Vitamin Glossary

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is a fat-souble vitamin, essential for growth and life, taking part not only in vision but also in developmental processes. The human body stores only limited amounts of vitamin A, making dietary intake essential.

Beta-carotene is a dietary precursor of vitamin A, called provitamin A.  Beta-carotene functions as an antioxidant, regulator of cell communication and growth, and has shown regulate immune activities thought to be independent of its role as a pro-vitamin A compound. As an antioxidant, beta-carotene may quench certain free radicals and inhibit lipid peroxidation. Beta-carotene may exert anti-carcinogenic activity. Increase Night vision, due to its involvement in photochemical reactions in the retina.

Thiamin (Vitamin B1)

Thiamin (vitamin B1) is a water-soluble B vitamin, previously known as vitamin B1.  Since vitamin B1 is not stored in appreciable amounts in the body, it must be supplied daily from dietary sources. As a coenzyme, thiamin plays a key role in energy production, conversion of glucose to fat.

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)

Riboflavin is a water-soluble B vitamin, also known as vitamin B2_, it is an essential nutrient and plays a key role in energy production. In the body, riboflavin is primarily found as an integral component of the coenzymes, flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and flavin mononucleotide (FMN). Riboflavin has antioxidant activity, which is derived from its role as a precursor to FAD and as a cofactor in the production of glutathione.

Niacin (Vitamin B3)

Niacin (Vitamin B3) is a water-soluble vitamin, which is also known as nicotinic acid or vitamin B3. Niacin via its metabolites is involved in numerous biological processes including Energy production and the regulation of gene expression and the maintenance of genomic activity.

Studies suggest that Niacin may have an impact on conditions related to heart disease.  Niacin is used in therapeutic doses to treat various forms of hyperlipidemia (the presence of raised or abnormal levels of lipids and/or lipoproteins in the blood). Niacin has been shown to be effective in lowering plasma triacylglycerol and LDL concentrations, while raising plasma HDL concentrations.

Pantothenic Acid (vitamin B5)

Pantothenic acid, also known as vitamin B5, is essential to all forms of life.  Pantothenic acid is found throughout living cells as coenzyme A (CoA), a vital coenzyme in numerous chemical reactions for the synthesis of essential fats, cholesterol, and steroid hormones, as does the synthesis of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, and the hormone, melatonin. Heme, a component of hemoglobin, requires a CoA-containing compound for its synthesis. Metabolism of a number of drugs and toxins by the liver requires CoA.

Pyridoxine HCL (Vitamin B6)

Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin that must be obtained from the diet because humans cannot synthesize it. There are three traditionally considerd forms of vitamin B6: pyridoxal (PL), pyridoxine (PN), pyridoxamine (PM).  The coenzymes are involved in more than 100 biochemical reactions. These reactions include the metabolism of glycogen and amino acids, the synthesis of nucleic acids, and the synthesis and metabolism of hemoglobin and the formation of red blood cells as well as the synthesis of the neurotransmitter, serotonin.

Biotin (Vitamin B7)

Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin that is generally classified as a B-complex vitamin (Vitamin B7). Biotin is necessary for the production and utilization of fats and amino acids in the body. Biotin is a cofactor for enzymes that are involved in the metabolism of carbohydrate, fat, and protein. Enzymatic reactions involving biotin allow the transfer of carbon dioxide, CO₂, in biochemical reactions that are essential for the metabolism of carbohydrates, fat, and protein.

Folic Acid (Vitamin B9)

The terms folic acid and folate are often used interchangeably for this water-soluble B-complex vitamin (vitamin B9). Folic acid occurs rarely in foods or the human body, making dietary intake essential. As a coenzyme, folate is essential for the synthesis of the purines, guanine, adenine, the pyrimidines and thiamine. Heart and arterial disease may be prevented and treated with folic acid supplementation to decrease blood homocysteine concentration. 

Folic Acid is essential for formation of red and white blood cells from stem cells in bone marrow and for their maturation.  Folic acid is involved in the synthesis of DNA and RNA. It is also necessary for DNA replication and repair, maintenance of the genome and regulation of gene expression.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 has the largest and most complex chemical structure of all the vitamins. It is unique among vitamins in that it contains a metal ion, cobalt. Vitamin B12 is involved in biochemical reactions play an important role in the production of energy from fats and proteins as a cofactor for L-methylmalonyl-CoA. Vitamin B12 is also involved in the synthesis of the amino acid, methionine, from homocysteine.

Choline (B Complex Vitamin)

Choline is a water-soluble nutrient typically grouped within the Vitamin B complex.  Choline it is an essential nutrient and must be consumed in the diet to maintain health. Choline is crucial for the normal function of all cells and is used to synthesize phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin, which are structural components of all human cell membranes.  Choline is required for lipid transport and metabolism, and prevents fat accumulation in the liver.  Choline helps the liver and gallbladder function properly.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin. Unlike most mammals, humans do not have the ability to make their own vitamin C. Therefore, we must obtain vitamin C through our diet. Vitamin C is required for the synthesis of collagen, an important structural component of blood vessels, tendons, ligaments, and bone, thus, vitamin C is essential for maintenance of connective tissues and wound healing Vitamin C also plays an important role in the synthesis of the neurotransmitter, norepinephrine which is critical to brain function.

Vitamin C is also a highly effective antioxidant. Even in small amounts vitamin C can protect indispensable molecules in the body, such as proteins, lipids (fats), carbohydrates, and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) from damage by free radicals and reactive oxygen species that can be generated during normal metabolism as well as through exposure to toxins and pollutants (e.g. smoking).  Vitamin C is involved in the metabolism of cholesterol to bile acids, which may contribute to healthy blood cholesterol levels or prevent formation of gallstones.

Vitamin D3

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in very few foods. The human body makes vitamin D by the effects of ultraviolet light on the skin’s cholecalciferol also known as D3. Vitamin D is essential for promoting calcium absorption in the gut and maintaining adequate serum calcium and phosphate concentrations to enable normal bone growth and maintenance. Without sufficient vitamin D, bones can become thin, brittle, or misshapen. Together with calcium, vitamin D also helps protect older adults from osteoporosis.

Vitamin E

The term vitamin E describes a family of eight fat soluble antioxidants: four tocopherols (alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-) and four tocotrienols (alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-). Alpha-tocopherol is the form of vitamin E that appears to have the greatest nutritional significance.The fat-soluble vitamin, alpha-tocopherol, is uniquely suited to intercept free radicals which can be harmful.

Vitamin E protects polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) from oxidation by destroying free radicals. Vitamin E is also known to inhibit the activity of protein kinase C, as well as to affect the expression and activity of immune and inflammatory cells.  Vitamin E inhibits platelet aggregation and may be involved in signal transduction in neuronal cells since it is associated with neuronal cell membranes and other lipids in the nervous system.

Vitamin K₁ and K₂

There are a number of compounds possessing vitamin K activity. Two naturally occurring forms of vitamin K exist: vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) and K2 (menaquinone) both of which are fat-soluble vitamins.

The "K" is derived from the German word "koagulation." Coagulation refers to the process of blood clot formation. Vitamin K is required for normal coagulation of the blood and is therefore known as an anti-hemorrhagic vitamin. Vitamin K may also essential for formation of healthy bone through synthesis of proteins (osteocalcin matrix Gla protein, and protein S), which are thought to promote bone formation and maintenance.