Vitamin B1, also known as thiamine, plays a crucial role in the body's metabolism. A lack of thiamine can cause beriberi, a condition impacting the heart and nervous system. The term "vitamin" was first introduced in 1911 by Casimir Funk, a biochemist from Warsaw, who worked at the Lister Institute in London. Funk isolated a component that prevented nerve inflammation in chickens on a deficient diet and named it "vitamine," thinking it was vital for life and was a chemical amine. Later, the "e" was dropped when it was discovered that vitamins were not necessarily amines.Vitamins were named alphabetically (A, B, C, etc.) based on their discovery order, except for vitamin K, named for "Koagulation" by Danish researcher Henrik Dam. The list of vitamins includes:Vitamin A: Retinol, derived from carotene compounds, is essential for transmitting light signals in the eye's retina. Its deficiency can cause vision problems.Beta Carotene: An antioxidant that guards cells against damage that may lead to cancer. It can be converted into vitamin A as needed. It is found in vegetables like carrots and sweet potatoes, leafy greens, and fruits like cantaloupes and apricots. High dietary intake can cause carotenemia, turning the skin yellowish, often seen in infants consuming mostly mashed carrots.Vitamin B2: Functions in reactions involving coenzymes. A deficiency results in mouth and skin lining inflammation.Vitamin B3: Part of essential coenzymes involved in metabolism. Its deficiency leads to skin inflammation, digestive issues, and mental decline.Vitamin B6: Acts as a cofactor for enzymes. A deficiency can cause skin and mouth inflammation, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and weakness.Folate (Folic Acid): Crucial for the synthesis of nucleic acids, the genetic material. A folate deficiency results in megaloblastic anemia.Vitamin B12: Necessary for nucleic acid synthesis. Its deficiency also causes megaloblastic anemia, observable in certain conditions.Vitamin C: Key for collagen synthesis, the structural protein for body tissues. Deficiency leads to scurvy, marked by weak blood vessels, poor wound healing, and bone deformities in children.Vitamin D: A fat-soluble vitamin that aids in calcium and phosphorus absorption and metabolism. Adequate sunlight exposure typically eliminates the need for dietary supplements, as it triggers synthesis in the skin. Deficiency can result in osteomalacia in adults and rickets in children.Vitamin E: A deficiency can cause anemia.Vitamin K: Essential for forming blood clotting factors; a deficiency can lead to excessive bleeding.
