Vitamins

By S0207885 and S0257589

Vitamins

• Organic compounds.• Help to maintain the body’s normal functions.• Needed in small amounts.• Needed if an animal is unable to synthesize enough

of the vitamins itself or cannot synthesize them in the body at all.

• Divided into two main groups: fat soluble and water soluble vitamins.

Fat Soluble VitaminsThese vitamins are only soluble in fats or lipids as they are also known. There are four vitamins which are in this group, these are Vitamins A, D, E and K.

Vitamin What It Does Sources Deficiency

Vitamin A (Retinoid) This vitamin is needed for vision as well as healthy skin, mucous membranes (e.g. gums), the growth of teeth and bones and helping to support the immune system.

Vegetables, fruit, meat, eggs “Night blindness” – a symptom of Vitamin A deficiency is common and causes poor eyesight in the dark as well as taking more time for eyes to adapt to darkness.

Vitamin D Helps in the absorption of Calcium, bone growth and strength, maintaining general health and supports the immune system.

Egg yolks, exposure to the sun, citrus fruits, fish

If the body is exposed to the sun it will produce Vitamin D and therefore it does not need to be supplemented like most other vitamins. This production of Vitamin D is

Deficiency of Vitamin D can cause Rickets which is a bone disease that weakens the bones causing them to break easily and not develop properly in younger animals.

Vitamin E (Tocochromanols)

Is a strong antioxidant which protects the fatty lining on the outer layer of cells in the body. Helps to prevent heart problems such as heart attacks from occurring.

Green and leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds

Deficiency can effect fertility, it can also lead to muscle disease which causes the weakening of muscles.

Vitamin K Aids in the clotting of blood, strengthens bones

Vegetables (green and leafy vegetables contain the most Vitamin K), fruit, meat (from grass fed animals), fish

Can cause unwanted blood clots to form in the body if Vitamin K is deficient.

Water Soluble VitaminsThese vitamins are soluble in water and the vitamins in this group are Vitamins B and C.

Vitamin B Group

What It Does Sources Deficiency

B1 (Thiamine) Helps to convert food into energy in the body, is also needed to maintain the normal functions of the nervous system.

Black beans, green peas, black-eyed peas, peanuts and other nuts, seeds, fruit, vegetables, meat

Deficiency of Thiamine (Vitamin B1) can result in many problems with the nervous system and brain along with other vital organs within the body.

B2 (Riboflavin) Helps to convert food into energy and supports the production of red blood cells.

Green vegetables, beans, beets, eggs

A deficiency of Riboflavin can cause red cell production to decrease and this can lead to anaemia.

B3 (Niacin) Maintains general health and helps to convert food into energy. Used to synthesize starch which is then stored in the liver and muscles for energy use at another time.

Cereal, meat, fish, nuts, vegetables

Deficiency in Niacin can cause anaemia, skin lesions, low blood sugar, dizzy spells, diarrhoea, insomnia, muscle weakness.Prolonged deficiency of Vitamin B3 can cause Pellagra: a disease which causes dementia among other symptoms.

B5 (Pantothenic Acid)

Helps maintain general health and the correct functioning of the organs. Has a role in making food into energy and the extraction of vital nutrients from foodstuffs.

Oily fish, eggs, meat, seeds Burning foot syndrome is one of the most common results of Pantothenic Acid deficiency, this causes loss of feeling in the feet, inflammation, intense pain, lethargy and weakness.

Vitamin B Group

What It Does Sources Deficiency

B6 (Pyridoxine) Helps in the production of red blood cells and the breakdown of carbohydrates into energy. Pyridoxine is needed for the production of neurotransmitters, chemicals which send impulses from one neuron to another in the nervous system and brain.

Meat, fish, potatoes, seeds, bananas, spinach

Deficiency of Pyridoxine can cause anaemia and can also cause problems to nerves in the body. Vitamin B6 deficiency can also cause skin problems (such as inflammation).

B7 (Biotin) Vitamin B7 aids in the regulating of blood sugars and also helps to turn fatty acids into energy.

Eggs, nuts, green, leafy vegetables, meat

Deficiency of Biotin can cause hair loss, fatigue, loss of appetite, weakness and pain in muscles.

B9 (Folic Acid/ Folate)

Folate helps with the functioning of the brain and nervous system as well as supporting the production of red blood cells.

Beans (black, pinto, kidney), lentils, leafy, green vegetables

B12 (Cobalamin) Vitamin B12 aids in the production of red blood cells, also plays an important role in the production of DNA

Fish, meat Deficiency of Vitamin B12 leads to anaemia. Macrocytosis is another symptom of Cobalamin deficiency which is when there is not enough of the vitamin in red cell production and the production of DNA, this causes the cells to become larger than usual.

Vitamin What It Does Sources Deficiency

Vitamin C Is a strong antioxidant which help to maintain a safe amount of activity in free radical molecules, these molecules are very reactive and this can cause a lot of damage to parts of the body depending on where these molecules are. Changes iron into a more absorbable form for the intestines. Vitamin C is needed for the production of Collagen, proteins which are important in body structure.Needed for the production of some types of neurotransmitters which send commands around the nervous system.Vitamin C is needed for the production of Serotonin which is vital in many of the different systems in the body including the immune system.

Green, leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, strawberries, kiwis, pineapple, papayas (papayas provide the most Vitamin C out of these foods)

Deficiency of Vitamin C causes a disease known as Scurvy which causes hair loss, flaky skin, loss of teeth and swollen limbs. If Vitamin C is not provided then animal’s with Scurvy will die (only humans and guinea pigs cannot produce their own Vitamin C).