The history of vitamins dates back to the early 20th century. The term "vitamin" was coined in 1911 by Polish biochemist Casimir Funk, who believed that certain nutrients were essential for maintaining good health, and that these nutrients could not be produced by the body. He called these nutrients "vitamines," a combination of the words "vital" and "amine," because they were believed to contain amino groups.
In the 1920s and 1930s, scientists began to identify and isolate specific vitamins, and to understand their roles in the body. Vitamin C was the first vitamin to be isolated, in 1928, by Hungarian biochemist Albert Szent-Gyorgyi. This was followed by the discovery of Vitamin A, B1, B2 and B3. Vitamin D was discovered in the 1920s, and it was found that it could be produced by the body when the skin was exposed to sunlight.
During World War II, vitamins became important for maintaining the health of soldiers and civilians, and vitamin fortification of foods became widespread. In the decades that followed, scientists continued to discover new vitamins and to study their health benefits. Today, we know of 13 essential vitamins, each with specific roles in maintaining good health.Vitamins have been used as dietary supplements and fortifying agents in food and drinks. They are essential for maintaining a healthy body, and deficiency of certain vitamins can lead to specific diseases.
The 13 essential vitamins are:
- Vitamin A (retinol)
- Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
- Vitamin B3 (niacin)
- Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)
- Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
- Vitamin B7 (biotin)
- Vitamin B9 (folate or folic acid)
- Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)
- Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
- Vitamin D (calciferol)
- Vitamin E (tocopherol)
- Vitamin K (phylloquinone, menaquinones)
It's important to note that many of these vitamins can exist in different forms, and the chemical names for these forms can vary. Additionally, there are different forms of Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and Vitamin K.
Vitamin deficiencies can lead to a variety of health problems, known as deficiency diseases. Some of the most common vitamin deficiency diseases include:
Vitamin A deficiency: Can cause night blindness, dry eyes, and an increased risk of infections.
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency: Can cause beriberi, a disease that affects the nervous system and can lead to muscle weakness, difficulty walking, and heart problems.
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) deficiency: Can cause a condition called ariboflavinosis, which can cause skin rashes, mouth sores, and eye problems.
Vitamin B3 (niacin) deficiency: Can cause pellagra, a disease that affects the skin, nerves, and digestive system, and can lead to dementia.
Vitamin B12 deficiency: Can cause megaloblastic anemia, a type of anemia in which the red blood cells are larger than normal, leading to fatigue, weakness, and a variety of other symptoms.
Vitamin C deficiency: Can cause scurvy, a disease that can lead to bleeding gums, bruising, and an increased risk of infections.
Vitamin D deficiency: Can cause rickets, a disease that affects bone development in children, leading to soft bones and deformities.
Vitamin K deficiency: Can cause bleeding disorders, as it is essential for blood clotting.
It's important to note that vitamin deficiencies can also cause a wide range of other health problems, and that the symptoms and severity of deficiency diseases can vary depending on the specific vitamin and the individual.