Human Nutrition 3(3+0)

Lesson 19 : Vitamins

Characteristics

Characteristics of the vitamins are

• Most of the vitamins have been artificially/chemically synthesized.
• Some vitamins are soluble in water and others are fat-soluble.
• Some vitamins are synthesized in the body. Some members of vitamin B complex are synthesized by microorganisms in the intestinal tract.
• Vitamins are partly destroyed and are partly excreted.
• Vitamins can be stored in the body to some extent, for example the fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the liver and subcutaneous tissue.
• Vitamins can perform their work even in very small quantities. Hence, the total daily requirement is usually very small/in micro quantities.