Vitamins are organic substances that have high biological activity, even if their content in the body is negligible. They affect such important functions of the human body as immunity, hormonal balance, vision, etc. Vitamins cannot be synthesized in the human body. The role of vitamins is to provide a number of catalytic reactions in the body. The number of currently known vitamins, which are of great importance in the regulation of all body functions and metabolism, reaches twenty.
The term "vitamin" (vita - life, lat.) Was introduced in 1912 by a Polish biochemist, whose name is Funk Kazimierz. He isolated thiamine, or vitamin B1, from rice. There are water-soluble vitamins - vitamin B1 and B6, all B vitamins, vitamin PP, ascorbic acid, and fat-soluble vitamins A, E, D, K and prostaglandins. With an excess of fat-soluble vitamins in the body, they become toxic, with an excess of water-soluble vitamins they are excreted from the body with urine.
What are vitamins of group B, how many are there and why are they needed? This group has eight vitamins: thiamine (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), nicotinic acid (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), cobalamin (B12), folic acid and biotin.
Vitamin B1 plays an important role in the metabolism of fats and carbohydrates, helps maintain normal heart function, is necessary for the full development and growth of the body, the digestive and nervous systems, and does not have toxic properties. Most people get vitamin B1 along with plant foods such as beans, peas, spinach, yeast, soybeans, whole wheat bread. Vitamin B1 is found in the liver, kidneys, beef and pork, in addition, thiamine is synthesized by some bacteria of the large intestine microflora.
Riboflavin, or vitamin B2, is necessary for regulating the breakdown of fats and proteins, acts as a coenzyme, is necessary for the health of the nervous system and skin, and is involved in the oxygen reaction. Symptoms of deficiency: inflammation of the soft tissues near the mouth and nose, seborrheic dermatitis, discomfort in bright light, inflammation of the tongue. Vitamin B2 is found in milk, cereals, meat, cheese, eggs and peas.
Nicotinic acid (B3) is necessary for the human body to metabolize, skin, health of the nervous system and gastrointestinal tract. Vitamin B3 deficiency causes pellagra, a disease that was previously one of the most common among poor people. Symptoms of deficiency: dermatitis, diarrhea, and dementia (often fatal). Pellagra also affects the oral cavity. Nicotinic acid is found in meat, fish, yeast, milk, eggs, legumes, potatoes and peanuts.
Pyridoxine or vitamin B6 is involved in the metabolism of proteins and fats, as well as in the decay of carbohydrates. Vitamin B6 deficiency is extremely rare because it is found in large quantities in many products: in liver, meat, fish, brown rice, oil, cereals, wheat germ, legumes, etc.
Cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) acts as a co-enzyme in the synthesis of DNA, is necessary for the functioning of the nervous system, the metabolism of fats and carbohydrates. Often, a deficiency of this vitamin develops in vegetarians who do not get a sufficient amount of it from plant products, so they are shown vitamin B12 in ampoules.
Folic acid is indispensable in the synthesis of DNA and RNA, the maturation of red blood cells, is involved in the formation of hemoglobin and the breakdown of proteins, it is necessary for all biochemical reactions in the body. Its deficiency slows growth, causes anemia. Folic acid is found in almost all plant foods.
Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) and biotin are involved in the metabolism of lipids, fats, carbohydrates and certain amino acids, produced by bacteria in the intestines, and found in meat, cereals and legumes.