Vitamin B12, also called cobalamin, is an essential factor in the production of red blood cells. People with insufficient amounts of Vitamin B12 in their systems suffer from anemia. Cobalamin is essential for other blood cells production and neurologic function. Someone with severe B12 deficiency may have anemia as well as a variety of neurologic and psychiatric problems. These symptoms can be as mild as irritability, a slight memory loss, and the sensation of pins and needles in the extremities. They can be severe, including, among other things, shaky, unsteady gait, weakness, incontinence, peripheral neuropathy, dementia, and psychosis. One disease…
Author: Emily
Biotin is a B-complex vitamin also called vitamin B7, vitamin H and coenzyme R, based on its basic role in energy metabolism. However, because biotin deficiency has been associated with hair (fur) loss in animal studies, it is often marketed in products to improve hair. It is a water soluble vitamin which acts as an essential co-factor for carboxylase enzymes in various metabolic pathways. Its low cost and abundance of availability in cosmetic products, Biotin has become a trend for consumers who want to have healthier, long nails and hairs. Institute of Medicine has stated the recommendation of daily adequate…
Niacin is more commonly recognized as vitamin B3 and is part of the B-complex vitamins. Niacin in its two forms, nicotinic acid and nicotinamide, is active in the body as part of co-enzyme structures that participate in many bodily activities. In addition to niacin’s fundamental role in nutrition, higher levels of niacin can be used therapeutically to lower blood cholesterol levels. Vitamin B3 is a third water soluble vitamin that has been discovered playing a vital role in overall development of the body and its deficiency could lead to problems related with skin, brain functions and digestion. It is an…
Riboflavin named Vitamin B2, is a B-complex vitamin which is found in foods and used as a dietary supplement. The sources of food for riboflavin includes milk, green vegetables, eggs, meat, almonds, mushrooms and other dairy products. It plays a key role in energy metabolism. The name riboflavin refers both to a component of its molecular structure and also its yellow color: ribo- with respect to the ribose (a simple sugar) portion of the molecule and flavin from the Latin word for yellow, flavus. Riboflavin is an orange to yellow compound with three ring structure and two nitrogens in each…
Vitamin C is also known from the name of ascorbic acid. Guinea pigs, primates, birds and people are incapable of making Vitamin C. Plants and other animals manufacture Vitamin C from glucose. From long time period, Vitamin C is enjoyed as a nutrition supplement and regarded as one of the most recognizable as well as sought after nutrients. Vitamin C is prone to breakdown during cooking, processing and storage procedures. For example, potatoes lose half of their vitamin C by boiling. Spinach loses its entire vitamin if kept for 2 to 3 days at room temperature. The ascorbic acid is…
Vitamin A found in foods includes members of two chemical families: retinoids and carotenoids. Retinoids include retinol, retinal and retinoic acid and carotenoids include β-carotene, α-carotene and other carotenes. Withal, carotenoid has Vitamin A activity which must be converted into retinoid in the body. So carotenoids are also referred as provitamin A. Though there are hundreds of carotenoids in nature, about fifty could be converted to Vitamin A. Moreover, half dozen of carotenoids are found in human diet in noticeable amounts. Vitamin A is crucial micronutrient for humans which could not be biosynthesized in body and should be obtained from…
Alike other vitamins, vitamin E are not a single molecule but is a class of identical molecules achieving related activities. Vitamin E molecules are subdivided into two major classes such as tocotrienols and tocopherols which could be subdivided themselves. Vitamin E is an extensive lipid soluble component in cell antioxidant defence system and is particularly obtained from diet. It has various vital roles in body due to its antioxidant properties. Oxidation is associated to various possible diseases and conditions such as ageing, cancer, cataracts and arthritis. Vitamin E is effective against these problems. Vitamin E also prevents platelet hyperaggregation which…
Vitamin D is a vitamin usually fat soluble and is unique in relation to other vitamins as a result body could produce it in adequate amounts with the help of sun. Researchers consider that some cells produce Vitamin D as it circulates and affect tissue throughout body and might be classified as hormone than vitamin. The ability of the body to make Vitamin D relies on sunlight exposure and everybody does not receive adequate exposure. Moreover, also direct exposure to sunlight is not advised as it increases the chances of skin cancer. Due to this reason, vitamin D is regarded…
Similar to zinc, manganese is also involved in the proper functioning of numerous enzymes. However, manganese still struggles for recognition. Manganese is a naturally occurring metal which is silver in color with no smell or taste in pure form. Normally, manganese is confronted in environment as a compound with sulfur, oxygen or chlorine. It is not found as free element in nature. It is an essential nutrient which is required in small bit amounts for maintaining human health. With balanced diet, it could be obtained in sufficient amounts. Two forms of manganese could be found in the environment. Manganese compounds…
Selenium got spotlight a decades ago when researchers got to know mysterious type of heart disease in Asia was caused due to deficiency of selenium. Selenium is a metalloid element having atomic number 34. It is an element which determines normal functioning of organism with antioxidant properties and protect organism against the free radicals damage and carcinogenic factors. This element fulfills essential physiologic function but have fine lines between concentrations which has beneficial effects on organism. It is included in metabolism of hydrogen peroxide as well as lipid hydroperoxides. It comprises an integral part of enzymes such as deiodinase iodothyronine,…