"Amazing" vitamin family, an article to introduce you to the whole!

*For medical professionals only

An article to learn about the vitamin family

Vitamins, which are trace organic compounds necessary to maintain the normal life activities and health of the human body, do not provide energy in the body, but are an important part of maintaining the normal physiological functions of the body.

The vitamin family is huge, there are dozens of known species, and there are ≥ 13 that are essential. Most vitamins cannot be synthesized in the body and need to be ingested from the outside world through food. Each vitamin performs a different function in the human body, and a lack of any of them can lead to malnutrition and even disease.

Next, follow the small medicine to enter the big family of vitamins!

Vitamins are divided into fat-soluble vitamins and water-soluble vitamins according to different solubility:

Fat-soluble vitamins include: vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K a total of 4 kinds;

Water-soluble vitamins include vitamin C, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacin, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, vitamin B9 (folic acid), vitamin B12, and biotin in total [1].

01 Vitamin A

The main physiological function of vitamin A is to maintain the integrity of the skin and mucous membranes, and the lack of vitamin A can lead to dry skin and keratinization of hair follicles;

Vitamin A is a photoreceptor substance that constitutes visual cells, and the lack of vitamin A can lead to a decrease in visual function, often feeling dry eyes, and even suffering from eye diseases such as dry eye disease;

Vitamin A is also involved in the synthesis of human DNA and RNA, which has the effect of promoting growth and development and maintaining immune function, and the lack of vitamin A can easily lead to a decrease in resistance, susceptibility to colds and asthma [1].

02B vitamins

B vitamins are a general term for a large class of vitamins, which can protect the health of the skin and mucous membranes, prevent rough and greasy skin, prevent anemia, hair loss, baldness, prevent stomatitis, and also protect the liver, prevent fatty liver, and promote protein absorption.

B vitamins act on the nervous system, circulatory system and endocrine system, and participate in the body's metabolism. In addition, deficiencies of vitamin B6, vitamin B9, and vitamin B12 can cause elevated homocysteine, and supplementation with B vitamins can effectively reduce the level of blood homocysteine, the main risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases[1].

03 Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a substrate for neurotransmitters (norepinephrine, serotonin), cortisol, peptide hormones (vasopressin), and collagen synthesis.

Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant that directly scavenges oxygen radicals, synergizes with other antioxidants and protects endothelial cell function, promotes collagen synthesis, and maintains endothelial relaxation and barrier function.

Vitamin C can inhibit the inflammatory response, reduce ischemia and reperfusion injury, improve individual immunity, anti-infection immunity, promote wound healing, improve patient mood, reduce pain.

04 Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a steroid substance with the biological activity of cholecalciferol. The main physiological function is to regulate the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus in the body, promote the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in the intestine, mobilize bone calcium into the blood, promote renal reabsorption, and participate in the regulation process of proliferation, differentiation and immunity of a variety of cells.

Vitamin D deficiency can manifest itself in an increased prevalence of rickets, recurrent respiratory infections, and diabetes, and is more susceptible to schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, and obesity [1].

05 Vitamin E

Vitamin E is also known as tocopherol, the main physiological role is antioxidant, lack of vitamin E will shorten the life of red blood cells and cause hemolytic anemia, the body's oxidative phosphorylation process will also be blocked, increasing the risk of chronic diseases.

Vitamin E deficiency can lead to neurologic damage, often in patients with severe malabsorption. Diseases such as steatorrhea, pancreatitis, cirrhosis, and biliary atresia can occur in people with vitamin E deficiency [1]. In preterm infants, vitamin E deficiency is associated with increased risk of hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, edema, intraventricular hemorrhage, and pulmonary bronchial dysplasia.

06 Vitamins and clinical application

▌ Vitamins and Obstetrics and Gynecology

1.B vitamins (B1, B2, B6, B9, B12) have a great impact on pregnant women. B vitamins can not only play a role in preventing fetal malformations and congenital heart disease, and maintain the normal immune function and digestive function of mothers and babies; they can also affect nerves and inhibit nausea and vomiting reactions.

2. Fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E are stored in the body after absorption, and should not be over-supplemented, otherwise it is very easy to lead to accumulation poisoning.

3. If the pregnant woman lacks vitamin A, the fetus may be teratogenic (such as cleft lip, palate, microcephaly, etc.); excessive intake of vitamin A can cause poisoning and can lead to congenital malformations [2].

4. Folic acid can be synergistic with vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 to prevent clinical diseases such as preeclampsia and pregnancy hyperpsia [2].

▌ Vitamins and pediatrics

1. According to a national survey conducted by the mainland in 2002, the mainland belongs to the areas of mild-to-moderate vitamin A deficiency in children, and the rate of vitamin A deficiency in infants and young children younger than 6 months is higher than 80% [1].

2. Vitamin A deficiency is common in children with diarrhea disease; vitamin A and D deficiencies can also aggravate the occurrence of acute respiratory infections and pneumonia [1].

3. Vitamin D has a certain correlation with children's growth and bone development, and can also prevent rickets and hypocalcemia; early childhood vitamin D can reduce the occurrence of type 1 diabetes and prevent osteoporosis in adulthood.

4. Common anemia in pediatrics is related to vitamin C, which can lead to scurvy, nosebleeds and so on in children.

5. Vitamin C can stimulate the body to produce interferon, supplementing enough vitamins can increase antibodies, clear viruses and bacteria, thereby enhancing immunity; folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, etc. are also related to immunity.

▌ Vitamins and Endocrinology

Patients with type 1.2 diabetes often have vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E deficiencies at the same time. And this multivitamin deficiency is closely related to diabetes complicated by infections.

2. Serum 25-(OH)D3 levels in overweight or obese people are lower than those in normal body mass populations.

3. Vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 have a certain impact on related diseases such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis [1].

In general, vitamins are essential nutrients that our body needs, in addition to daily nutritional balance, we should also properly supplement some of the missing vitamin preparations!

bibliography:

Expert Consensus on Clinical Application of Vitamin Preparations, Chinese Journal of Surgery, 2015, 7(53): 481-487.

[2] The use of vitamin-mineral supplements in maintaining maternal and fetal health during pregnancy: expert consensus. Chinese Journal of Clinical Nutrition,2014,2(22):60-66.

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Source: Clinical Pharmacy Channel of the Medical Community

Author: Jin Xiaoqin

Review: Wang Shuping Chief Pharmacist

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