Scientific Name of Vitamins and Their Sources
Scientific Name of Vitamins and Their Sources: Scientific names are given to vitamins similar to what is given to plants and animals. These names were given based on the chemical properties, physical proteins, and biochemical nature of the vitamins. The term “vitamine” was given in 1912 by Dr. Casimir Funk and was changed to “vitamin” by Jack Cecil Drummond in the year 1920.
What are Vitamins?
The term vitamin is taken from the Greek words “vita” or life and “amine”. Vitamins are biochemical substances that are organic in nature and are responsible to support various processes taking place in the body of living things like immunity, growth, cellular metabolism, etc. They are mostly required in trace amounts in the body i.e. they are micronutrients. In the case of humans, these vitamins are taken through the food we eat on a daily basis our body is incapable of producing and storing them on their own. There are mainly thirteen compounds that are accepted as vitamins; however, in some texts and cases, a fourteenth one is also added.
Scientific Names of Vitamins and Sources
Following is the list of the thirteen vitamins and their scientific names;
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Sources |
Vitamin A |
Retinol |
Milk, nuts, tomatoes, guava, liver, green leafy vegetables, yellow fruits, etc. |
Vitamin B1 |
Thiamine |
Milk, peas, dates, fresh fruits, cashew nuts, potatoes, etc. |
Vitamin B2 |
Riboflavin |
Mushrooms, popcorn, dates, yogurt, milk, bananas, etc. |
Vitamin B3 |
Niacin |
Milk products, meat, eggs, fish, guava, peanuts, peas, etc. |
Vitamin B5 |
Pantothenic acid |
Meat, egg yolk, peanuts, legumes, mushrooms, avocado, etc. |
Vitamin B6 |
Pyridoxine |
Chicken, fish, eggs, vegetables, soya beans, cereals, etc. |
Vitamin B7 |
Biotin |
Milk, egg yolk, cauliflowers, raspberries, salmon, peanuts, etc. |
Vitamin B9 |
Folic acid |
Legumes, beets, green leafy vegetables, whole grains, citrus fruits, etc. |
Vitamin B12 |
Cobalamins |
Milk, fish, meat, poultry products, etc. |
Vitamin C |
Ascorbic acid |
Goat milk, chestnuts, grapefruit, broccoli, citrus fruits, etc. |
Vitamin D |
Calciferol |
Cereals, chicken, fish, cod liver oil, egg yolk, etc. |
Vitamin E |
Tocopherol |
Milk, guava, mango, potatoes, nuts, seeds, etc. |
Vitamin K |
Phytonadione |
Lamb meat, tomatoes, broccoli, grapes, mangoes, chestnuts, etc. |
Year of Discovery of the Vitamins
Following are the years in which the vitamins are discovered;
Common Name |
Year of Discovery |
Vitamin A |
1913 |
Vitamin B1 |
1910 |
Vitamin B2 |
1920 |
Vitamin B3 |
1936 |
Vitamin B5 |
1931 |
Vitamin B6 |
1934 |
Vitamin B7 |
1936 |
Vitamin B9 |
1941 |
Vitamin B12 |
1948 |
Vitamin C |
1920 |
Vitamin D |
1920 |
Vitamin E |
1922 |
Vitamin K |
1929 |
Classification of Vitamins
Based on the type of solvent in the vitamins are soluble they are classified into two groups;
Common Functions and Deficiency of Vitamins
Following is the list of the functions of vitamins and what are the results of their deficiency;
|
Common Name |
Functions |
Deficiency |
1 |
Vitamin A |
Helps in reproduction, embryonic development, growth, and immunity, and maintains the stability of the skin and mucous membranes. |
Night blindness, hyperkeratosis, etc. |
2 |
Vitamin B1 |
Helps in the metabolism of carbohydrates, and nerve functioning. |
Beriberi, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. |
3 |
Vitamin B2 |
Helps in energy generation by breaking down protein, fats, and carbohydrates. |
Eye and nerve problems. |
4 |
Vitamin B3 |
Helps in fatty acid synthesis, steroid synthesis, and cellular metabolism. |
Pellagra |
5 |
Vitamin B5 |
Helps as a cofactor for fatty acid elongation, breaking down of fats and carbohydrates, and maintaining healthy skin, hair, eyes, and liver. |
Nerve and GI tract problems, and Paresthesia. |
6 |
Vitamin B6 |
Helps in hemoglobin production of hemoglobin, metabolism of nitrogen and amino acids, controls blood glucose levels, etc. |
Anemia and peripheral neuropathy. |
7 |
Vitamin B7 |
Helps in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fatty acids, and amino acids. |
Dermatitis, enteritis, and conjunctivitis. |
8 |
Vitamin B9 |
Helps in cell division, maturation of RBC, DNA synthesis, and metabolism of amino acids. |
Embryonic deformities, Megaloblastic anemia, etc. |
9 |
Vitamin B12 |
Helps in cell division, blood production, neurological function, and metabolism of amino acids, folic acids, and fatty acids. |
Anemia, GI tracts, and nerve problems. |
10 |
Vitamin C |
Helps in absorption of non-heme iron, immunity, hormone synthesis, collagen synthesis, antioxidant, etc. |
Scurvy, joint pain, etc. |
11 |
Vitamin D |
Helps in the mineralization of bones, maintaining blood phosphorus and calcium levels. |
Osteomalacia, and Rickets. |
12 |
Vitamin E |
Helps in maintaining cell membranes, maintaining polyunsaturated fatty acids in the cells, antioxidants, healing wounds, etc. |
Anemia, Infertility. |
13 |
Vitamin K |
Helps in protein synthesis, blood coagulation, bone mineral metabolism, etc. |
Bleeding disorder. |
Daily Average Intake of Vitamins
The preferred average intake of the vitamins is listed below;
|
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Daily Average Intake |
1 |
Vitamin A |
Retinol |
Males = 900 mcg/day Females = 700 mcg/day |
2 |
Vitamin B1 |
Thiamine |
Males = 1.2 mg/day Females = 1.1 mg/day Pregnant or Lactating females = 1.4 mg/day |
3 |
Vitamin B2 |
Riboflavin |
Male = 1.3 mg/day Females = 1.1 mg/day Pregnant female = 1.4 mg/day Lactating female = 1.6 mg/day |
4 |
Vitamin B3 |
Niacin |
Adult = 500 to 2000 mg/day |
5 |
Vitamin B5 |
Pantothenic acid |
Adult = 5 mg/day Pregnant female = 6 mg/day Lactating female = 7 mg/day |
6 |
Vitamin B6 |
Pyridoxine |
Males = 1.3 to 1.7 mg/day Females = 1.3 to 1.5 mg/day Pregnant Females = 1.9 mg/day Lactating Females = 2 mg/day |
7 |
Vitamin B7 |
Biotin |
Adults = 30 mcg/day Lactating Female = 35 mcg/day |
8 |
Vitamin B9 |
Folic acid |
Adults = 400 to 800 mcg/day Pregnant female = 800 mcg/day |
9 |
Vitamin B12 |
Cobalamins |
Adults = 2.4 mcg/day Pregnant female = 2.6 mcg/day Lactating female = 2.8 mcg/ day |
10 |
Vitamin C |
Ascorbic acid |
Males = 90 mg/day Females = 75 mg/day Lactating and pregnant female = 85 mg/day |
11 |
Vitamin D |
Calciferol |
Adults = 15 mcg/day |
12 |
Vitamin E |
Tocopherol |
Adults = 1000 mg/day |
13 |
Vitamin K |
Phytonadione |
Males = 120 mcg/day Females = 90 mcg/day |
FAQs on Scientific Name of Vitamins and Their Sources
1. What is the Function of Vitamins.
Answer:
The functions of vitamins are;
- Helps to maintain the immune system and metabolism.
- Regulation of normal blood flow.
- Helps to maintain neurons and other nerve cells.
- Maintain skin tissues.
- Maintain bone and teeth strength.
2. Why there is are Irregularities in the Common name of Vitamins?
Answer:
The reason behind the irregularities in the vitamin naming is due to the fact that over time researchers have either reclassified or renamed the vitamins or discarded them as false leads for example Vitamin J was renamed as Vitamin B2, vitamin B4 was found to be a component of DNA i.e. adenine, etc.
3. Which Vitamins are Naturally Synthesized by the Human Body?
Answer:
If not received in average quantities through food the human body can synthesize vitamins B3, D, and K on its own.
4. What is the Term used for Overconsumption of Vitamins?
Answer:
As vitamins are micronutrients and are required in very trace amounts consumption of vitamins is termed as hypervitaminosis which leads to vitamin poisoning.
5. Which Vitamins are Most Important for Normal Brain Development and Functioning?
Answer:
The vitamins B6, B9, and B12 are essential for brain development and normal functioning.