WATER AND FAT SOLUBLE VITAMINS

1. DEFINE WATER SOLUBLE VITAMINS

Water-soluble vitamins are those that are dissolved in water and readily absorbed into tissues for immediate use. Because they are not stored in the body, they need to be replenished regularly in our diet. The water-soluble vitamins include ascorbic acid (vitamin C), thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B₆ (pyridoxine, pyridoxal, and pyridoxamine), folacin, vitamin B₁₂, biotin, and pantothenic acid.

• Explain the general functions of water soluble vitamin

The followings are the functions of water soluble vitamins:

1. Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) – Part of an enzyme needed for energy metabolism; important to nerve function
2. Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) – Part of an enzyme needed for energy metabolism; important for normal vision and skin health.
3. Vitamin B3 (Niacin) – Part of an enzyme needed for energy metabolism; important for nervous system, digestive system, and skin health
4. Pantothenic acid – Part of an enzyme needed for energy metabolism
5. Biotin – Part of an enzyme needed for energy metabolism
6. Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) – Part of an enzyme needed for protein metabolism; helps make red blood cells
7. Folic acid – Part of an enzyme needed for making DNA and new cells, especially red blood cells
8. Cobalamin (vitamin B12)  – Part of an enzyme needed for making new cells; important to nerve function
9. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) – Antioxidant; part of an enzyme needed for protein metabolism; important for immune system health; aids in iron absorption

• LIST THE DEFICIENCY DISEASE OF VITAMINS

Vitamin deficiency is the condition of a long-term lack of a vitamin. When caused by not enough vitamin intake it is classified as a primary deficiency, whereas when due to an underlying disorder such as malabsorption it is called a secondary deficiency. An underlying disorder may be metabolic – as in a genetic defect for converting tryptophan to niacin – or from lifestyle choices that increase vitamin needs, such as smoking or drinking alcohol.

DEFICIENCY OF WATER-SOLUBLE VITAMINS

Vitamin	Symptoms & Diagnosis
Thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency	Weight loss, emotional disturbances, impaired sensory perception, weakness and pain in the limbs, and periods of irregular heartbeat. Deficiency is assessed by red blood cell status and urinary output.
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) deficiency	Deficiency causes painful red tongue with sore throat, chapped and cracked lips, and inflammation at the corners of the mouth (angular cheilitis). Eyes can be itchy, watery, bloodshot and sensitive to light. Riboflavin deficiency also causes anemia with red blood cells that are normal in size and hemoglobin content, but reduced in number.
Niacin (Vitamin B3) deficiency	Deficiency causes pellagra, a reversible nutritional wasting disease characterized by four classic symptoms often referred to as the four Ds: diarrhea, dermatitis, dementia, and death. The signs and symptoms of niacin deficiency start to revert within days of oral supplementation with large amounts of the vitamin.
Pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5) deficiency	Irritability, fatigue, and apathy.
Vitamin B6 deficiency	microcytic anemia, electroencephalographic abnormalities, dermatitis, seborrhoeic dermatitis-like eruption, atrophic glossitis with ulceration, angular cheilitis, conjunctivitis, and intertrigo. Neurologic symptoms of depression, somnolence, confusion, and neuropathy (due to impaired sphingosine synthesis) and microcytic anemia
Biotin (Vitamin B7) deficiency	Rashes including red, patchy ones near the mouth and fine, brittle hair. Hallucinations, Lethargy, Mild depression, which may progress to profound fatigue and, eventually, to somnolence, Generalized muscular pains (myalgia) and Paresthesias. Decreased urinary excretion of biotin and increased urinary excretion of 3-hydroxyisovaleric acid are better indicators of biotin deficiency than concentration in the blood.
Folate (Vitamin B9) deficiency	Loss of appetite and weight loss can occur. Additional signs are weakness, sore tongue, headaches, heart palpitations, irritability, and behavioral disorders. In adults, anemia (macrocytic, megaloblastic anemia) can be a sign of advanced folate deficiency.
Vitamin B12 deficiency	Anemia (reduction of red blood cells), and the presence of limb neuropathy and digestive disorders.A wide range of associated symptoms may include angular cheilitis, mouth ulcers, bleeding gums, hair loss and thinning, premature greying, a look of exhaustion and dark circles around the eyes, as well as brittle nails.
Vitamin C deficiency	Deficiency leads to weakness, weight loss and general aches and pains. Longer-term depletion affects connective tissues, severe gum disease, and bleeding from the skin.

• FAT-SOLUBLE VITAMINS

Fat-soluble vitamins are dissolved in fats. They are absorbed by fat globules that travel through the small intestines and distributed through the body in the bloodstream. Fat-soluble vitamins are not readily excreted, they can accumulate to toxic levels if taken in excess. Where a well-balanced diet can’t cause toxicity, overdosing on fat-soluble vitamin supplements can.

FUNCTIONS OF FAT SOLUBLE VITAMINS

Fat-soluble vitamins play integral roles in a multitude of physiological processes such as vision, bone health, immune function, and coagulation. This review discusses the biochemistry, transport, and roles of these vitamins highlighting deficiency syndromes and potential toxicities.

DEFICIENCY OF FAT SOLUBLE VITAMINS

Vitamin	Symptoms & Diagnosis
Vitamin A deficiency	Can cause nyctalopia (night blindness) and keratomalacia, the latter leading to permanent blindness if not treated..
Vitamin D deficiency	Usually asymptomatic, causes reduce bone density associated with the development of schizophrenia.
Vitamin E deficiency	Causes poor conduction of electrical impulses along nerves due to changes in nerve membrane structure and function.
Vitamin K deficiency	Signs and symptoms can include sensitivity to bruising, bleeding gums, nosebleeds, and heavy menstrual bleeding in women

REFERENCES

Gilbert C. What is vitamin A and why do we need it? Community Eye Health. 2013;26(84):65. [PMC free article] [PubMed]

Shahidi F, de Camargo AC. Tocopherols and Tocotrienols in Common and Emerging Dietary Sources: Occurrence, Applications, and Health Benefits. Int J Mol Sci. 2016 Oct 20;17(10) [PMC free article] [PubMed]

Booth SL. Vitamin K: food composition and dietary intakes. Food Nutr Res. 2012;56 [PMC free article] [PubMed]

Russell McDowell (2000). Vitamins in Animal and Human Nutrition (2 ed.). Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-0-8138-2630-1.

“Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs): Tolerable Upper Intake Levels, Vitamins”(PDF). Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine, US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2019.

“Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment”. 28 July 2021. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.