The ABC Of Vitamins

Essential for human growth and overall health, vitamins as a group received their name when a Polish biochemist recreated an experiment in 1912 that was originally carried out by a Japanese scientist in 1910.water soluble micronutrients were successfully extracted from rice bran.The biochemist suggested that it be called "vitamine"; a blend of the words vital and amine.The letter "e" was later dropped and the word vitamin was adopted.

A vitamin is a water soluble or fat soluble organic compound which is essential, in small amounts, for normal growth and activity.Vitamins cannot be synthesized or generated by the body, and the body obtains them from diet.

Vitamins that are water soluble are easily dissolved in water.Generally, the body gets rid of water soluble vitamins that it doesn't need, which is why consistent consumption is important.

Fat soluble vitamins can only be absorbed by the body with the help of fats.Since the body doesn't flush them as it does water soluble vitamins, they're more likely to accumulate in the body, which can lead to overdosing.

Vitamin A - identified in 1909, Vitamin A, or Retinol, is a fat soluble vitamin, essential in the prevention of night blindness.

Vitamin B - There are currently eight B vitamins.Vitamin B9 was initially called Vitamin M (folic acid), B3 (niacin) was first called Vitamin PP.Vitamin B7 (biotin) was first known as Vitamin H and Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) was first named Vitamin G.Continuous study led to their reclassification into what is now known as the B Complex vitamins.All B vitamins are water soluble.

B1 (Thiamine) - Identified in 1912, thiamine deficiency results in beriberi, a disorder of the nervous system that can result in extreme fatigue, and compromise the cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems.

B2 (Riboflavin) - Identified in 1920, a shortage of riboflavin causes Ariboflavinosis.Symptoms include decreased red blood cell count, swelling and redness of the mouth, cracked lips, and seborrhiec dermatitis.

B3 (Niacin) - identified in 1936, niacin deficiency results in pellagra.Symptoms of pellagra include a high sensitivity to sunlight, insomnia, mental confusion, skin lesions and dermatitis, and diarrhea.Prolonged deficiency can result in dementia.

B5 (Pantothenic Acid) - Identified in 1931, a lack of this vitamin results in a condition known as Paresthesia, or a tingling and numbness of the skin.

B6 (Pyridoxine) - identified in 1934, pyridoxine deficiency causes anemia, a common blood disorder.

B7 (Biotin) - identified in 1931, a shortage of biotin results in dermatitis and enteritis, an inflammation of the small intestine.

B9 (Folic Acid) - identified in 1941, folic acid is critical for pregnant women.Too little folic acid is associated with birth defects.

B12 (Cyanocobalamin) - identified in 1926, deficiency results in megaloblastic anemia; dysfunctional red blood cells.

Vitamin C - Ascorbic acid was identified in 1912 and is water soluble.Vitamin C deficiency causes scurvy.Symptoms include inflamed gums, sunken eyes, nosebleeds, diarrhea and bleeding from mucous membranes.

Vitamin D - this fat soluble vitamin was identified in 1918, and prevents rickets, a softening of the bones.

Vitamin E - identified in 1922, deficiency of this fat soluble vitamin is not common, and can result in hemolytic anemia in newborn babies.

Vitamin K - identified in 1929, Vitamin K is fat soluble and prevents excessive bleeding.

About the Author

This article was written by Shawn Wilson, a member of the customer support team at Datepad, where internet dating is always free.

Datepad has a massive directory of informative dating articles along with a great list of dating site reviews on their dating blog.

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