BIOL 244 Chapter 24: Vitamins Lecture 6 (September 9) Vitamins: organic compounds, necessary in a very small amount for body structure and function Sources: Green plants Fruits Eggs Diary products Water-soluble vitamins: Vitamin B- Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)- acts as a coenzyme- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)- necessary components for coenzymes- Vitamin B3 (Niacin)- necessary component for coenzymes- Vitamin B6 (Pantothenic acid)- necessary component for coenzymes- Vitamin B9 (Folic acid)- necessary for nucleic acid and amino acid metabolism and neural tube formation in the fetus- Vitamin B12 (Pantothenic acids)- necessary for nucleic acid metabolism and erythrocye (RBCs) formation Vitamin C (Folic acid)- required for collagen (hair, skin, nails) synthesis and helps in iron absorption- Take with orange juice because it helps iron be absorbed - Too much can cause kidney disease Biotin- acts as a coenzyme- Helps maintain proper growth of hair, nail, & healthy skin Coenzymes= organic molecules and cofactors= inorganic molecules Fat-soluble vitamins Vitamin A- necessary for night vision and required for synthesization of rhodopsin (pigment for black and white vision)- Acts as an antioxidant- Deficiency can cause night blindness Vitamin D- necessary for calcium and phosphorus absorption and utilization, bone health muscle contraction and kidney function- Controls some gene activities (3% gene pool: 700-900 genes)- Can be produced in the body (skin) with the help of sunlight Vitamin E- acts as an antioxidant Vitamin K- necessary for blood clot formation- Produced in the body with the help of colon bacteria  Overdose of vitamins is not