Types of Vitamins: Classification of Vitamins Explained

The human body requires a proper concoction of all nutrients for healthy functioning. Excess or lack of any one may lead to health concerns, mild to fatal. Vitamins make up a large part of these essential components.

Detailed knowledge of its different types can help you ensure a diet with adequate proportions of these nutrients.

Here is a detailed discourse on what vitamins are and the different types of vitamins to help you get a better understanding. 

Have a look!

Vitamins are a group of essential nutrients that the human body requires for normal cell function, development and growth, and for maintaining overall proper health. These are organic compounds that are present in several food items in small quantities.

Human beings need to consume all types of vitamins from these eatables to ensure nutrient balance as our bodies do not naturally synthesise them. Also, a deficiency of these nutrients can lead to numerous health problems, ranging from mild to fatal.

There are different categories of vitamins present in different food items. However, there are 2 broad categorisations for types of vitamins. These are as follows.

Fat-soluble Vitamins

These are the vitamins that are soluble in body fat or lipid. The human body absorbs these compounds with the help of dietary fat via the intestinal tract, which ultimately stores them in the liver and fatty tissues. Our bodies can store fat-soluble vitamins for a really long time.

The 4 vitamins under this category are as follows.

• Vitamin E
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin K
• Vitamin D

Water-soluble Vitamins

The human body cannot retain water-soluble vitamins for long, unlike fat-soluble ones. These vitamins are periodically excreted via urine after ingestion. This is why you need to consume water-soluble vitamins more frequently than their fat-soluble counterparts.

Here is the list of nutrients under this classification of vitamins.

• Vitamin C
• All components of the vitamin B complex

Now, it’s time to know about each vitamin in detail.

If you are wondering what use exactly the 13 different types of vitamins have on one’s health, here is a brief overview.

Vitamin A

• Function: It helps keep up eye health, healthy muscle growth, strong immunity, healthy skin and reproductive system.
• Deficiency Diseases: Xerophthalmia and night blindness
• Sources: Cod liver oil, carrots, broccoli, eggs, fish, milk and milk products, sweet potatoes, kale, spinach, collard greens, cantaloupe melon, pumpkins, and apricots.

Vitamin C

• Function: Chemically called ascorbic acid, vitamin C has anti-ageing benefits. This is because it promotes collagen formation, aiding in wound healing, strengthening blood vessels, bone formation, iron formation and maintaining a strong immune system.
• Deficiency Diseases: Scurvy
• Sources: Raw citrus fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, Brussels, spinach, and cabbage. Note that heat breaks down vitamin C, cancelling its efficacy.

Vitamin D

• Function: It helps the body absorb calcium, thus aiding in the growth of bone tissues.
• Deficiency Diseases: Osteoporosis and rickets
• Sources: This is the only nutrient among the types of vitamins that the human body can synthesise adequately from sunlight. It is also present in extremely minute portions in eatables like dairy products, fish, and fish oil.

Vitamin K

• Function: This aids in blood coagulation or blood clotting post a wound formation.
• Deficiency Diseases: Bleeding diathesis and haemorrhage
• Sources: Green and leafy vegetables, including broccoli, kale, spinach, and cabbage.

Vitamin E

• Function: It is one of the types of vitamins that aid in the formation of red blood cells and reduces oxidative stress.
• Deficiency Diseases: Haemolytic anaemia in newborns and neuropathy
• Sources: Kiwis, eggs, wheat germ, almonds, nuts, vegetable oils, and leafy greens.

Vitamin B1

• Function: It aids in the production of the various enzymes responsible for converting carbohydrates into energy.
• Deficiency Diseases: Beriberi
• Sources: Cereal grains, oranges, yeast, pork, brown rice, sunflower seeds, whole grain rye, cauliflower, asparagus, kale, eggs, and potatoes.

Vitamin B2

• Function: It helps in the production of red blood cells and food metabolism. 
• Deficiency Diseases: Fissures and inflammation in the mouth
• Sources: Green beans, persimmons, okra, bananas, chard, milk and milk products, meat, eggs, fish, and asparagus.

Vitamin B3

• Function: It is important for cell growth and maintenance of healthy nerves and skin. It can also lower cholesterol at high doses.
• Deficiency Diseases: Pellagra
• Sources: Lentils, chicken, salmon, beef, tomatoes, milk, eggs, leafy vegetables, carrots, nuts and seeds, broccoli, tofu, and tuna.

Vitamin B5

• Function: The human body needs it to produce hormones and energy.
• Deficiency Diseases: Paresthesia
• Sources: Whole grains, avocados, broccoli, yoghurt, and meats.

Vitamin B6

• Function: It helps in the formation of red blood cells, the efficiency of body protein, and proper brain function. 
• Deficiency Diseases: Peripheral neuropathy and anaemia
• Sources: Nuts, beef liver, squash, bananas, and chickpeas.

Vitamin B7

• Function: It helps in the metabolism of other nutrients, especially the structural protein keratin that aids in maintaining healthy nails, skin, and hair.
• Deficiency Diseases: Dermatitis
• Sources: Cheese, egg yolk, broccoli, spinach, and liver.

Vitamin B9

• Function: It aids in the proper formation of DNA and RNA in foetuses and prevents carcinogenic transformation of these genetic units.
• Deficiency Diseases: Megaloblastic anaemia
• Sources: Sunflower seeds, leafy vegetables, select fortified grain products, legumes, liver, and peas.

Vitamin B12

• Function: It is also one of the types of vitamins in the human body that aid in healthy metabolism and maintenance of the central nervous system.
• Deficiency Diseases: Types of anaemia and neurological issues
• Sources: Fortified nutritional yeast, fish, meat, milk and milk products, shellfish, fortified cereals, fortified soy products, and eggs.

Now that you are aware of the types of vitamins and their uses, you must ensure adequate intake of these nutrients for proper health maintenance.

In case you notice symptoms of any of the mentioned diseases, consider consulting a healthcare professional immediately.

He/she might prescribe dietary supplements besides a suitable diet chart for speedy replenishment of deficient nutrients.