VITAMINS

Vitamins are of great importance for the human metabo­lism. The lack of them may cause deficiency diseases. Vi­tamins are catalysts which encourage and accelerate certain body processes necessary to health. Vitamins A, B, D and others are well known to everybody.

Vitamin A. The reddish, crystalline pigment carotene can be converted by animal organism into vitamin A. We find it in many vegetables such as carrots, tomatoes, pumpkins; in egg yolk, butter and fishliver oils. Vitamin A promotes growth and ensures efficient regeneration of visual purple, it is essential for the maintenance of normal structure and function of epidermis and mucous membrane. Without vi­tamin A children are underdeveloped, dull, sickly and have eye diseases.

Vitamin В complex. This term refers to several vitamins different or split off from the original vitamin B, and iden­tified chemically or by their biological effects. Among these are: vitamins B₁ B₂, B₃, B₄, etc. Vitamin B₁ effects growth and appetite, reduces sugar content in diabetes, stimulates biliary action, and is necessary for carbohydrate metabolism. Milk, eggs, grain cereals, yeast, fruits and vegetables are all sources of vitamin B. Vitamin B₂ — riboflavin is widely distributed in plants. In vegetables and in milk at least 90 % appears to be in free form. Vitamin B₃ acts as a rat antidermatitis and a chick antidermatitis. Vitamin B₄ is a highly potent antianemic substance, effective against neurologic and haematologic manifestations. It stimulates erythrocyte maturation. It strongly acts as an important growth factor in some undernourished children.

Vitamin С is ascorbic acid. Vitamin С deficiency disor­ders are scurvy, tendency to haemorrhages, diminished re­sistance to infection, anemia. Vitamin С foods aret raw cab­bage, young carrots, lettuce, celery, onions, tomatoes, pota­toes, orange juice, strawberries. Citric fruits are especially rich in this vitamin.

Vitamin D —the antirachitic vitamin. It enables the bones and the teeth to make use of the calcium and phosphorus in the foods. Young children lacking vitamin D are li­kely to have bow legs, small sunken chests, beaded ribs and soft teeth. Vitamin D is made in the body by the action of ultraviolet rays. Milk, cod liver oil, salmon and cod livers, egg yolk, butter, ergosterol activated by ultraviolet rays are sources of vitamin D potency.

All vitamins are associated one with another and with proteins, carbohydrates, and mineral salts.