Introduction

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One may wonder, what is vitamins? Vitamin is simply, a nutrient that the body needs in small amount to function and stay healthy.
Sources of vitamins are plants and animals, food products and dietary supplements.

As i proceed, i will be detailing on at least five different vitamins and their functions, including their deficiency.

Types of vitamins

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We have many types of vitamins. They include;
Vitamin a
Vitamin c
Vitamin d
Vitamin k
Vitamin e
Vitamin b1
Vitamin b12
Vitamin b6 etc but i will be discussing on at least 5 out of the above listed.

Vitamin A

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Vitamin a (retinol, retinoic acid) is a nutrient important to vision, growth, cell division, reproduction and immunity. It is indeed a fat- soluble vitamin and an essential nutrient for humans.

Functions of vitamin A

• It helps form and maintain healthy teeth, skeletal and soft tissues, main brain and skin.
• It produces the pigment in the retina of the eye. That is why it is known as retinol.
• It promote good eyesight especially in low light.
• It helps in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Deficiency of vitamin a

• Night blindness is one of the signs.
• Lack of blindness contributes to total blindness by making the cornea very dry, thus damaging the retina and cornea.
• It can also cause liver disorder
• It can as well lead to death.

Natural sources of vitamin a

Carrot
Spinach
Sweet potatoes etc.

Vitamin C

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Vitamin c also is the nutrient the body needs in small amount to function and stay healthy. It fights infections, heal wounds and keeps tissues healthy. It is an antioxidant that helps prevent cell damage caused by free radicals. It is knpwn as abscorbic acid.

Functions of vitamin c

• It repair all body tissues.
• It involves in many body functions including;
  Formation of collagen
  Absorption of iron
  Proper functioning of immune system
  Wound healing
  Maintaining of cartilage, bones and teeth.

Deficiency of vitamin c

Vitamin c deficiency manifest symptomatically after 8 to 12 weeks of inadequate intake and also presents as irritability and anoresia/emaciation. A part from that, we also have;

• Poor wound healing
• Gingival swelling with loss of teeth etc.

Natural sources of vitamin c

Citrus fruit such as oranges and orange juice.
Pepper
Strawberries
Potatoes
Black currants etc.

Vitamin D

It is a fat soluble vitamin that helps the body absorb and retain calcuim and phosphorus.

Functions of vitamin d

Vitamin d has several important functions, and the most vitals are;

• Facilitating normal immune system function.
• Helps in development of both bones and teeth
• Improve resistance to certain tissue
• Reduce cancer cell growth etc

Deficiency of vitamin d

• Pain areas in the muscles
• Fatigue or muscle weakness
• Loss of hair
• Sweaty head
• Bone loss
• Cancer
• Heart diseases.

Natural sources of vitamin d

Egg yolks
Milk
Salmon
Liver etc.

Vitamin K

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Vitamin k is a vitamin/nutrient found mainly in green leaves and essential for blood clothing process.

Functions of vitamin k

Vitamin k helps to make various protein that are needed for blood clothing and the building of bones.

NOTE: Prothrombin is a vitamin k dependent protein directly involved with blood clothing while osteocalcin is another protein that requires vitamin k to produce healthy bone tissues.

Deficiency of vitamin k

• Significant bleeding
• Poor bone development
• Osteoporosis ie bone become weak and brittle.
• Increase risk of cardiovascular disease.

Natural sources of vitamin k

Green leafy vegetables like green, spinach, cabbage etc.
Blueberries
Grapes
Avacado etc

Vitamin E

It is a fat soluble vitamin that is found in seeds, nuts, leafy green vegetables and vegetables. It boost immune system and helps keep blood clot from foaming.

Functions of vitamin e

• It helps form red blood cells and widen blood vessel to keep blood from clothing inside them.
• It helps the body use vitamin k.
• Cells also use vitamin e to interact with each other.

Deficiency of vitamin e

• Vitamin deficiency can cause nerves and muscles damage that results in loss of feeling in the arms and legs.
• It can cause loss of body movement control.
• It can also cause muscle weakness.
• It causes vision problems.

Natural sources of vitamin e

Sunflower seed
Spinach
Avacado
Almonds
Pumpkin. Etc

Conclusion

All vitamins are nutrients that the body needs in small amount to function and stay healthy. Therefore, we should try to consume it no matter how small.