosage (25 milligrams or 250 micrograms). If there is more than one form of the nutrient, the amount of each form is also listed.
Here is a tabular format of vitamin list with the name:
Vitamin | Nature | Function | Deficiency |
Retinol (A) | Fat-soluble | Vision, Reproduction and Immunity | Night-blindness |
Calcium (C) | Water-soluble | For bone health and stability | Scurvy |
Thiamine (B1) | Water-soluble | Growth, development and cellular agility | Beri-beri |
Nicotinamide (B3) | Water-soluble | The antioxidant helps in the repair of DNA and acts as a co-enzyme | Pellagra |
Pantothenic Acid (B5) | Water-soluble | Reduce cholesterol levels in the blood | Rheumatoid Arthritis |
Pyridoxine (B6) | Water-soluble | Metabolism has a co-enzyme function | Immune System Disorder and Seizures |
Folic Acid (B9) | Water-soluble | Pregnancy, development of the foetus and food metabolism | Anaemia, fatigue, weakness |
Cyanocobalamine (B12) | Water-soluble | Red-blood cell function and DNA stability | Grave's Disease and Lupus |
Beta Carotene | Fat-soluble | Antioxidant | Oxidative stress and resulting damage |
Ergocalciferol (D2) | Fat-soluble | Parathyroid Gland | Hypoparathyroidism |
Tocopherol (E) | Fat-soluble | Antioxidant, protection from oxidative damage | Cell Membrane damage especially red blood cells (RBC's) |
Cholecalciferol (D3) | Fat-soluble | Absorption of calcium and maintaining strength and integrity of your bones | Rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults |
Phylloquinone (K1) | Fat-soluble | Formation of clotting factors in the blood | Poor clotting function results in haemorrhage in severe cases. |
There are 13 vitamins- A, C, D2, D3, E, K, Beta Carotene and B (B1, B3, B5, B9 and B12), respectively, as seen in the vitamins chart above.
Vitamin D deficiency causes rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.
Vitamin E is fat-soluble, as seen in the list of the vitamins above.
Vitamins are classified into broadly two categories- water-soluble and fat-soluble.