Scientific Name of Vitamins and Their Sources

Scientific Name of Vitamins and Their Sources: Scientific names are given to vitamins similar to what is given to plants and animals. These names were given based on the chemical properties, physical proteins, and biochemical nature of the vitamins. The term “vitamine” was given in 1912 by Dr. Casimir Funk and was changed to “vitamin” by Jack Cecil Drummond in the year 1920.

What are Vitamins?

The term vitamin is taken from the Greek words “vita” or life and “amine”. Vitamins are biochemical substances that are organic in nature and are responsible to support various processes taking place in the body of living things like immunity, growth, cellular metabolism, etc. They are mostly required in trace amounts in the body i.e. they are micronutrients. In the case of humans, these vitamins are taken through the food we eat on a daily basis our body is incapable of producing and storing them on their own. There are mainly thirteen compounds that are accepted as vitamins; however, in some texts and cases, a fourteenth one is also added.

Scientific Names of Vitamins and Sources

Following is the list of the thirteen vitamins and their scientific names;

Common Name	Scientific Name	Sources
Vitamin A	Retinol	Milk, nuts, tomatoes, guava, liver, green leafy vegetables, yellow fruits, etc.
Vitamin B1	Thiamine	Milk, peas, dates, fresh fruits, cashew nuts, potatoes, etc.
Vitamin B2	Riboflavin	Mushrooms, popcorn, dates, yogurt, milk, bananas, etc.
Vitamin B3	Niacin	Milk products, meat, eggs, fish, guava, peanuts, peas, etc.
Vitamin B5	Pantothenic acid	Meat, egg yolk, peanuts, legumes, mushrooms, avocado, etc.
Vitamin B6	Pyridoxine	Chicken, fish, eggs, vegetables, soya beans, cereals, etc.
Vitamin B7	Biotin	Milk, egg yolk, cauliflowers, raspberries, salmon, peanuts, etc.
Vitamin B9	Folic acid	Legumes, beets, green leafy vegetables, whole grains, citrus fruits, etc.
Vitamin B12	Cobalamins	Milk, fish, meat, poultry products, etc.
Vitamin C	Ascorbic acid	Goat milk, chestnuts, grapefruit, broccoli, citrus fruits, etc.
Vitamin D	Calciferol	Cereals, chicken, fish, cod liver oil, egg yolk, etc.
Vitamin E	Tocopherol	Milk, guava, mango, potatoes, nuts, seeds, etc.
Vitamin K	Phytonadione	Lamb meat, tomatoes, broccoli, grapes, mangoes, chestnuts, etc.

Year of Discovery of the Vitamins

Following are the years in which the vitamins are discovered;

Common Name	Year of Discovery
Vitamin A	1913
Vitamin B1	1910
Vitamin B2	1920
Vitamin B3	1936
Vitamin B5	1931
Vitamin B6	1934
Vitamin B7	1936
Vitamin B9	1941
Vitamin B12	1948
Vitamin C	1920
Vitamin D	1920
Vitamin E	1922
Vitamin K	1929

Classification of Vitamins

Based on the type of solvent in the vitamins are soluble they are classified into two groups;

Classification of vitamins

Common Functions and Deficiency of Vitamins

Following is the list of the functions of vitamins and what are the results of their deficiency;

	Common Name	Functions	Deficiency
1	Vitamin A	Helps in reproduction, embryonic development, growth, and immunity, and maintains the stability of the skin and mucous membranes.	Night blindness, hyperkeratosis, etc.
2	Vitamin B1	Helps in the metabolism of carbohydrates, and nerve functioning.	Beriberi, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.
3	Vitamin B2	Helps in energy generation by breaking down protein, fats, and carbohydrates.	Eye and nerve problems.
4	Vitamin B3	Helps in fatty acid synthesis, steroid synthesis, and cellular metabolism.	Pellagra
5	Vitamin B5	Helps as a cofactor for fatty acid elongation, breaking down of fats and carbohydrates, and maintaining healthy skin, hair, eyes, and liver.	Nerve and GI tract problems, and Paresthesia.
6	Vitamin B6	Helps in hemoglobin production of hemoglobin, metabolism of nitrogen and amino acids, controls blood glucose levels, etc.	Anemia and peripheral neuropathy.
7	Vitamin B7	Helps in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fatty acids, and amino acids.	Dermatitis, enteritis, and conjunctivitis.
8	Vitamin B9	Helps in cell division, maturation of RBC, DNA synthesis, and metabolism of amino acids.	Embryonic deformities, Megaloblastic anemia, etc.
9	Vitamin B12	Helps in cell division, blood production, neurological function, and metabolism of amino acids, folic acids, and fatty acids.	Anemia, GI tracts, and nerve problems.
10	Vitamin C	Helps in absorption of non-heme iron, immunity, hormone synthesis, collagen synthesis, antioxidant, etc.	Scurvy, joint pain, etc.
11	Vitamin D	Helps in the mineralization of bones, maintaining blood phosphorus and calcium levels.	Osteomalacia, and Rickets.
12	Vitamin E	Helps in maintaining cell membranes, maintaining polyunsaturated fatty acids in the cells, antioxidants, healing wounds, etc.	Anemia, Infertility.
13	Vitamin K	Helps in protein synthesis, blood coagulation, bone mineral metabolism, etc.	Bleeding disorder.

Daily Average Intake of Vitamins

The preferred average intake of the vitamins is listed below;

	Common Name	Scientific Name	Daily Average Intake
1	Vitamin A	Retinol	Males = 900 mcg/day Females  = 700 mcg/day
2	Vitamin B1	Thiamine	Males = 1.2 mg/day Females = 1.1 mg/day Pregnant or Lactating females = 1.4 mg/day
3	Vitamin B2	Riboflavin	Male = 1.3 mg/day Females = 1.1 mg/day Pregnant female = 1.4 mg/day Lactating female = 1.6 mg/day
4	Vitamin B3	Niacin	Adult = 500 to 2000 mg/day
5	Vitamin B5	Pantothenic acid	Adult = 5 mg/day Pregnant female = 6 mg/day Lactating female = 7 mg/day
6	Vitamin B6	Pyridoxine	Males = 1.3 to 1.7 mg/day Females = 1.3 to 1.5 mg/day Pregnant Females = 1.9 mg/day Lactating Females = 2 mg/day
7	Vitamin B7	Biotin	Adults = 30 mcg/day Lactating Female = 35 mcg/day
8	Vitamin B9	Folic acid	Adults = 400 to 800 mcg/day Pregnant female = 800 mcg/day
9	Vitamin B12	Cobalamins	Adults = 2.4 mcg/day Pregnant female = 2.6 mcg/day Lactating female = 2.8 mcg/ day
10	Vitamin C	Ascorbic acid	Males =  90 mg/day Females = 75 mg/day Lactating and pregnant female = 85 mg/day
11	Vitamin D	Calciferol	Adults = 15 mcg/day
12	Vitamin E	Tocopherol	Adults = 1000 mg/day
13	Vitamin K	Phytonadione	Males = 120 mcg/day Females = 90 mcg/day

FAQs on Scientific Name of Vitamins and Their Sources

1. What is the Function of Vitamins.

Answer:

The functions of vitamins are;

1. Helps to maintain the immune system and metabolism.
2. Regulation of normal blood flow.
3. Helps to maintain neurons and other nerve cells.
4. Maintain skin tissues.
5. Maintain bone and teeth strength.

2. Why there is are Irregularities in the Common name of Vitamins?

Answer:

The reason behind the irregularities in the vitamin naming is due to the fact that over time researchers have either reclassified or renamed the vitamins or discarded them as false leads for example Vitamin J was renamed as Vitamin B2, vitamin B4 was found to be a component of DNA i.e. adenine, etc.

3. Which Vitamins are Naturally Synthesized by the Human Body?

Answer:

If not received in average quantities through food the human body can synthesize vitamins B3, D, and K on its own.

4. What is the Term used for Overconsumption of Vitamins?

Answer:

As vitamins are micronutrients and are required in very trace amounts consumption of vitamins is termed as hypervitaminosis which leads to vitamin poisoning.

5. Which Vitamins are Most Important for Normal Brain Development and Functioning?

Answer:

The vitamins B6, B9, and B12 are essential for brain development and normal functioning.