Kinds

of
vitamins
PRE-TEST
1.Which vitamin can be obtained from sunlight?
A. Vitamin A C. Vitamin B
B. Vitamin C D. Vitamin D
2. Vitamins B and C are considered to be water soluble.
A. True B. False
3. When our body is low in or missing an essential nutrient this is
called a
A. Deficiency C. Devise
B. Without D. Deficit
4. Which is NOT a fat-soluble vitamin?
A. Vitamin C C. Vitamin A
B. Vitamin E D. Vitamin D

5. Which of the following nutrients is NOT used by the body

for energy?
A. Fat C. Carbohydrates
B. Vitamins D. Proteins
Vitamins
 are made up of carbon,
hydrogen and oxygen
 are called micronutrients
because they are needed in only
very small quantities. They all
have chemicals names but they
are usually referred
to by letters.
MAIN FUNCTIONS
• To help prevent deficiency
diseases such as Beriberi and
rickets .
• To regulate the repair of body
cells.
• To help combat the ageing
process.
• To help to process carbohydrates
and release energy in the body.
 VITAMINS -TWO MAIN CATEGORIES
Water soluble
• Cannot be stored in body -
regular supply needed
• Excess is excreted in urine -
no danger of toxic levels
• Unstable to heat and light,
leach into cooking liquids
Fat Soluble
• Can be stored in body -
regular supply not needed
• Can accumulate to toxic
levels if large amounts
ingested
• Fairly stable at normal
cooking temperatures
Vitamin A - Retinol and Beta Carotene
Functions: Effects of deficiency
• Regulates growth • Retarded growth,
• Promotes healthy malformed bones
skin • Long term-may lead
• Maintenance of to night blindness
healthy tissues • Susceptibility to
• Helps eye adapt to infection
dim light • Excess beta-carotene
may lead to liver and
bone damage
Vitamin D - Calciferols
Functions: Effects of deficiency
• Absorption and laying • Rickets in children
down of calcium and and osteomalacia in
phosphorous in adults
bones and teeth • Osteoporosis
• Regulates calcium • Dental caries
balance between
bones and blood
• Prevents rickets
Vitamin E - Tocopherol
Functions: Effects of deficiency
• Protects tissues • Deficiency is very
against damage rare but it could
• Promotes normal affect the central
growth and nervous system
development
• Helps in normal red
blood cell formation
Vitamin K - naphthoquinone
Functions: Effects of deficiency
• Needed for blood • Deficiency is very
clotting, which means rare but individuals
it helps wounds heal with liver damage
properly. and new born infants
• There is increasing are at a higher risk
evidence that vitamin
K is also needed to
help build strong
bones
Vitamin B 1 - Thiamin
Functions: Deficiency
• Essential for release • Fatigue, depression,
of energy from irritability
carbohydrates • Beri-beri
• Necessary for
appetite and good
health
• Needed for normal
functioning of
nervous system
Vitamin B 2 -Riboflavin
Functions: Deficiency
• Metabolism of • Loss of appetite
carbohydrates, proteins • Swollen tongue,
and fats cracked lips, eye
• Growth, repair,
infection
development of body
tissues - healthy skin,
eyes and tongue
• The principal growth
promoting factor in the
vitamin B complex
Vitamin B3 -Niacin
Functions: Deficiency
• Metabolism of • Fatigue, depression,
carbohydrates, irritability
proteins and fats • Beri-beri
• Needed for normal
functioning of
nervous system
Vitamin B9 -Folic Acid
Functions:
• Red blood cell formation
• Development of brain,
spinal cord and skeleton
in foetus
• Reduces risk of neural
tube defects e.g. spina
bifida
• May play role preventing
heart attacks, strokes
and cancer
Effects of deficiency
• Fatigue in mild cases
• Anaemia in severe
cases
• Neural tube defects
• Important to take folic
acid prior to conception
and vital during first 3
months pregnancy
Vitamin C -Ascorbic Acid
Functions:
• Critical to immune
system
• Helps absorption of iron
• Prevents scurvy
• Promotes healing of
wounds and healthy
blood vessels
• Acts as antioxidant,
protects cholesterol
Effects of deficiency
• Weakening of
connective tissue
• Susceptibility to
infection
• Incomplete iron
absorption
• Prevent scurvy - pale
skin with spots,
bleeding, soft gums.
MINERALS - Our body requires mineral elements for a variety
of functions. They are also known as micronutrients. Unlike vitamins, which
are organic substances minerals are inorganic and are found in rocks and soil.
Vegetables absorb minerals as they grow, while animals digest it through their
diet.
Minerals have 4 major functions:
• Body building – teeth and bones
• Control of body processes, especially the nervous system
• Essential part of body fluids and cells
• Form part of enzymes and other proteins necessary for the
release of energy.
 Trace FUNCTIONS Deficiency
Minerals
 iron  Production of haemoglobin  Anaemia
in red blood cells to carry
oxygen in the blood

 zinc  Everything from acne to  Dry skin, acne,

diabetes. Aids the immune
system. Needed for the Muscle spasms
senses of smell and taste.

 iodine • Thyroid gland function  Particularly in children, fall

(controls how quickly the in the production of thyroid
body uses energy) and hormones
body metabolism
Major FUNCTIONS Deficiency
Minerals
 Maintains water balance in the  Stunted growth can cause
 sodium body and controls body rickets, osteoporosis.
temperature, helps you sweat
when body temp rises.
 Muscle contraction and in  Dry skin, acne, Muscle
 potassium maintaining fluid. It is necessary spasms
for the building of muscle and for
normal body growth.
  Stunted growth can cause
 calcium 
Teeth and bones
Blood clotting rickets, osteoporosis.
 Nerve and muscle contraction
 Heart regulation

 phosphorus  Bones and teeth with  Rarely deficient but could

calcium cause tiredness and
 Muscle contraction depression
POST-TEST
1. What is the deficiency disease for calcium called?
A. Anemia C. Rickets
B. Osteoporosis D. Scurvy
2. Which is NOT a fat-soluble vitamin?
A. Vitamin C C. Vitamin A
B. Vitamin E D. Vitamin D
3.Anemia is caused by a lack of what mineral?
A. Folate C. Iron
B. Calcium D. Sodium
4. Vitamin D can be obtained from ______________.
A. Carrots C. Wholegrain food
B. Cereal D. Sunlight

5. . Beta-carotene and retinol are two types of

vitamin ______.
A. Vitamin A C. Vitamin B
B. Vitamin C D. Vitamin D