Vitamins

What are Vitamins for?

Vitamins are essential for overall health and energy. Most vitamins convert your food intoenergy while others are essential for your skin, eyes, growth etc. Please see the archive database for a complete listing of vitamins.

You can also take a vitamin quiz here

List of Vitamins with their Functions, Sources, Etc

Vitamin B1

Function
coenzyme used in energy metabolism. Also supports normal appetite and nervous system function

Deficiency Symptoms
Blood circulatory: Edema, enlarged heart, abnormal heart
Nervous System: weakness, pain, low morale, difficulty walking

Toxicity Symptoms
Water soluble

Significant Sources
pork, ham, bacon, liver, whole grains, nuts

Vitamin B2, Riboflavin

Function
coenzyme used in energy metabolism. Also supports supports normal vision and skin health

Deficiency Symptoms
Arivoflavinosis: Cracks at the corners of mouth, hypersensitivity to light, skin rash

Toxicity Symptoms
Water soluble

Significant Sources
Milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, meat, leafy green vegetables, whole-grain or enriched breads and cereals

Vitamin B3, Niacin

Function
coenzyme used in energy metabolism. Also supports supports nervous system, digestive system and skin health

Deficiency Symptoms
Pellagra: Diarrhea, black, smooth tongue, loss of appetite, weakness

Toxicity Symptoms
diarrhea, heartburn, fainting, sweating, low blood pressure

Significant Sources
milk, eggs, meat, poultry, fish, whole-grain and enriched breads and cereals, and nuts.

Vitamin B6, Pyridoxine

Function
coenzyme used in amino acid and fatty acid metabolism.helps convert tryptophan to niacin, helps make red blood cells

Deficiency Symptoms
Anemia, smooth tongue, irritability, muscle twitching

Toxicity Symptoms
Bloating, Depression, fatigue, impared memory, headaches

Significant Sources
leafy green vegetables, legumes, seeds, liver, breads, cereal, pasta, and grains

Vitamin D

Function: Helps maintain adequate mineralization of bones.

Deficiency Disease: Rickets and Osteomalacia

Symptoms Include: Abnormal growth, soft bones, joint pain and muscle spasms

Toxicity Symptoms: Raised blood calcium, excessive thirst, headaches and kidney stones.

Significant Sources:
Sunlight, fortified milk, eggs, liver and sardines.

Vitamin E

Function: Acts as an antioxidant and is involved in the stabilization of cell membranes

Deficiency Disease: None

Symptoms Include: Anemia, weakness, difficulty walking, and fibrocystic breast disease

Toxicity Symptoms: Enhances the effects of anti-clotting medication.

Significant Sources:
Plant oils, green leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds.

Vitamin K

Function
Synthesis of blood-clotting proteins, and to regulate blood calcium

Deficiency Symptoms
Hemorrhage

Toxicity Symptoms
May interfere with anti-clotting medication

Significant Sources
Liver, green leafy vegetables, milk

Vitamins

List of Vitamins with their Functions, Sources, Etc

Other Nutrient Rich Foods