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Chemical Analysis of Vitamins

Vitamins are organic molecules that are essential to the human body and play a vital role in many metabolic processes. The human body cannot make most of the vitamins it needs on its own, so they must be obtained through food. There are 13 different vitamins known to be necessary for the body to function. These vitamins provide different roles based on their chemical structure.

  1. Vitamin A

    • Vitamin A is an antioxidant made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. The structural formula of vitamin A is related to that of carotene. The body uses beta-carotene, found in plants, and converts it into vitamin A. One of the most important roles of vitamin A is to produce retinal, essential to vision.

    B Vitamins

    • The B vitamins include B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B7 (biotin), B12 (cyanocobalamin), and folic acid. These eight vitamins are called the B-complex vitamins. They help the body to make energy from food by aiding in the breakdown of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.

    Vitamin C

    • Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, is an antioxidant. Vitamin C can be synthesized from glucose. It is used by the human body to form collagen, aids in healing, and helps the body to absorb iron.

    Vitamin D

    • Vitamin D is also made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. It helps the body to absorb calcium and helps regulate calcium levels in the blood. A deficiency of the vitamin can cause bone diseases, such as rickets or osteoporosis. Vitamin D can be formed by the body through exposure to sunlight.

    Vitamin E

    • Vitamin E is another antioxidant made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. It is essential for reproduction and also helps the immune system and metabolism. Vitamin E is found in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, and leafy green vegetables.

    Vitamin K

    • Vitamin K is another essential vitamin and is made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. It plays a crucial role for the human body by making proteins used for effective blood clotting. A vitamin K deficiency may cause excessive bleeding. Vitamin K also helps the body retain calcium and so is important for bone health. The best food source for vitamin K is leafy green vegetables. A small amount of vitamin K can also be produced by bacteria in the intestines.

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