Vitamin D has had an increased amount of attention in the media over the past few weeks, due to its importance in the growth and development of our muscles and bones. Doctors have been looking at its role in proper functioning in the immune system, especially in new born babies.
Vitamin D has several important functions, it helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body. These substances are needed to keep bones and teeth healthy. Experts have suggested that due to lack of Vitamin D throughout pregnancy new born babies are being born with bone deficiency’s in particular Rickets. Rickets is a childhood bone disorder where bone soften and become prone to fractures and deformity. Although the main cause of Rickets is a lack of Vitamin D, a lack of calcium in ones diet is another.
Recent studies have shown that 1 in 4 toddlers are found to be lacking in vitamin D, and even more worryingly senior paediatric pathologists have discovered vitamin D deficiency in a significant number of children who have died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. A study conducted by Dr Cohen found that 75% of babies who had died of natural causes were deficient in Vitamin D.
There are also fears such deficiencies may have lead to children being taken away from their parents, when it is in fact rickets that are responsible for the deaths and injuries that are thought to be suspicious. In 2009 rickets were discovered by Dr Schoenberg, in a 4 month old baby whose parents had been accused of shaking him to death.
Although most people get enough Vitamin D from sunlight and food the Department of Health recommends all pregnant and breastfeeding women, children aged six months to five years and people aged 65 and over should take daily vitamin D supplements.
It is not essential that you need Vitamin D in your diet every day, because any of the vitamin your body does not need immediately is stored for future use. However The Department of Health advises those who take Vitamin D supplements can safely take up to 25 micrograms (0.25mg) a day.
Many Vitamin D supplements are already in pregnancy tablets such as, the Viridian Pregnancy Complex which contains Vitamin D2 (Ergocalicferol) which is plant derived.
Vitamin D or Cholecalciferol is an important fat soluble vitamin that can help lower your risk of osteoporosis and colorectal cancer. While you can get this vitamin from some foods the best way to get it is by getting out in the sun! your body can actually make this vitamin on its own with exposure to sunlight. Now this doesn’t mean that you should go bake in the sun because then you increase your risk of skin cancer. Just 10 or 15 minutes of exposure (without any sunscreen) to sunlight a day can be enough to get your body to make this vital vitamin.
Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin which means that the body can store it up and draw on those stores later on if need be. This also means, that you can get too much of it and this can cause problems such as kidney stones, over calcification of bones and teeth, and may cause calcium deposits which can harden arteries.
This vitamin plays a vital role your body and helps it absorb calcium which, as we all know, keep your bones strong. Therefore, getting enough Vitamin D is an important way to ward off osteoporosis as well as joint damage. This vitamin is said to help control back pain and the effects of arthritis. Your body also needs this vitamin to absorb phosphorus.
Recent studies are showing that Vitamin D can be an effective way to protect yourself against colorectal cancer as well as some types of auto immune diseases. Studies are still in the early stage but show promise for this important vitamin.
Getting Enough Vitamin D
The RDA or recommended daily intake of vitamin D for adults is 200 to 400 international units (IU) per day. if you are 50 to 70 years old you want to be at the high end and take 400 IU. individuals over 70 should get 600 IU each day.
These days most milk is fortified with Vitamin D and this is a great source because you will be getting calcium along with your vitamin D and since this important vitamin helps your body absorb calcium it’s a match made in heaven. Other sources include foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids like tuna, salmon, mackerel and sardines as well as organ meats, egg yolks, butter and dairy products that have full fat. If you don’t eat enough of these foods, you might consider taking cod liver oil.
Vitamin D Deficiency
Most people have heard of rickets but probably think that this disease is from olden times and doesn’t happen anymore. Unfortunately it’s beginning to show up again and children that do not get enough vitamin D. Symptoms of this disease include soft bones and abnormally developed bones. babies that don’t get enough vitamin D may have a condition where bones don’t harden. The results of these diseases is stunted growth, bowed legs and bone pain.
In older adults of vitamin D deficiency can cause osteoporosis which weakens your bones. it’s important to note that vitamin D is absorbed in the small intestine so any diseases that affect staff such as problems with the gallbladder, intestines, liver or pancreas can block the absorption and lead to deficiencies.
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Have we discovered a cancer prevention vitamin? Are cancer prevention vitamins really possible? Is the cancer prevention vitamin here?
New studies show we just might have! Some forms of cancer may be preventable with the use of a cancer prevention vitamin. Hardly any family in the United States has NOT had a family member die because of cancer. This could change with the addition of this cancer prevention vitamin to our daily diets.
There are two studies that have been conducted using very sophisticated analysis which revealed that we are close to having a cancer prevention vitamin. Almost half of the cases of breast cancer and almost two thirds of colorectal cancer, in the United States, have been helped with what appears to be the cancer prevention vitamin, Vitamin D, (25-hydroxyvitamin D).
The data from the breast cancer study showed individuals with the highest blood levels of 25(OH)D HAD the lowest risk factors for cancer. Wouldn’t it be great if we could prevent most breast cancers? The researchers for this cancer prevention vitamin divided the data from two studies into five equal groups from the lowest blood levels of 25(H)D to the highest level of 25(OH)D. The data showing whether or not the individuals developed cancer was also included with these studies. This is strong evidence that we are closer to developing a cancer prevention vitamin for breast cancer.
The cancer prevention vitamin data from the colorectal study was an analysis of five studies relating to 25(OH)D with risk of colon cancer. All these studies involved subjects with a risk of colon cancer and explored the association of blood levels of 25(OH)D. The levels were then checked 25 years later for the development of colorectal cancer.
According to one of the doctors involved in the study of the cancer prevention vitamin stated, “We project a two-thirds reduction in incidence with serum levels… which corresponds to a daily intake of 2,000 IU of vitamin D3. This would be best achieved with a combination of diet, supplements and 10 to 15 minutes per day in the sun.”
We have several sources of vitamin D3 (possibly THE cancer prevention vitamin) in our daily routine. We get vitamin D3 through exposure of the skin to sunlight, or ultraviolet B, our diet, and with nutritional supplements. (It is important to note here that the researchers underscored the importance of limiting sun exposure such that the skin does not change color (tan) or burn.) If you are sensitivity to sunlight, or you or a personal or family has a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer, any amount of extra sun exposure would be inadvisable. Therefore a cancer prevention vitamin may be taken in higher dose for those how have this sensitivity. That cancer prevention vitamin is easily available in some vitamin supplements.
Analysis of the colorectal cancer study had shown that in 2006 that a low dose of vitamin D (cancer prevention vitamin) didn’t protect against colorectal cancer within seven years of follow-up. However, the researchers wrote, the analysis did show that a higher dose (of cancer prevention vitamin) may reduce its incidence.
I am not a doctor so please consult your healthcare provider.
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Watch more Vitamins and Vitamin Supplements videos: www.howcast.com Subscribe to Howcast’s YouTube Channel – howc.st Learn about vitamin deficiency and mood effects in this vitamin supplements video from Howcast. Howcast uploads the highest quality how-to videos daily! Be sure to check out our playlists for guides that interest you: howc.st Subscribe to Howcast’s other YouTube Channels: Howcast Health Channel – howc.st Howcast Video Games Channel – howc.st Howcast Tech Channel – howc.st Howcast Food Channel – howc.st Howcast Arts & Recreation Channel – howc.st Howcast Sports & Fitness Channel – howc.st Howcast Personal Care & Style Channel – howc.st Howcast empowers people with engaging, useful how-to information wherever, whenever they need to know how. Emphasizing high-quality instructional videos, Howcast brings you experts who provide accurate information in easy-to-follow tutorials on everything from makeup, hairstyling, nail art design, and soccer to parkour, skateboarding, dancing, kissing, and much, much more. Hi, I’m Molly Lee, and I’m founder and director of energizingnutrition.com, a holistic health and nutrition practice based in New York City. Some general symptoms of a vitamin deficiency include low energy, depression, irritability, brittle nails, your hair falling out, and also skin issues, such as rashes, acne, or eczema. Lacking any of these vitamins will definitely have a negative effect on your moods. For example, B vitamins are essential to the body’s … Video Rating: 4 / 5
I starting learning about the advantages of Vitamin D just over a year ago, after my new doctor recommended I take a Vitamin D supplement. That research turned up so many benefits of Vitamin D, with new ones being discovered all the time. A short list of benefits of Vitamin D include: helps with bone formation and calcium absorption, helps fight disease, helps keep inflammation in check, and reduces the risk of developing all sorts of diseases, including depression, autoimmune diseases, cancer, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
Vitamins are crucial nutrients and substances of an organic nature that are vital for our health. Vitamins serve as components of enzymes and coenzymes. Enzymes are essential for speeding up our chemical reactions that take happen within our body.
With more and more people especially going into diet programs, there is an ever important need for these image and health conscious people to consume vitamin diet supplements. They are taking more and more on shelf space in the stores and they’re also available all over the internet. There are different kinds of vitamin diet supplements.
It’s because vitamin C is so popular. Everyone, even kids, knows that vitamin C helps your body stay healthy. You don’t have to be sold on the effectiveness idea of vitamin C, unlike, say, grape seed extract. You’re already receptive, so companies can turn huge profits by producing cheaply formulated products and using a little deceptive marketing to sell them.
Vitamin C supplements defend the body against the damaging effects of harmful environmental effects, pollution as well as aid the body in the manufacturing of anti-stress hormones and interferon.
The body requires vitamin C supplements for the metabolism of tyrosine, phenylalanine and folic acid.
Before we talk about the two supplements, it is important to understand why Americans take multi-vitamins. Our lives are so hectic and fast-paced that we have a hard time consuming the vitamins and minerals in our meals that we need. The fix for this problem is to take multi-vitamin supplements to give us the vitamins and minerals that we are not getting from our food.
Since we are now living longer, we want the years to be active ones filled with energy and vitality and free from disease. Ideally, the source of vitamins, minerals and nutrients should be from your diet. However, poor food choices, processed foods, sodas and excess sweets have become the norm for millions.
we live longer, and we want those extra years to be active ones full of energy and health. The basis for good health is a lifestyle that includes a sensible diet with vitamins nutrition supplements, sufficient quality sleep, moderate exercise and weight management.
Liquid vitamin nutritional supplements are also known to be more quickly absorbed by the body compared to pills, tablets, or capsules, because they do not have to be broken down by the stomach and intestines. Absorption of liquid vitamin nutritional supplements starts as soon as they are swallowed. However, this does not mean that they are more effective, since faster absorption is not so much an issue with vitamins.
Vitamins and supplements are now recognized in playing a role in the health and vitality of every organ in the body, from skin and bones to the nervous and immune systems, right up to the brain. Studies have shown that being well nourished with vitamins and minerals can lower cholesterol levels, help wounds heal faster, make you more resistant to colds and flu, asthma, cataracts, and even gum disease.
Vitamins are vital for the proper functioning of the body. Fruits and vegetables you eat are the major sources of vitamins. So in order to get the right amount of vitamins, trace elements and essential fatty acids, a balanced diet of nutritious foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, wheat, and dairy products should be implemented into your daily diet. If you don’t follow this routine, most likely you would have some kind of vitamin or mineral deficiency. So to fill this gap you need vitamin supplements.
Vegetarians are often deficient in certain vitamins that are only found in animal products. So they need to take supplements to avoid becoming deficient in these vitamins. Children will often need a vitamin supplement because some children do not eat a sufficient variety of foods and may need a vitamin supplement to compensate for this natural deficiency.
Many times it is seen that women do not breastfeed their babies due to certain reasons. So the babies must be given proper vitamin supplement. Their parents should consult to some health specialist before giving any supplements to their babies. However, most baby milk formulas have added vitamins so no additional supplement is needed.
Often the elderly and those persons suffering from certain illnesses may need to take a vitamin supplement. These individuals may be unable to consume the recommended daily vitamin allowance through their dietary intake, so supplements may be needed.
Sometimes due to your busy lifestyle you are not able to take the right amount of nutritious foods on a daily basis. So in this type of circumstances vitamin supplements are very beneficial.
You must choose the right vitamin supplement based on your need and deficiency. When taken responsibly, vitamin supplements are able to supply your body with the essential nutrients it requires in order to maintain a healthy life.
Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.
You all know that fruits and vegetables you eat are the natural sources of vitamins, minerals and nutrients then – What is the need of a vitamin supplement? With the pace of time lifestyle of the people are rapidly changing. Poor food choices, processed foods, sodas and excess sweets have become the norm for millions. Besides, even with a well-balanced diet, studies find that food nutrient values have been declining for decades because of soil depletion. So it is very essential today to choose a right vitamin supplement to fill the nutritional gap that arises due to improper diet.
Some Common Vitamin Supplements
* Vitamin A Supplements: It helps to maintain healthy vision, keep your skin healthy and boost your immune system. In simpler terms, this vitamin keeps your skin healthy, protects against wrinkles and acne and helps fight off infections and other unwanted diseases.
* Vitamin B12 Supplements: It helps to enhances muscle strength, provides energy and helps your nerves function properly. Insufficient amounts of vitamin B12 can lead to health complications such as fatigue, weak muscles and severe depression.
* Vitamin C Supplements: It serves a number of purposes including healing wounds, boosting your immune system, protecting artery linings and preventing cataracts.
* Vitamin D Supplements: It is helpful for babies who are breastfed since breastfeeding does not provide adequate amounts of this vitamin. Vitamin D has also been known to help fight osteoporosis.
* Vitamin E Supplements: It helps protect against heart disease and some forms of cancer. It also boosts the immune system and helps in healing injuries and wounds. Some studies prove that this vitamin also helps boost the immune system of elderly people.
* Vitamin K Supplements: It strengthens bones and is known to help fight osteoporosis.
So a right vitamin supplement can help you to attain a better health and energy, freedom from illness, improved sexual vigor and slowing the aging process.
Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) assists the body in the production of collagen, a basic component of connective tissues. Collagen is an important structural element in blood vessel walls, gums, and bones, making it particularly important to those recovering from wounds and surgery.
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and is needed for the production of collagen, the “glue” that strengthens the bodies muscles and blood vessels. Vitamin C is also important in wound healing as a natural antihistamine, fighting viruses, and aids in the formation of liver bile. Finally, it helps to detoxify alcohol and other substances.
Vitamin C is one of the more powerful and well-known antioxidants. Just as exposing a cut apple to air causes it to quickly turn brown, cells of the body can also suffer damage when exposed to oxygen, a process known as oxidation. Oxidation causes aging of the skin as well as all other organs and tissues of the body. Vitamin C, as a free-radical fighter, helps ward off wrinkles and many illnesses linked to oxidation, including cataracts, arthritis, heart disease, and cancer.
Sources of vitamin C Vitamin C is mostly present in fresh fruits, mainly citrus fruits, e.g. orange, lemon, tomato, pineapple, papaya, etc; fresh vegetables e.g. cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, spinach, green peppers, beans etc.; properly sprouted pulses, germinating grams, etc. potato and seeds are poor sources but rich during germination. Amla is one of the richest sources of vitamin C both in the fresh as well as in the dry condition. Guavas are another cheap but rich source of this vitamin.
Deficiency Symptoms of Vitamin C
Ascorbic acid literally means “acid that prevents scurvy”. Vitamin C deficiencies were first discovered on ships that were sailing to the “new world”. Often ships had barrels full of limes so that passengers could have lime juice every day to prevent scurvy. Symptoms of scurvy are rare, but milder symptoms can happen when intake is low. These include fatigue, weakness, bruising easily and depression. More serious symptoms are loose teeth and sore joints.
Benefits of Vitamin C:
There are plenty of good reasons to add vitamin C to your diet and skin care program. Benefits of vitamin C on the outside of your body. Vitamin C products for skin care can provide greater protection against harmful UV rays, increase the production of collagen and decrease the look of fine lines and pigmentation that are the result of aging. This can actually be easier said than done, since the properties of vitamin C make it difficult to use in a skin care product. Use a variety of vitamin C derivatives in skin care products that will bring about the same benefits as natural vitamin C with less of the ingredient required for results.
It keeps a check on the presence of cholesterol in the body. Thus, it actually helps to prevent gall bladder disease and even heart problems. Over consumption of Vitamin C is not exactly harmful because being a water-soluble vitamin, extra amount gets excreted in urine. However, too much consumption can lead to problems of stones in later stages.
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Time catches up with all of us and with that hair loss inevitably shows up. Whether it’s a small amount of hair loss or a lot of hair loss it’s inevitable that it will happen. But we can minimize its effects if it implement some small life changes that is easy to start.
This article will show you what a b vitamin category can provide for you and your hair for regrowth purposes.
The small life change that you can do for yourself is to change your diet or at the very minimum start taking vitamin supplements to nourish your body with protein that it needs.
Eating a well balanced diet is one of the keys to hair growth and either minimizing or eliminating the sugars and salts that we get in a lot of foods that we eat on a daily basis.
There are a lot of opinions floating around about whether or not diet affects hair but the bottom line is that if you don’t provide your body with the nutrients it needs for proper hair growth you will suffer hair loss sooner than expected.
If you don’t get the nutrients through your food the only other option is through the use of vitamins for your hair and more specifically concentrating on the vitamin b family of vitamins.
Vitamin B provides essential nutrients that your scalp needs in order to provide protein for hair growth. Using B vitamin supplements can be taken by tablet or in liquid form. Taken on a daily basis is one of the best habits that you can form for yourself and provide nutrients to make you feel and look better.
If you take an excess of any type vitamin your body will naturally secrete the rest so that you don’t have to worry about overdosing that much.
I will list some of the essential vitamin B classes that you should be aware to include in your daily habit of taking these vitamins.
You should be taking the following vitamins 1) Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) 2) Vitamin B12 (Cobalt) 3) Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 4) Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) 5) Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) 6) Vitamin B9 (folic Acid) 7) Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) 8) Vitamin E 9) Vitamin H…one of the more important vitamins in the vitamin B family because studies have shown that with a lack of this vitamin in the body tends to produce thinning hair prematurely.
So the bottom line is that if you aren’t eating healthy or at least taking multi vitamins then now is the time to start to insure your hair won’t meet hair loss sooner than expected.
About the Author
Learn how to cope with hair loss and find out other peoples perspectives on the matter through the use of forums where quality information is openly discussed to educate people. Visit http://www.thehairlossfix.com for more free information and resources to research.
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Learn how to cope with hair loss and find out other peoples perspectives on the matter through the use of forums where quality information is openly discussed to educate people. Visit http://www.thehairlossfix.com for more free information and resources to research.
The discovery of vitamin A may have stemmed from research dating back to 1906, indicating that factors other than carbohydrates, proteins, and fats were necessary to keep cattle healthy. By 1917 one of these substances was independently discovered by Elmer McCollum at the University of Wisconsinadison, and Lafayette Mendel and Thomas Burr Osborne at Yale University. Since “water-soluble factor B” (Vitamin B) had recently been discovered, the researchers chose the name “fat-soluble factor A” (vitamin A). Vitamin A was first synthesized in 1947 by two Dutch chemists, David Adriaan van Dorp and Jozef Ferdinand Arens.
Equivalencies of retinoids and carotenoids (IU)
As some carotenoids can be converted into vitamin A, attempts have been made to determine how much of them in the diet is equivalent to a particular amount of retinol, so that comparisons can be made of the benefit of different foods. Unfortunately the situation is confusing because the accepted equivalences have changed. For many years, a system of equivalencies was used in which an international unit (IU) was equal to 0.3 g of retinol, 0.6 g of -carotene, or 1.2 g of other provitamin-A carotenoids. Later, a unit called retinol equivalent (RE) was introduced. 1 RE corresponded to 1 g retinol, 2 g -carotene dissolved in oil (it is only partly dissolved in most supplement pills, due to very poor solubility in any medium), 6 g -carotene in normal food (because it is not absorbed as well as when in oils), and 12 g of either -carotene, -carotene, or -cryptoxanthin in food (these molecules only provide 50% of the retinol as -carotene, due to only half the molecule being convertible to usable vitamin).
Newer research has shown that the absorption of provitamin-A carotenoids is only half as much as previously thought, so in 2001 the US Institute of Medicine recommended a new unit, the retinol activity equivalent (RAE). 1 g RAE corresponds to 1 g retinol, 2 g of -carotene in oil, 12 g of “dietary” beta-carotene, or 24 g of the three other dietary provitamin-A carotenoids.
Substance and its chemical environment
Micrograms of retinol equivalent per microgram of the substance
retinol
1
beta-carotene, dissolved in oil
1/2
beta-carotene, common dietary
1/12
alpha-carotene, common dietary
1/24
gamma-carotene, common dietary
1/24
beta-cryptoxanthin, common dietary
1/24
Because the production of retinol from provitamins by the human body is regulated by the amount of retinol available to the body, the conversions apply strictly only for vitamin A deficient humans. The absorption of provitamins also depends greatly on the amount of lipids ingested with the provitamin; lipids increase the uptake of the provitamin.
The conclusion that can be drawn from the newer research is that fruits and vegetables are not as useful for obtaining vitamin A as was thought; in other words, the IU’s that these foods were reported to contain were worth much less than the same number of IU’s of fat-dissolved oils and (to some extent) supplements. This is important for vegetarians. (Night blindness is prevalent in countries where little meat or vitamin A-fortified foods are available.)
A sample vegan diet for one day that provides sufficient vitamin A has been published by the Food and Nutrition Board (page 120). On the other hand, reference values for retinol or its equivalents, provided by the National Academy of Sciences, have decreased. The RDA (for men) of 1968 was 5000 IU (1500 g retinol). In 1974, the RDA was set to 1000 RE (1000 g retinol), whereas now the Dietary Reference Intake is 900 RAE (900 g or 3000 IU retinol). This is equivalent to 1800 g of -carotene supplement (3000 IU) or 10800 g of -carotene in food (18000 IU).
Recommended daily intake
Vitamin A
Dietary Reference Intake:
Life Stage Group
Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA)
Adequate Intakes (AI*)
g/day
Upper Limit
g/day
Infants
06 months
712 months
400*
500*
600
600
Children
13 years
48 years
300
400
600
900
Males
913 years
1418 years
19 – >70 years
600
900
900
1700
2800
3000
Females
913 years
1418 years
19 – >70 years
600
700
700
1700
2800
3000
Pregnancy
19 – >50 years
750
770
2800
3000
Lactation
19 – >50 years
1200
1300
2800
3000
(Note that the limit refers to synthetic and natural retinoid forms of vitamin A. Carotene forms from dietary sources are not toxic.)
According to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, “RDAs are set to meet the needs of almost all (97 to 98 percent) individuals in a group. For healthy breastfed infants, the AI is the mean intake. The AI for other life stage and gender groups is believed to cover the needs of all individuals in the group, but lack of data prevent being able to specify with confidence the percentage of individuals covered by this intake.”
Sources
Egg.
Vitamin A is found naturally in many foods:
liver (beef, pork, chicken, turkey, fish) (6500 g 722%)
carrot (835 g 93%)
broccoli leaf (800 g 89%) – According to USDA database broccoli florets have much less.
sweet potato (709 g 79%)
butter (684 g 76%)
kale (681 g 76%)
spinach (469 g 52%)
pumpkin (400 g 41%)
collard greens (333 g 37%)
Cheddar cheese (265 g 29%)
cantaloupe melon (169 g 19%)
egg (140 g 16%)
apricot (96 g 11%)
papaya (55 g 6%)
mango (38 g 4%)
pea (38 g 4%)
broccoli (31 g 3%)
milk (28 g 3%)
Note: data taken from USDA database bracketed values are retinol activity equivalences (RAEs) and percentage of the adult male RDA per 100g.
Conversion of carotene to retinol varies from person to person and bioavailability of carotene in food varies.
Metabolic functions
Vitamin A plays a role in a variety of functions throughout the body, such as:
Vision
Gene transcription
Immune function
Embryonic development and reproduction
Bone metabolism
Haematopoiesis
Skin health
Antioxidant Activity
Vision
The role of vitamin A in the vision cycle is specifically related to the retinal form. Within the eye, 11-cis-retinal is bound to rhodopsin (rods) and iodopsin (cones) at conserved lysine residues. As light enters the eye the 11-cis-retinal is isomerized to the all-“trans” form. The all-“trans” retinal dissociates from the opsin in a series of steps called bleaching. This isomerization induces a nervous signal along the optic nerve to the visual center of the brain. Upon completion of this cycle, the all-“trans”-retinal can be recycled and converted back to the 11-“cis”-retinal form via a series of enzymatic reactions. Additionally, some of the all-“trans” retinal may be converted to all-“trans” retinol form and then transported with an interphotoreceptor retinol-binding protein (IRBP) to the pigment epithelial cells. Further esterification into all-“trans” retinyl esters allow this final form to be stored within the pigment epithelial cells to be reused when needed. The final conversion of 11-cis-retinal will rebind to opsin to reform rhodopsin in the retina. Rhodopsin is needed to see black and white as well as see at night. It is for this reason that a deficiency in vitamin A will inhibit the reformation of rhodopsin and lead to night blindness.
Gene transcription
Vitamin A, in the retinoic acid form, plays an important role in gene transcription. Once retinol has been taken up by a cell, it can be oxidized to retinal (by retinol dehydrogenases) and then retinal can be oxidized to retinoic acid (by retinal oxidase). The conversion of retinal to retinoic acid is an irreversible step, meaning that the production of retinoic acid is tightly regulated, due to its activity as a ligand for nuclear receptors. Retinoic acid can bind to two different nuclear receptors to initiate (or inhibit) gene transcription: the retinoic acid receptors (RARs) or the retinoid “X” receptors (RXRs). RAR and RXR must dimerize before they can bind to the DNA. RAR will form a heterodimer with RXR (RAR-RXR), but it does not readily form a homodimer (RAR-RAR). RXR, on the other hand, readily forms a homodimer (RXR-RXR) and will form heterodimers with many other nuclear receptors as well, including the thyroid hormone receptor (RXR-TR), the Vitamin D3 receptor (RXR-VDR), the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (RXR-PPAR) and the liver “X” receptor (RXR-LXR). The RAR-RXR heterodimer recognizes retinoid acid response elements (RAREs) on the DNA whereas the RXR-RXR homodimer recognizes retinoid “X” response elements (RXREs) on the DNA. The other RXR heterodimers will bind to various other response elements on the DNA. Once the retinoic acid binds to the receptors and dimerization has occurred, the receptors undergo a conformational change that causes co-repressors to dissociate from the receptors. Coactivators can then bind to the receptor complex, which may help to loosen the chromatin structure from the histones or may interact with the transcriptional machinery. The receptors can then bind to the response elements on the DNA and upregulate (or downregulate) the expression of target genes, such as cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) as well as the genes that encode for the receptors themselves.
Dermatology
Vitamin A appears to function in maintaining normal skin health. The mechanisms behind retinoid’s therapeutic agents in the treatment of dermatological diseases are being researched. For the treatment of acne, the most effective drug is 13-cis retinoic acid (isotretinoin). Although its mechanism of action remains unknown, it dramatically reduces the size and secretion of the sebaceous glands. Isotretinoin reduces bacterial numbers in both the ducts and skin surface. This is thought to be a result of the reduction in sebum, a nutrient source for the bacteria. Isotretinoin reduces inflammation via inhibition of chemotatic responses of monocytes and neutrophils. Isotretinoin also has been shown to initiate remodeling of the sebaceous glands; triggering changes in gene expression that selectively induces apoptosis. Isotretinoin is a teratogen and its use is confined to medical supervision.
Retinal/retinol versus retinoic acid
Vitamin A deprived rats can be kept in good general health with supplementation of retinoic acid. This reverses the growth-stunting effects of vitamin A deficiency, as well as xerophthalmia. However, such rats show infertility (in both male and females) and continued degeneration of the retina, showing that these functions require retinal or retinol, which are intraconvertable but which cannot be recovered from the oxidized retinoic acid.
Deficiency
Main article: Vitamin A deficiency
Vitamin A deficiency is estimated to affect millions of children around the world. Approximately 250,000-500,000 children in developing countries become blind each year owing to vitamin A deficiency, with the highest prevalence in Southeast Asia and Africa. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vitamin A deficiency is under control in the United States, but in developing countries vitamin A deficiency is a significant concern. With the high prevalence of vitamin A deficiency, the WHO has implemented several initiatives for supplementation of vitamin A in developing countries. Some of these strategies include intake of vitamin A through a combination of breast feeding, dietary intake, food fortification, and supplementation. Through the efforts of WHO and its partners, an estimated 1.25 million deaths since 1998 in 40 countries due to vitamin A deficiency have been averted.
Vitamin A deficiency can occur as either a primary or secondary deficiency. A primary vitamin A deficiency occurs among children and adults who do not consume an adequate intake of yellow and green vegetables, fruits and liver. Early weaning can also increase the risk of vitamin A deficiency. Secondary vitamin A deficiency is associated with chronic malabsorption of lipids, impaired bile production and release, low fat diets, and chronic exposure to oxidants, such as cigarette smoke. Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin and depends on micellar solubilization for dispersion into the small intestine, which results in poor utilization of vitamin A from low-fat diets. Zinc deficiency can also impair absorption, transport, and metabolism of vitamin A because it is essential for the synthesis of the vitamin A transport proteins and the oxidation of retinol to retinal. In malnourished populations, common low intakes of vitamin A and zinc increase the risk of vitamin A deficiency and lead to several physiological events. A study in Burkina Faso showed major reduction of malaria morbidity with combined vitamin A and zinc supplementation in young children.
Since the unique function of retinyl group is the light absorption in retinylidene protein, one of the earliest and specific manifestations of vitamin A deficiency is impaired vision, particularly in reduced light – night blindness. Persistent deficiency gives rise to a series of changes, the most devastating of which occur in the eyes. Some other ocular changes are referred to as xerophthalmia. First there is dryness of the conjunctiva (xerosis) as the normal lacrimal and mucus secreting epithelium is replaced by a keratinized epithelium. This is followed by the build-up of keratin debris in small opaque plaques (Bitot’s spots) and, eventually, erosion of the roughened corneal surface with softening and destruction of the cornea (keratomalacia) and total blindness. Other changes include impaired immunity, hypokeratosis (white lumps at hair follicles), keratosis pilaris and squamous metaplasia of the epithelium lining the upper respiratory passages and urinary bladder to a keratinized epithelium. With relations to dentistry, a deficiency in Vitamin A leads to enamel hypoplasia.
Adequate supply of Vitamin A is especially important for pregnant and breastfeeding women, since deficiencies cannot be compensated by postnatal supplementation.. However, excess Vitamin A, especially through vitamin supplementation, can cause birth defects and should not exceed recommended daily values.
Toxicity
Main article: Hypervitaminosis A
Since vitamin A is fat-soluble, disposing of any excesses taken in through diet is much harder than with water-soluble vitamins B and C, thus vitamin A toxicity may result. This can lead to nausea, jaundice, irritability, anorexia (not to be confused with anorexia nervosa, the eating disorder), vomiting, blurry vision, headaches, hairloss, muscle and abdominal pain and weakness, drowsiness and altered mental status.
Acute toxicity generally occurs at doses of 25,000 IU/kg of body weight, with chronic toxicity occurring at 4,000 IU/kg of body weight daily for 615 months. However, liver toxicities can occur at levels as low as 15,000 IU per day to 1.4 million IU per day, with an average daily toxic dose of 120,000 IU per day. In people with renal failure 4000 IU can cause substantial damage. Additionally, excessive alcohol intake can increase toxicity. Children can reach toxic levels at 1,500 IU/kg of body weight.
In chronic cases, hair loss, dry skin, drying of the mucous membranes, fever, insomnia, fatigue, weight loss, bone fractures, anemia, and diarrhea can all be evident on top of the symptoms associated with less serious toxicity.
It has been estimated that 75% of people may be ingesting more than the RDA for vitamin A on a regular basis in developed nations. Intake of twice the RDA of preformed vitamin A chronically may be associated with osteoporosis and hip fractures. This may be due to the fact that an excess of vitamin A can block the expression of certain proteins that are dependent on vitamin K. This could hypothetically reduce the efficacy of vitamin D, which has a proven role in the prevention of osteoporosis and also depends on vitamin K for proper utilization.
High vitamin A intake has been associated with spontaneous bone fractures in animals. Cell culture studies have linked increased bone resorption and decreased bone formation with high vitamin A intakes. This interaction may occur because vitamins A and D may compete for the same receptor and then interact with parathyroid hormone which regulates calcium. Indeed, a study by Forsmo et al. shows a correlation between low bone mineral density and too high intake of vitamin A.
Toxic effects of vitamin A have been shown to significantly affect developing fetuses. Therapeutic doses used for acne treatment have been shown to disrupt cephalic neural cell activity. The fetus is particularly sensitive to vitamin A toxicity during the period of organogenesis.
These toxicities only occur with preformed (retinoid) vitamin A (such as from liver). The carotenoid forms (such as beta-carotene as found in carrots), give no such symptoms, but excessive dietary intake of beta-carotene can lead to carotenodermia, which causes orange-yellow discoloration of the skin.
Researchers have succeeded in creating water-soluble forms of vitamin A, which they believed could reduce the potential for toxicity. However, a 2003 study found that water-soluble vitamin A was approximately 10 times as toxic as fat-soluble vitamin. A 2006 study found that children given water-soluble vitamin A and D, which are typically fat-soluble, suffer from asthma twice as much as a control group supplemented with the fat-soluble vitamins.
Chronically high doses of Vitamin A can produce the syndrome of “pseudotumor cerebri”. This syndrome includes headache, blurring of vision and confusion. It is associated with increased intracerebral pressure.
Vitamin A and derivatives in medical use
Retinyl palmitate has been used in skin cremes, where it is broken down to retinoic acid, which has potent biological activity, as described above.
The retinoids, a class of chemical compounds that are related chemically to retinoic acid, are used in medicine to modulate gene functions in place of this counpound. In general, like retinoic acid itself, these compounds do not have full vitamin A activity.
^ a b Wolf, George (2001-04-19). “Discovery of Vitamin A”. Encyclopedia of Life Sciences. doi:10.1038/npg.els.0003419. http://www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com/emrw/9780470015902/els/article/a0003419/current/html. Retrieved 2007-07-21.
^ Composition of Foods Raw, Processed, Prepared USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 20 USDA, Feb. 2008
^ a b Chapter 4, Vitamin A of Dietary Reference Intakes for
Learn which vitamins can help prevent memory loss, Alzheimer’s Disease & dementia. Dr. Meschino explains how different vitamins & supplements effectively rev…
There has been the common notion that Vitamin E is good for the skin. What about the case of acne scars? Will Vitamin E be effective in diminishing acne scars? Of course there are other options for acne scars treatment such as chemical peels, Fraxel laser and dermabrasion. They seem to be proven methods of removing acne scars. But then again, one important matter should be put into consideration – the cost. Vitamin E ointment just may be a solution to acne scars if you want something affordable and economical. But is it really effective? Researchers in Dermatologic Surgery did an investigation on the efficacy of applying Vitamin E on acne scars.
The verdict: application of this vitamin to healing wounds can actually hinder the skin’s repair process, therefore, topical Vitamin E for acne scars treatment should be eliminated from your list. Fifteen subjects were involved in the study, each of them having undergone skin cancer removal surgery. The subjects were given two types of ointment: Ointment A whose components are that of common moisturizing agents, and ointment B which has the same ingredients but only with added Vitamin E. During weeks one, four and twelve of the study, the patients and the doctors observed the effects of the ointments on the scars.
The results of this study showed that for 90% of the subjects, topical Vitamin E either wasn’t effective or actually worsened the appearance of the scars. Thirty-three percent of the subjects also acquired contact dermatitis from the application containing the vitamin. According to the result of this study and contrary to held beliefs, topical Vitamin E is discouraged in the treatment of acne scars. While the topical form of this vitamin was proven to be ineffective in diminishing acne scars, consumption of Vitamin E in the diet, however, can actually have positive results for the skin. Ingesting this vitamin nutrient may aid in the skin’s healing process, such as that of acne scars.
This has been proven in a study reported by the International Journal of Experimental Pathology. This study investigated and found that wound healing is slowed down if the body has a deficiency of antioxidants such as Vitamin E. It’s efficacy in acne scars healing is proven especially if adequate amounts of this fat soluble nutrient is consumed. It means a daily RDA intake of 30 International Units (IU). For adults, intake level of this vitamin could go up to as far as 1,500 IU daily. Sunflower seed kernels, sunflower oil wheat, almonds, hazel nut and germ oil are rich sources of this vitamin.
Vitamin E supplements should also be considered to augment the intake of this nutrient. Vitamin E is usually sold in a form of alpha-tocopherol that preserves its antioxidant ability. The synthetic sort of this vitamin sold in pharmacies are labeled “D, L”, and the natural form “D”. Its synthetic form, however, is only half as effective as its natural form. To better state it, healing of acne scars can be hastened by both Vitamin E creams and a Vitamin E-rich diet.
About the Author
The author of this article Rose Windale is a Health and Wellness Coach who has been successful with several natural health programs for many years. Rose decided to share her knowledge and tips through her website http://www.healthzine.org. You can sign up for her free newsletter and enjoy a healthy and happy life.
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The author of this article Rose Windale is a Health and Wellness Coach who has been successful with several natural health programs for many years. Rose decided to share her knowledge and tips through her website http://www.healthzine.org. You can sign up for her free newsletter and enjoy a healthy and happy life.
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Thiamine, or vitamin B1, was the first vitamin to be uncovered. Historically , brown or multi grain rice was a basic foods in several Oriental nations. The oils contained in the germ of multi grain rice or wheat can go rancid pretty fast, particularly when exposed to air ( as when compressed into flour ) and stored at 70 degrees. Thus whole grains have a kind of restricted active life ( which can often be extended by sealing them in an airproof container and refrigerating them ). Thus, to attempt to increase the shelf life of rice, in the 1800s, the Germans perfected rice milling machines which stripped the bran and germ from rice yielding white rice. Advertising of that era convinced folks who could afford it this new white rice was a better food to be requested.
Vitamin Shoppes
This also was an age of conquest for EU races and while European colonists in Asian areas adopted the rice-eating habits of the native races, they preferred to eat socially-acceptable, pricey, white rice instead of the cheap brown rice consumed by the local poor folks. Curiously these white settlers and navy personel in the Orient often came down with an illness called beriberi that the poor folk did not get. All kinds of fascinating reasons for this were suggested, but virtually all had in common the idea beriberi was due to a micro-organism. This was in the height of Louis Pasteur’s famous work on bacteria, so all kinds of illnesses were all of a sudden being assigned to bacterial causes, including beriberi.
Indications of beriberi, plenty of which are neurological, include fatigue, irritation, poor memory, sleep problems, anorexia, intestinal discomfort and hard stools, nerve issues like burning sensations in the feet, calf muscle cramps and weakness, and other symptoms.
Vitamin Shoppes
Because folk thought that beriberi was due to a micro-organism, this illness was considered to be transmissive, and folks who contracted it were insulated from well folks. There had been much research being conducted to try and find the pathogen folks thought caused the illness and so, a remedy for the illness.
Vitamin Shoppes
In the 1890s there had been a pandemic of beriberi among the Dutch colonists in Java ( yes, there truly is a country by that name ). Deep in the jungles of Java, the Dutch had established an infirmary and research lab for beriberi patients. The doctor who ran this facility was Dr. Christian Eijkman. For other research that was being conducted, the laboratory also kept a flock of ordinary, healthy chickens. At one time when supplies were low, the staff ran out of the inexpensive, brown rice the chickens were eating, and reluctantly made a decision to spend and feed the good white rice to the chickens till they could get more of the brown rice.
This scenario reputedly lasted for some time, and the staff started to notice that the chickens were showing symptoms like the indicators of the beriberi patients, to the great trouble of all who considered this to be a very transmissive illness.
Vitamin Shoppes
Finally somebody found out that the good white rice was being wasted on the chickens, and the order was passed to get them back onto inexpensive brown rice. To the awe of all, when returned to a diet composed of brown rice, the chickens got better. Based totally on this evidence, Dr. Eijkman suggested that beriberi was a nutritive deficiency, not caused by a micro-organism, and that something in the rice bran stops beriberi. Folk were so sure that beriberi needed to be due to a micro-organism that they wouldn’t accept Eijkman’s conjecture, and he was relieved of his commitments and sent back home.
Vitamin Shoppes
In 1911, Casimir Funk, a Polish analyst working in London, isolated and concentrated a substance from rice polish ( bran ) which cured beriberi in a pigeon. Funk determined that chemically, this substance belonged to the class of organic molecules known as amines amd that this was critical to a good life, so he called it a vitamin. This chemical was afterwards named thiamine. We now recognise a considerable number of vitamins ( note the e had been dropped ), almost all of which are not amines.
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Vitamin B2 (also known as riboflavin) is part of the B-complex group of vitamins (a group of vitamins that were initially thought to be the singular vitamin B due to their similar roles in the body). It was discovered in the 1930s when Otto Warburg successfully isolated riboflavin as the result of detailed research into the B-complex vitamins. Riboflavin’s main function is to help your body’s cells break down food for energy but there is a lot more to it than this. In this article I am going to help you learn a little more about this vitamin by providing you with five fun vitamin B2 facts.
1) IT WORKS WITH THE OTHER B-COMPLEX VITAMINS TO GIVE YOU ENERGY:- Although vitamin B2 is required by your body to break down carbohydrates, fats and protein into a form that it can use, it does not work alone. All the B-complex vitamins combine so that the reaction that breaks these macronutrients down into energy can take place. Therefore, whilst it is important that you consume adequate levels of B2 you also need to make sure that you are getting your other B-complex vitamins as well.
2) IT PROMOTES HEALTHY SKIN, VISION AND BLOOD:- Every time your body uses oxygen free radicals are produced as a by-product. These free radicals can damage many structures in the body including blood vessel linings and cell membranes. To protect against these free radicals your body can use molecules called antioxidants. Riboflavin helps your body recycle the antioxidant glutathione which protects the eyes, the skin and the blood vessels from this oxygen based damage. Therefore, vitamin B2 promotes healthy skin, vision and blood by protecting these vital structures.
3) IT CAN BE FOUND IN MULTIPLE FOODS:- This vitamin can be sourced from a variety of foods. In fact you probably consume more vitamin B2 than you realise. Milk is one of the best sources of riboflavin but other dairy products such as cheese and yoghurt also contain good levels. Therefore, if you don’t think you are consuming enough of this vitamin try adding some dairy to your diet.
4) IT IS A WATER SOLUBLE VITAMIN:- Vitamin B2 is a water soluble vitamin which (as you probably guessed from the name) means that it dissolves in water. Your body cannot store water soluble vitamins so you need to make sure that you get the recommended amount of riboflavin each day which is 1.3mg for men and 1.1.mg for women. Water soluble vitamins are also very sensitive to light meaning that you should try and store foods containing B2 in a dark place and keep them away from intense lighting.
5) NOT GETTING ENOUGH CAN CAUSE SKIN PROBLEMS:- Riboflavin deficiency is very rare in developed western countries. However, if your diet is seriously lacking in vitamin B2 it can lead to your skin becoming greasy, scaly or dry. This can ultimately lead to painful cracks and sores developing on your skin.
I hope this article has given you a greater understanding of vitamin B2 and the role it plays in your body It allows your body’s cells to extract energy from the food you eat and also plays a key role in protecting them from oxidative damage. Therefore, it is essential for healthy living.
About the Author
Tom Parker owns and operates a number of useful fitness resources and websites. You can learn more about vitamin B2 and the other twelve vitamins by visiting his websites.
Use and distribution of this article is subject to our Publisher Guidelines
whereby the original author’s information and copyright must be included.
Tom Parker owns and operates a number of useful fitness resources and websites. You can learn more about vitamin B2 and the other twelve vitamins by visiting his websites.
