Detailed Summary
Vitamins are organic compounds that play vital roles in maintaining health and performing specific biological functions. They cannot generally be synthesized by the body and therefore must be obtained from dietary sources. They are classified into two primary groups based on their solubility:
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Fat-Soluble Vitamins: These vitamins (A, D, E, and K) dissolve in fats and oils but not in water. They are stored in liver and adipose tissues, allowing for larger storage in the body, but excess amounts can lead to toxicity.
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Water-Soluble Vitamins: This category includes the B vitamins and vitamin C. These vitamins dissolve in water, are not stored in large amounts, and must be consumed regularly in the diet to prevent deficiencies. Due to their water-solubility, excess amounts are excreted in urine, reducing the risk of toxicity.
Deficiencies in vitamins can lead to various health issues and diseases, including xerophthalmia from vitamin A deficiency and scurvy from a lack of vitamin C. Vitamins are also referred to by their respective letters and some have sub-groups (e.g., B1, B2) indicating different forms.
The term 'vitamin' originated from 'vital' + 'amine,' reflecting their essential nature; however, many vitamins do not contain an amino group, prompting the omission of 'e' from the original terminology.