Vitamins are substances that your body needs to grow and develop normally. You can usually get all your vitamins from the foods you eat. Each vitamin has specific jobs. If you have low levels of certain vitamins, you may develop a deficiency disease.
There are 13 vitamins your body needs:
Biotin- is essential for the metabolism of proteins and carbohydrates, and in the production of hormones and cholesterol. Without enough of biotin you can have skin inflammation, membrane inflammation, depression, abnormal skin sensations, and muscle pain.
Choline- helpsin the structure of cell membranes, protecting our livers from accumulating fat, as the precursor molecule for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. With out enough of choline you can become fatigued, have insomnia, have poor ability of the kidneys to concentrate urine, also have Accumulation of fats in the blood, and have Nerve-muscle problems.
Folic Acid- is needed for the formation of red blood cells, if you do not get enough you can become anemic.
Vitamin A- is needed for light sensitive cells in the eyes. If you do not get enough you will have poor night vision. Also helps in the formation and maintenance of healthy teeth, bones, soft tissue, mucous membranes, and skin.
Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) - Maintains your energy supplies, Coordinate the activity of nerves and muscles, and supports proper heart function. When you have a lack of B1 you have loss of energy, loss of appetite, have Pins and needles sensations, Feeling of numbness, especially in the legs, and Muscle tenderness particularly in the calf muscles.
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)- It is required by the body to use oxygen and the metabolism of amino acids, fatty acids, and carbohydrates. A shortage of this vitamin may manifest itself as cracks and sores at the corners of the mouth, eye disorders, inflammation of the mouth and tongue, and skin lesions. Dermatitis, dizziness, hair loss, insomnia, light sensitivity, poor digestion, retarded growth, and slow mental responses have also been reported. Burning feet can also be indicative of a shortage.
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)- Niacin plays an important role in ridding the body of toxic and harmful chemicals. It also helps the body make various sex and stress-related hormones in the adrenal glands and other parts of the body. Niacin is effective in improving circulation and reducing cholesterol levels in the blood. Niacin needs can be partially met by eating foods containing protein because the human body is able to convert tryptophan, an amino acid, into niacin.
Niacin is commonly used to lower elevated LDL ("bad") cholesterol and triglyceride (fat) levels in the blood and is more effective in increasing HDL ("good") levels than other cholesterol-lowering medications. High doses of niacin medications are used to prevent development of atherosclerosis (plaque along the blood vessels that can cause blockage) and to reduce recurrent complications such as heart attack and peripheral vascular disease (atherosclerosis of the blood vessels in the legs that can cause pain with walking, called intermittent claudication) in those with the condition. Niacin may also help prevent Diabetes, Osteoarthritis, Cataracts, and help with burns.
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)- There are six forms of vitamin B6: pyridoxal (PL), pyridoxine (PN), pyridoxamine (PM), and their phosphate derivatives: pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), pyridoxine 5'-phosphate (PNP), and pridoxamine 5'-phospate (PNP). PLP is the active coenzyme form, and has the most importance in human metabolism. In the body, pyridoxine is found primarily in the liver and muscles. Pyridoxine is utilized by the liver to synthesize pyridoxal phosphate (PLP), the active coenzyme form. PLP functions as transamination and decarboxylation coenzymes, which are involved in amino acid and protein metabolism. PLP is also involved as a coenzyme in the synthesis of heme, niacin and serotonin. Alcohol impairs vitamin B6 metabolism in the body.
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) - is needed in the manufacture of red blood cells and the maintenance of red blood cells and it stimulates appetite, promotes growth and release energy. It is often used with older people to give an energy boost, assist in preventing mental deterioration and helps with speeding up thought processes. Some symptoms of a deficiency will include a sore tongue, weakness, fatigue, and weight loss, back pain and apathy. It might further result in loss of balance, decreased reflexes, tingling of the fingers, and ringing in the ears.
Vitamin C - is required for the synthesis of collagen, an important structural component of blood vessels, tendons, ligaments, and bone.A deficiency in vitamin C can cause Scurvy, which manifests itself in loose teeth, hemorrhages, bruising, and inability to fight off infection, mild anemia, and bleeding. Vitamin C has been shown in some studies to reduce the length of colds and to alleviate their severity. It does not, however, prevent colds or alter their frequency. Vitamin C may help prevent lead poisoning, and some scientists believe it can be used in the treatment of cancer.
Vitamin D - The major biologic function of vitamin D is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium, helping to form and maintain strong bones. Rickets and osteomalacia are classic vitamin D deficiency diseases. In children, vitamin D deficiency causes rickets, which results in skeletal deformities. In adults, vitamin D deficiency can lead to osteomalacia, which results in muscular weakness in addition to weak bones.
Vitamin E - a family of 8 antioxidants, 4 tocopherols and 4 tocotrienols. alpha-tocopherol (a-tocopherol) is the only form of vitamin E that is actively maintained in the human body and is therefore, the form of vitamin E found in the largest quantities in the blood and tissue. Vitamin E act to protect your cells against the effects of free radicals, which are potentially damaging by-products of energy metabolism. Vitamin E deficiency is rare, and may occur in people with diminished fat absorption through the gut (due to surgery, Crohn's disease, or cystic fibrosis), malnutrition, very low-fat diets, several specific genetic conditions (abetalipoproteinemia, "Ataxia and Vitamin E deficiency" [AVED]), very low birth weight premature infants, or infants taking unfortified formulas.
Vitamin K - The "K" is derived from the German word "koagulation." Coagulation refers to the process of blood clot formation. Vitamin K is essential for the functioning of several proteins involved in blood clotting. Vitamin K supplements improve bone health and reduce risk of bone fractures, particularly in postmenopausal women who are at risk for osteoporosis. Vitamin K is also used to reduce risk of bleeding in liver disease, jaundice, malabsorption, or in association with long-term use of aspirin or antibiotics. Vitamin K deficiency is very rare and occurs when there is an inability to absorb the vitamin from the intestinal tract. Vitamin K deficiency can also occur after prolonged treatment with oral antibiotics.
