Vitamin

A Vitamin is an organic molecule required by a living organism in minute amounts for normal health. An organism deprived of all sources of a particular vitamin will eventually suffer from disease symptoms specific to the missing vitamin.

Human vitamins

Some of the vitamins are known by other names in older literature. Vitamin B2 is also referred to as Vitamin G.

Related Topics:
Vitamin B₂ - Vitamin G

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Vitamin B7, or Biotin is also referred to as Vitamin H.

Related Topics:
Vitamin B₇ - Biotin - Vitamin H

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Vitamin B9, or Folic Acid is also referred to as Vitamin M.

Related Topics:
Vitamin B₉ - Folic Acid - Vitamin M

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Vitamin B3 is also referred to as Vitamin P. Many other essential dietary substances were originally called vitamins and are now classified differently.

Related Topics:
Vitamin B₃ - Vitamin P

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Vitamin deficiency and excess

An organism can survive for some time without vitamins, although prolonged vitamin deficit results in a disease state, often painful and potentially deadly. Body stores for different vitamins can vary widely; an adult may be deficient in Vitamins A or B12 for a year or more before developing a deficiency condition, while Vitamin B1 stores may only last a couple of weeks.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Fat-soluble vitamins may be stored in the body and can cause toxicity when taken in excess. Water-soluble vitamins are not stored in the body, with the exception of Vitamin B12, which is stored in the liver.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~