This is a simple powerpoint presentation about vitamins. Done by year 1 medical students at the University of Science and Technology, Sana'a, Republic of Yemen. (2007/2008)

1. Vitamins
Benefits and essentials

3. What are Vitamins?
• It is an organic compound, required in small
amounts by an organism to obtain cellular
functions.
• It is called vitamin, when it can not be
synthesized in sufficient quantities by the
organism, and must therefore be supplied by
the diet.

4. History of Vitamins
• In ancient Egypt: Feeding of patients with liver
to prevent night blindness (now known as
vitamin A deficiency)
• In 1749, the prevention of scurvy by citrus
foods, was first discovered by the Scottish
surgeon James Lind.
• In the Orient: Beriberi was common (a disease
caused by the deficiency of Vitamin B1),
because of polished white rice.

5. The discovery of Vitamins and their
sources
Year of discovery Vitamin Source
1909 Vitamin A (Retinol) Cod liver oil (a fish)
1912 Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) Rice bran
1912 Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) Lemons
1918 Vitamin D (Calciferol) Cod liver oil
1920 Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) Eggs
1922 Vitamin E (Tocopherol) Wheat germ oil
1926 Vitamin B12 (Siano Cobalamin) Liver
1929 Vitamin K (Phylloquinone) Luzerne
1931 Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) Liver
1931 Vitamin B7 (Biotin) Liver
1934 Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) Rice bran
1936 Vitamin B3 (Niacin) Liver
1941 Vitamin B9 (Folic acid) Liver

6. In Humans: How do these Vitamins
dissolve?
• Vitamins are classified as either:
1) water- soluble (can dissolve in water
solutions) – these are readily excreted from
the body. There are 9 water soluble vitamins.
2) fat-soluble (can dissolve in lipid solutions)-
these are absorbed through the intestinal
tract with the help of lipids (fat)- There are 4
types of fat soluble vitamins.

7. Vitamin Chemical Solubility Rec. Diet. Deficiency Upper Overdose
Name name Allowances diseases Intake level disease
Vitamin A Retinol, Fat 900µg Night blindness 3000µg Hyper
carotenoids keratomalacia vitaminosis A
Vitamin B1 Thiamine Water 1.2 mg Beriberi N/D
Vitamin B2 Riboflavin Water 1.3 mg Ariboflavinosis N/D
Vitamin B3 Niacin, Water 16 mg Pellagra 35.0mg Liver damage
niacinamide
Vitamin B5 Pantothenic Water 5 mg Paresthesia N/D
acid
Vitamin B6 Pyridoxine, Water 1.3-1.7 mg Anemia 100 mg Nerve damage
pyridoxamine
Vitamin B7 Biotin Water 30µg Dermatitis, N/D
enteritis
Vitamin B9 Folic acid, Water 400µg Birth defects 1,000µg Proprioception
folinic acid , nerve damage
Vitamin B12 Cyanocobalami Water 2.4µg Megaloblastic N/D
ne anemia
Vitamin C Ascorbic acid Water 90 mg Scurvy 2,000 mg
Vitamin D Ergocalciferol, Fat 5µg-10µg Rickets, 50µg Hypervitaminoi
Cholecalciferol osteomalacia sD
Vitamin E Tocopherols, Fat 15 mg Hemolytic 1,000 mg Possible heart
tocotrienols anemia problems
Vitamin K Phylloquinone, Fat 120µg Bleeding N/D Increased
menaquinones diathesis coagulation

8. Vitamins as supplement
• Many researchers have claimed that vitamin
supplementation do not only provide no real
health benefits, but could also be the source
of increased mortality.
• In some cases, dietary supplementation could
have unwanted effects, especially with other
dietary supplements and medicines.

9. No wonder that an apple a day
keeps the doctor away!
Thank you!