Balanced Diet

Mon, 07 Oct 2013 18:09:52 +0100

VITAMINS

Vitamins are organic compounds that come from plants, and are considered micronutrients because we only need them in small amounts. Humans get vitamins either directly from plants, or by eating animals who have eaten plants. Vitamins can be sub-categorized as fat soluble and water soluble. The fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K can be stored in the body and can be toxic if ingested in excessive amounts. Water-soluble vitamins, the B vitamins and vitamin C, are flushed out of the system if not needed and must be replenished on a regular basis. Vitamins support a number of vital metabolic functions.

Vitamins are classified as water soluble (they can dissolve in water) or fat soluble (they can dissolve in fat). For humans there are 4 fat-soluble (A, D, E, and K) and 9 water-soluble (8 B vitamins and vitamin C) vitamins - a total of 13.

Water soluble vitamins need to be consumed more regularly because they are eliminated faster and are not readily stored. Urinary output is a good predictor of water soluble vitamin consumption. Several water-soluble vitamins are manufactured by bacteria.

Fat soluble vitamins are absorbed through the intestines with the help of fats (lipids). They are more likely to accumulate in the body because they are harder to eliminate quickly. Excess levels of fat soluble vitamins are more likely than with water-soluble vitamins - this condition is called hypervitaminosis. Patients with cystic fibrosis need to have their levels of fat-soluble vitamins closely monitored.

We know that most vitamins have many different reactions, which means they have several different functions. Below is a list of vitamins, and some details we know about them:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B₁
- Vitamin B₂
- Vitamin B₃
- Vitamin B₅
- Vitamin B₆
- Vitamin B₇
- Vitamin B₉
- Vitamin B₁₂
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K

vitamins

Balanced Diet