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A vitamin is an organic compound required in tiny amounts for essential metabolic reactions in a living organism. In humans there are 13 vitamins: 4 fat-soluble (A, D, E and K) and 9 water-soluble (8 B vitamins and vitamin C).

Vitamins are bio-molecules that act both as catalysts and substrates in chemical reactions. Vitamins also act as coenzymes to carry chemical groups between enzymes. That’s why, we need enough vitamin to maintain our body functions. It is also essential for the normal growth and body development of a multicellular organism. Vitamins and minerals are the most required substances to facilitate the chemical reactions that produce among other things, skin, bone, and muscle. If there is serious deficiency in one or more of these nutrients, a child may develop a deficiency disease. Even minor deficiencies may cause permanent damage.

In large doses some vitamins have documented side effects, that tend to be more severe with larger dosage. In the United States, overdose exposure to all formulations of vitamins was reported by 62,562 individuals in 2004 (nearly 80% of these exposures were in children under the age of 6), leading to 53 “major” life-threatening outcomes and 3 deaths, a small number in comparison with the 19,250 people who died of unintentional poisoning of all kinds in the U.S. in the same year (2004).

The likelihood of consuming too much of any vitamin from food is remote, but overdosing from vitamin supplementation does occur. At high enough dosages some vitamins cause side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. When side effects emerge, recovery is often accomplished by reducing the dosage. The concentrations of vitamins an individual can tolerate vary widely, and appear to be related to age and state of health.

Our body do, needs vitamins. On the other hands, we need to prevent overdose nor deficiencies of vitamins. Take care! :-P

Topik: Dietary, Habits, Medicines