Vitamins are of two types: Water soluble vitamins and Fat Soluble vitamins. Vitamins which are soluble in water are called as the water-soluble vitamins consist of the Vitamins B and Vitamins C.
| Water Soluble Vitamins | Fat Soluble Vitamins |
| Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) Vitamin B3 (Niacin) Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) Vitamin B7 (Biotin) Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid) Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) |
Vitamin A Vitamin D Vitamin E Vitamin K |
Water-Soluble Vitamins
We consider Vitamins B and Vitamins C as the water soluble vitamins as they easily dissolve in the water. They are not harmful when taken in excess, if they are taken in excess they dissolve with water and easily come out of our body along with the urine. Lack of water-soluble vitamins affects growing or metabolising tissues such as skin, blood, the digestive tract, and the nervous system.
Fat-Soluble Vitamins
Vitamins A, D, E and K are the fat-soluble vitamins, they are soluble in fats. They are absorbed from the small intestine, along with the fat diet which we consume. Fat soluble vitamins are mostly stored in the liver and adipose tissues. Excess intake of the fat-soluble vitamins are harmful for the body as it causes toxic effects. The water-soluble vitamins are digested very slowly and generally they take time to dissolve in fat and get excreted from the body. Which result in various diseases like colitis, cystic fibrosis, all associated with poor absorption of these vitamins.
Chemical name of Vitamins and the Disease Caused by the Deficiency
| Vitamin | Chemical Name | Source | Deficiency Diseases |
| Vitamin A | Retinol | Egg yolk, Fish, Butter, Carrot, Broccoli, Milk, Vegetable | Night blindness, hyperkeratosis, and Keratomalacia |
| Vitamin B1 | Thiamine | Ground Nuts, Corn, Wheat flour, Cabbage, Milk, Meat |
Beriberi |
| Vitamin B2 | Riboflavin | Green Vegetable, Milk, Meat, grams | Cracking of skin, red-dish eye, cracking of tongue |
| Vitamin B3 | Nicotinamide or Niacin | Egg yolk, Mushrooms, Milk Products, sugarcane | Whitening of hair, mentally retardness |
| Vitamin B5 | Pantothenic Acid | Meat, Ground Potato, Tomato | Pellagra |
| Vitamin B6 | Pyridoxine | Meat, Milk, Nut, Grains | Anaemia, skin disease |
| Vitamin B7 | Biotin | Meat, liver, egg, milk | Paralysis, hair falling |
| Vitamin B9 | Folic Acid | Citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, pulse, liver, egg | Anaemia, dysentery |
| Vitamin B12 | Cyanocobalamin | Fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, etc. | Anaemia, Jaundice Teroile Glutemic |
| Vitamin C | Ascorbic acid | Green Chilli, Lettuce, Beans, Fresh citrus fruits such as orange and Amla |
Scurvy, Bleeding Gums |
| Vitamin D | Calciferol | Fish, beef, egg yolk, liver, chicken breast and cereals | Rickets and Osteomalacia |
| Vitamin E | Tocopherol | Vegetable oils like Cotton seed oil, Sunflower oil, Lettuce, Egg, Milk |
Less fertility or Sterility |
| Vitamin K | Phylloquinone | Pork liver oil, Leafy vegetables, Cabbage, Broccoli, Beef and lamb. |
Non-clotting of blood |
Some Fact about Vitamins
- Vitamin was invented by Sir F.G. Hopkins and the name was given by Funk.
- Vitamin A is mainly stored in the liver.
- Cobalt is found in Vitamin B12
- Deficiency of calcium mainly occurs in the absence of Vitamin D.
- Vitamin B and Vitamin C are water soluble vitamins.
- Vitamin A, D, E and K are the fat soluble vitamins.
Question asked in previous years
Vitamin A
Beri-Beri
Vitamin C
Vitamin E is a beauty vitamin that is good for the skin.
Vitamin C
Scurvy
Rickets
Vitamin K
Infertility
Ascorbic Acid
Calciferol
Phylloquinone
Folic Acid (Vitamin B9)
Beta Carotene
Vitamin C
Vitamin C
Vitamin B and C the water soluble vitamins are excreted out of the body through urine.
Vitamin E
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