Role Of Vitamins

Vitamins are chemical substances Whose presence is indispensable for proper growth and upkeep of the body. They are biological catalysts, which, by their presence in minute quantities, bring about a proper regulation in the building up of tissues. It has been found that animals fed on a diet consisting of a mixture of protiens, carbohydrates, fats, minerals and water alone do not thrive, but devolop symptoms of mal nutrition even though the several food constituents may be in the proportions needed for the maintenence of the body.

Pigeons, that were fed on polished rice, devoloped signs of nervous disorder, but when such pigeons wer fed on unpolished rice, disorder disappeared and growth was normal. From this experiment, it was concluded that addition to protiens, carbohydrates, fats, minerals and water, the food must contain other 'factors' which were essential for proper growth and they have been termed as vitamins.

Vitamins have no tissue-building or fuel value; they are concerned with the regulation of the process connected with metabolism. They are present in small quantities in natural foods, but are often removed by artificial process such as polishing the grains and cooking. Sof for as it is known, vitamin D are not produced in the bodies of animals. The are not produced in plants, and when the plant food is eaten by animals, the vitamins are not destroyed by the digestive enzymes, but are absorbed into the blood.

There are several kinds of vitamins which have been named Vitamins A,B,C,D etc., as their exact chemical compopsition was not known when they were discovered. But, now as their chemical structure are becoming known, the letters are being replaced by chemical names.

The absence of deficiency of vitamins in the food causes certain diseases referred to as deficiency diseases. The vitamins are also popularly known as antiberiberi vitamin, antirachitic vitamin, etc., according to the diseases caused by their absence, or deficiency.

On the basis of their solubility in fat and water, vitamins are classified into

• Fat-soluble vitamins: Vitamins A,D,E and K,


• Water-soluble vitamins: Vitmins B and C