Vitamins: Their Functions, Types, Sources and
Symptoms of Their Deficiency
Many people do not know exactly what is the role of
vitamins in our body and why they are so important.
Vitamins are essential for our body. Since they were
discovered and their positive effects became known
for us, they became one of the most common
products of the pharmaceutical industry.
Read a brief overview of the most important
vitamins, their natural resources, roles in the body
and potentially harmful effects with their deficiency.
Vitamin A (Akseroftol, Retinol)
Functions: Necessary for normal vision, the
synthesis of glycoproteins and the process of growth
and development, reproduction, mucus secretion and
maintenance of normal epithelium, has a role of
antioxidant.
Source: liver, sea fish, fresh water fish-(less), carrots,
alfalfa, tomatoes and apricots.
Deficiency: It leads to disturbances of vision (night
and chicken blindness), skin flakes, sterility, children
interference in growth and development.
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
Functions: It allows to the body to convert blood
sugar into glucose and breakdown carbohydrates,
proteins and fats.
Source: Whole grains, liver, heart and kidneys, yeast
and bacteria of the intestinal flora.
Deficiency: mental confusion, anorexia, muscle
weakness, swelling, rapid heart rhythms (most
common in alcoholics).
Vitamin B3 (niacin, nicotinic acid)
Functions: One of the most important coenzyme,
participates in almost all metabolic processes (the
most important is cellular respiration process).
Source: Meat, liver, yeast and rice.
Deficiency: The disease called pellagra, which is
mainly characterized with dermatitis, diarrhea and
dementia.
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin, lactoflavin)
Functions: Participates in many metabolic processes,
primarily in the production of energy in cellular
respiration.
Source: Foods of animal origin, particularly eggs and
dairy products, vegetables.
Deficiency: Dry throat and inflammation of the
membrane on the throat, dermatitis, anemia.
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)
Functions: 80 percent of pantothenic acid in the
body is in the form of coenzyme A. It participates in
the degradation of fats, carbohydrates and amino
acids.
Source: Pantothenic acid is one of the most common
vitamin, can be found in almost all foods.
Deficiency: Due to the wide distribution it is not
reported in practice.
Vitamin B6 (Piridoksol, pyridoxal, pyridoxamine)
Functions: Participate in a variety of metabolic
processes, in first place in the metabolism of
unsaturated fatty acids and biosynthesis of fat from
protein.
Source: seeds, grains, liver, milk, eggs, and green
leafy vegetables.
Deficiency: dermatitis, disorders of the blood count,
neurological disturbances.
Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid, Folate, Folacin)
Functions: Folic acid in the form of coenzyme is
responsible for the creation of purine and pyrimidine,
which are the building blocks of DNA, and as such,
this vitamin along with vitamin B12 and C is
essential for normal cell division.
Source: leafy vegetables, liver, meat and egg yolk.
Deficiency: It leads to a special kind of anemia called
Megaloblastic anemia.
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin, Cyanocobalamin)
Functions: Necessary for creating of
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), participates in the
metabolism of certain amino acids.
Source: liver, meat, milk, eggs and other foods of
animal origin.
Deficiency: A special type of anemia called
Pernicious anemia, neurological disorders.
Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid)
Functions: One of the most important agents in the
oxidation-reduction processes. Particularly important
for the successful production of collagen and
connective tissue, and as such, is necessary for
wound healing. Also, it improves immune function
and participate in the creation of the adrenal
hormones (glucocorticoids).
Source: Lemon, orange and other plants from the
family of citrus fruits, berries, melons, watermelons,
tomatoes, green peppers, cabbage.
Deficiency: The disease known as scurvy. It is
manifested by swelling, frequent bleeding, nonunion
healing, tooth decay, osteoporosis, anemia and so on.
Vitamin D (calciferol)
Functions: Important for metabolism and
maintaining the level of calcium and phosphorus in
the body, and as such, indirectly responsible for many
processes, most important for normal functioning of
skeletal (bones and muscles).
Source: Sun exposure, fish oil, milk, butter, liver,
egg yolk.
Deficiency: Low calcium levels (hypocalcemia) and
phosphorus (hypophosphatemia) leads to
development of rickets in children and osteoporosis
in adults.

Vitamin E (Tocopherol)
Functions: The most important antioxidant in the
body, essential for normal lipid metabolism,
responsible for preventing from free radicals (free
radicals are damaging DNA and leads to malignant
disease). Necessary for normal reproductive function.
Source: Vegetable oil, seeds (peanuts), fruits and
vegetables.
Deficiency: Disorder of lipid metabolism and
hemolytic anemia, infertility, increased risk of
developing malignancies.

Vitamin H (Biotin)
Functions: Necessary for normal function of the
enzymes from the group of carboxylase, essential for
lipid metabolism, oxaloacetic acid, urea and purine.
Source: The gut flora.
Deficiency: Extremely rare, it is manifested with
bloating, vomiting, dermatitis, hair loss and nervous
disorders.

It is important to mention vitamin K which is

necessary for proper blood clotting and vitamin F,
which plays an essential role in the lipid metabolism.

Be careful not to take vitamins excessively.

Insufficient intake leads to disorder, and excessive
intake leads to problems that are sometimes more
difficult from those that occur due to the lack of
vitamins.

Moderation is the key to health.