Vitamins and Their Functions Sources and Deficiency Chart is a crucial topic in the General Science section of most competitive exams. Understanding the different vitamins, their sources, chemical names, solubility, and the diseases caused due to their deficiency is essential for any aspiring candidate. In the chart below, we have provided a comprehensive overview of the vitamins, including their scientific names, sources, solubility, and related deficiency diseases, to help you prepare effectively for your exams.
What are Vitamins?
- Vitamins are organic compounds that are essential for the healthy functioning of all biological activities in living organisms. These nutrients are needed in small amounts to maintain good health.
- Since the body cannot produce enough of these essential vitamins on its own, they must be obtained through food and supplements.
- Vitamins are considered micronutrients because they are needed in small quantities. However, they play a significant role in vital processes such as metabolism, immunity, and digestion.
- The word “vitamin” comes from the Latin word vita, meaning “life.” The term “vitamine” was first coined by Polish biochemist Casimir Funk in 1912.
- In 1929, Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins, an English biochemist, was awarded the Nobel Prize for his groundbreaking discovery of vitamins.
Classification of Vitamins
Vitamins are essential nutrients that can be classified into two main categories based on how they dissolve in water or fat: fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins.
Fat-Soluble Vitamins
These vitamins dissolve in fat and are stored in the body’s fat tissues and liver. The four fat-soluble vitamins are:
- Vitamin A – Important for vision, skin health, and immunity.
- Vitamin D – Supports bone health and immune function.
- Vitamin E – Acts as an antioxidant, protecting cells from damage.
- Vitamin K – Crucial for blood clotting and bone health.
Water-Soluble Vitamins
Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water and are not stored in the body. They must be replenished regularly through diet. The ten water-soluble vitamins include:
- Vitamin B7 (Biotin) – Supports healthy hair, skin, and nails.
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin) – Helps with energy production and skin health.
- Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) – Important for brain development and function.
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) – Essential for metabolism and nerve function.
- Vitamin C – Strengthens the immune system and promotes skin health.
- Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid) – Supports cell growth and is important during pregnancy.
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) – Helps convert food into energy.
- Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) – Vital for red blood cell production and nerve function.
- Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) – Involved in hormone production and metabolism.
- Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) – Supports brain function and immune health.
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How to Remember Water-Soluble Vitamins
A simple way to remember which vitamins are water-soluble is: All vitamins except A, D, E, and K are water-soluble. Think of “B” for B group vitamins (like B1, B3, B5, etc.), and “C” for Vitamin C.
This classification helps us understand how each vitamin functions in the body and why they are essential for maintaining overall health.
Vitamins and Their Functions Sources and Deficiency Chart
The table below gives complete information about the different types of vitamins, the source of the vitamins, and the scientific names of the vitamins.
| Common Name | Solubility | Chemical Name | Food Sources | Deficiency disease |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A | Fat-soluble | Retinol | Carrot, Broccoli,Milk, Spinach, tomatoes, Egg yolk, Fish, Butter | Night blindness, hyperkeratosis, and keratomalacia |
| Vitamin C | Water-soluble | Ascorbic acid | Green Chilli, Lettuce, Beans, Fresh citrus fruits such as orange and Amla | Scurvy, Bleeding Gums |
| Vitamin D | Fat-soluble | Calciferol | Cod liver oil, Fish, beef, egg yolk, liver, chicken breast and cereals. | Rickets and osteomalacia |
| Vitamin E | Fat-soluble | Tocopherol | Vegetable oils like Cotton seed oil, Sunflower oil, Lettuce, Egg, Milk | Sterility in males and abortions in females, mild hemolytic anemia in newborn infants |
| Vitamin K | Fat-soluble | Phylloquinone | Pork liver oil, Leafy vegetables, Cabbage, Broccoli, Beef and lamb. | Bleeding diathesis |
| Vitamin B1 | Water-soluble | Thiamine | Cashew Nuts, Corn, Wheat flour, Cabbage, Milk, Meat | Beriberi, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome |
| Vitamin B2 | Water-soluble | Riboflavin | Sprouted gram and wheat , Beef liver, Milk, Mushrooms, Bananas. | Ariboflavinosis, glossitis, angular stomatitis |
| Vitamin B3 | Water-soluble | Niacin | Molasses, Green Peas, Sweet Potatoes, Liver, Egg yolk, Mushrooms, Milk Products | Pellagra |
| Vitamin B5 | Water-soluble | Pantothenic Acid | Yoghurt, egg yolk, Meat, Broccoli, Kidney, Peanuts, Chicken, Milk, legumes, mushrooms, avocado | peripheral neuropathy |
| Vitamin B6 | Water-soluble | Pyridoxine | Food crops, Sprouted Seed, Meat, mushrooms, Leafy vegetables | Anemia peripheral neuropathy |
| Vitamin B7 | Water-soluble | Biotin | Cereals, Yeast, Cauliflower, Peas, egg yolk, Milk, Tomatoes | Dermatitis, enteritis |
| Vitamin B9 | Water-soluble | Folic Acid | Citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, whole grains, legumes, beets | Deficiency during pregnancy is associated with birth defects, such as neural tube defects |
| Vitamin B12 | Water-soluble | Cyacobalamin | Fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk | Megaloblastic anemia / Pernicious anaemia |
Previous year questions on this topic
Here are some previous year questions related to Chemical or Scientific names of Vitamins and Their Functions, Sources, and Deficiency Diseases that are commonly asked in competitive exams:
Q1. Which of the following is known as Vitamin B1?
[SSC Section Officer (Audit) 2001]
Answer: Thiamine
Q2. Night blindness results from the deficiency of —
[SSC CPO Sub-Inspector 2003]
Answer: Vitamin-A
Q3. Which vitamin helps in blood coagulation?
[SSC Section Officer (Audit) 2003]
Answer: Vitamin-K
Q4. Which of the following is a rich source of Vitamin B-12?
[SSC CPO Sub-Inspector 2004]
Answer: Milk
Q5. Xerophthalmia is a deficiency disease caused by a lack of?
[SSC Tax Assistant (Income Tax & Central Excise) 2004]
Answer: Vitamin A
Q6. Bleeding of gums and loosening of teeth is caused by a deficiency of?
Answer: Vitamin C
Q7. Deficiency of Vitamin D in children causes?
[SSC CPO Sub-Inspector 2006]
Answer: Rickets
Q8. Scurvy is a disease that is caused by a deficiency in which vitamin?
[SSC CPO Sub-Inspector 2006]
Answer: Vitamin C
Q9. Deficiency of Vitamin B6 in humans causes?
[SSC Section Officer (Audit) 2008]
Answer: Anaemia
Q10. The metal, which is a constituent of Vitamin B12 is—
[SSC Section Officer (Audit) 2008]
Answer: Cobalt
FAQs
Q1. What is the scientific name of vitamin B12?
Answer: Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12, also called cobalamin)
Q2. What is vitamin K called?
Answer: Phylloquinone (It is a Fat-soluble vitamin)
Q3. Riboflavin is the chemical name of which vitamin?
Answer: Vitamin B2
Q4. What is the chemical name of vitamin C?
Answer: Ascorbic acid
Q5. The RBC deficiency is a deficiency disease of which vitamin?
Answer: Vitamin B12
