Vitamins Scientific Names and Deficiency Diseases

Vitamins are organic compounds that are necessary for our nutrition. Vitamins are important for the proper functioning of our body and other metabolic activities. In this article, we will discuss vitamins' scientific names and deficiency diseases caused by them. The vitamins that we are going to discuss are Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B7, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E and Vitamin K. 

Vitamin A.

The scientific name of vitamin A is  Retinol and it is fat soluble. Apart from Retinol vitamin A is also called retinoic acid,  retinal or beta-carotene. The major sources of vitamin A include milk, fish oils, eggs,  Leafy green vegetables, orange and yellow vegetables. 

Diseases Caused by The Deficiency Of Vitamin A.

The major diseases caused by the deficiency of vitamin A include Night Blindness, Infertility, Dry skin,  and Delayed growth. 

1. Night Blindness.

Severe vitamin A deficiency causes night blindness which is a condition where people have trouble seeing at night.  Vitamin A helps the body make red blood cells. If there aren't enough red blood cells, then vision becomes blurry. 

2. Infertility.

Vitamin A  also acts as an antioxidant and its deficiency can lead to infertility in both males and females.  Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after 1 year of unprotected intercourse.  This antioxidant vitamin A also supports the development of babies.

3. Dry skin.     

Vitamin A deficiency can cause eczema and other skin problems. Apart from this vitamin A also plays a key role in repairing and creating skin cells. So, the overall result of vitamin A deficiency can lead to dry skin. 

4. Delayed growth.

The antioxidant vitamin A helps in the proper growth and development of the body. So its deficiency can lead to abnormal growth in children.

Vitamin B1.

The scientific name of vitamin B1 is Thiamine. Other names for vitamin B1 are aneurine and thiamin. Vitamin B1 or thiamine or aneurine or thiamin is soluble in  Water, Glycerol, and Methanol. Major sources of vitamin B1 include liver, peas, nuts, and fresh fruits like oranges and bananas. 

Diseases Caused by The Deficiency Of Vitamin B1.

The deficiency of vitamin B1 or thiamine can cause several health complications. These complications include brain disease, shortness of breath, seizures, coma and more. Among these health problems, Beriberi is most commonly caused by the deficiency of vitamin B1. 

1. Beriberi

Beriberi is a disease caused by a lack of vitamin B1 (thiamine or thiamin or aneurine). Thiamine is necessary for the proper functioning of the skin, muscles, heart and nervous system. Symptoms of beriberi include loss of appetite, vomiting, nausea, fatigue, weakness and dizziness. In intense cases of beriberi, symptoms may lead to coma, paralysis and death.

Vitamin B2.

The scientific name of vitamin B2 is riboflavin. The other names of this vitamin are lactoflavin and lactochrome. It is water-soluble. The chief sources of vitamin B2 include dairy milk, yogurt, eggs, cheese and salmon. 

 

Diseases Caused by The Deficiency Of Vitamin B2.

The other scientific term used for the deficiency of vitamin B2 or riboflavin is ariboflavinosis. The deficiency of vitamin B2 can cause health problems. These problems include edema of the throat and mouth,  angular stomatitis, cheilosis,  hyperemia (excess blood) and skin disorders.

Vitamin B3.

The scientific name of vitamin B3 is niacin. Other names vitamin B3 is nicotinic acid and nicotinamide. It is also called vitamin PP due to the fact that this vitamin protects us from pellagra. It is also a water-soluble vitamin. The major sources of vitamin B3 include fish, poultry, brown rice, legumes, bananas, seeds, nuts and red meat.   

Diseases Caused by The Deficiency Of Vitamin B3.

Vitamin B3 or niacin deficiency causes a condition called Pellagra.  Pellagra is a health problem caused by a lack of niacin or vitamin B3 in nutrition. Symptoms include dermatitis,  diarrhea and weakness.

Vitamin B5.

The scientific name of vitamin B5 is Pantothenic acid which is water soluble. This vitamin helps in the formation of haemoglobin, neurotransmitters, cholesterol and steroid hormones. The major sources of vitamin B5 are Fortified cereals, liver, kidney, avocado, mushrooms, dairy milk, nuts and seeds.

Diseases Caused by The Deficiency Of Vitamin B5.

The deficiency of vitamin B5 causes irritability, restlessness, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and headache. It also includes  Numbness or burning sensation in the feet or hands. 

Vitamin B6.

The scientific name of vitamin B6 is Pyridoxine and this vitamin is also water-soluble. Vitamin B6 helps the body to synthesize antibodies. The major sources of vitamin B6 are turkey, wheatgerm, peanuts bananas and soybeans.  

Diseases Caused by The Deficiency Of Vitamin B6.

The deficiency of vitamin B6 causes electroencephalographic abnormalities,  microcytic anemia, glossitis, and cheilosis.

Vitamin B7.

The scientific name of water-soluble vitamin B7 is biotin. This vitamin is also called vitamin H and helps the body in fat metabolization. The chief sources of vitamin H or vitamin B7 are cooked eggs, sweet potatoes, beef liver and salmon.

Diseases Caused by The Deficiency Of Vitamin B7.

The deficiency of vitamin B7 causes alopecia (hair loss), and a scaly, red rash around the openings of the mouth, nose and eyes. Rash resembles zinc deficiency. 

Vitamin B9.

The scientific name of vitamin B9 is folate which is water soluble. This vitamin is also called folic acid or vitamin H. The chief sources of vitamin B9 or vitamin H are seafood,  Dark green leafy vegetables. Beans, sunflowers seeds and liver also contain a high amount of vitamin B9.

Diseases Caused by The Deficiency Of Vitamin B9.

The deficiency of vitamin B9 or folate can cause anemia.  Anemia is a medical condition where the person does not have enough RBCs to carry oxygen throughout the body. Anemia occurs when the amount of hemoglobin (the protein that carries oxygen) in the blood is low. Hemoglobin is produced by the bone marrow and is released into the bloodstream. 

In order for the body to use oxygen accurately, the count of red blood cells must be adequate. If the count of red blood corpuscles is low. Then the body may experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, weakness, dizziness and pale skin.  

Vitamin C. 

The scientific name of vitamin C is  Ascorbic acid and it is water-soluble. The major sources of vitamin C include citrus fruit, such as lemons, oranges and orange juice. Strawberries, peppers,  broccoli,  potatoes and brussels sprouts also have high amounts of vitamin C.

Diseases Caused by The Deficiency Of Vitamin C.

The deficiency of vitamin C causes pneumonia, poor immunity, and a higher risk of infection. The most notable disease caused by the deficiency of ascorbic acid or vitamin C is Scurvy.  Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps prevent free radicals from damaging tissues, cells and DNA. 

Free radicals destroy the body's cells tissues and DNA. As a result, scurvy causes bleeding gums, fatigue, loose teeth and pain. In extreme and severe cases, scurvy can cause death. 

Vitamin D.

The scientific name of vitamin D is ergocalciferol. Vitamin d is also called viosterol and it is a fat-soluble vitamin. The major sources of vitamin D are egg yolks, liver and red meat. Vitamin content also remains high in oily fish – such as sardines, salmon and mackerel.

Diseases Caused by The Deficiency Of Vitamin D.

Severe and extreme vitamin D deficiency causes osteoporosis.  Osteoporosis is a medical condition characterized by deterioration of the bone structure and low bone density. This medical condition leads to an increased risk of bone fractures.

Vitamin E.

The other names of vitamin E are tocopherol, tocotrienol and alpha-tocopherol. The major sources of vitamin E include Almonds, sunflower seeds,  soybean oil and spinach. Other rich sources of vitamin E include pumpkin,  beet greens, collard greens,  peanuts and peanut butter. 

Diseases Caused by The Deficiency Of Vitamin E.

 Diseases such as cystic fibrosis, Crohn's disease and hemolytic anemia are caused by the deficiency of vitamin E.

Vitamin K.

The scientific name for Vitamin K is Phylloquinone. The food sources of vitamin K are Green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale,  collards, Swiss chard, romaine, and green leaf lettuce. Other rich sources of vitamin K are Vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and Brussels sprouts. 

Diseases Caused by The Deficiency Of Vitamin K.

Vitamin K deficiency causes serious problems from diabetes to cystic fibrosis and chronic kidney disease. Vitamin K helps in the synthesis of proteins that are involved in bone formation and blood clotting.

Conclusion.

Vitamins are organic compounds that are vital for our nutrition. Vitamins are important for the proper functioning of our body and other metabolic processes. In this article, we have brifely discussed vitamins' scientific names and deficiency diseases caused by them. Now you can understand how important they are for our body.