Benefits of Vitamins in the Human Body

1. Fat-Soluble Vitamins

Vitamin A

• Supports vision: Essential for maintaining good vision, especially in low light.
• Boosts immune function: Helps the body fight off infections.
• Promotes skin health: Maintains healthy skin and mucous membranes.

Vitamin D

• Strengthens bones: Aids in calcium absorption, supporting bone health and preventing osteoporosis.
• Supports immune health: Enhances the body's defense against illnesses.
• Improves mood: Linked to better mood regulation and reduced risk of depression.

Vitamin E

• Antioxidant properties: Protects cells from oxidative stress and damage.
• Supports skin health: Promotes healthy skin and aids in wound healing.
• Boosts immune system: Enhances the body’s natural defenses.

Vitamin K

• Blood clotting: Plays a crucial role in blood coagulation.
• Supports bone health: Helps in maintaining bone density and strength.

2. Water-Soluble Vitamins

Vitamin C

• Boosts immune system: Enhances the body's ability to fight infections.
• Promotes skin health: Supports collagen production for healthy skin and wound healing.
• Antioxidant effects: Protects cells from damage by free radicals.

B-Complex Vitamins

1. Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): Supports energy production and proper nerve function.
2. Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): Aids in energy metabolism and maintaining healthy skin and eyes.
3. Vitamin B3 (Niacin): Helps in the conversion of food to energy and supports nervous system health.
4. Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid): Essential for synthesizing and metabolizing proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.
5. Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine): Supports brain health and aids in the creation of neurotransmitters.
6. Vitamin B7 (Biotin): Promotes healthy hair, skin, and nails.
7. Vitamin B9 (Folate): Essential for DNA synthesis and cell growth, particularly important during pregnancy.
8. Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin): Supports nerve health and is crucial for red blood cell formation.

Vitamins Disqualified as Vitamins

Over time, several compounds that were initially classified as vitamins were later disqualified because they did not meet the criteria of being essential dietary nutrients. Here is a list of some of these compounds:

List of Disqualified Vitamins

• Vitamin B4 (Adenine): Initially thought to be a vitamin but is now known as a nucleobase and not essential as a separate dietary nutrient.
• Vitamin B8 (Inositol): Originally classified as a vitamin, but the body can synthesize it in sufficient amounts, so it is no longer considered essential.
• Vitamin B10 (PABA - Para-aminobenzoic acid): Was once thought to be a vitamin due to its role in folic acid synthesis, but it is not essential for human nutrition.
• Vitamin B11 (Salicylic Acid or Pteryl-hepta-glutamic acid): Sometimes confused with folate or other B vitamins, but not essential as a dietary vitamin.
• Vitamin F (Essential Fatty Acids): Initially grouped as a vitamin but later reclassified as essential fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6) rather than a true vitamin.
• Vitamin J (Catechol): Once considered a vitamin but later identified as a compound that does not meet the vitamin criteria.
• Vitamin P (Bioflavonoids): Originally thought to be vitamins due to their beneficial effects on capillary strength, but they are not essential nutrients.

Conclusion

These compounds were initially considered vitamins due to their biological importance, but advances in nutritional science showed that they do not meet the strict definition of an essential dietary vitamin.