Vitamins and Deficiency Diseases
Last updated: 3 October 2026
Vitamins are nutrients that the body needs in small amounts for normal growth and health. The word “vitamine” was coined by Casimir Funk in 1912.
Two kinds of vitamins
- Fat-soluble: A, D, E and K. They are stored in the body.
- Water-soluble: B-complex and C. They are not stored, so they are needed regularly.
Vitamins and deficiency diseases
| Vitamin | Chemical name | Deficiency disease | Good sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Retinol | Night blindness, xerophthalmia | Carrot, milk, liver, green leafy vegetables |
| B1 | Thiamine | Beriberi | Whole grains, pulses |
| B2 | Riboflavin | Cracked lips and mouth (ariboflavinosis) | Milk, eggs |
| B3 | Niacin | Pellagra | Meat, groundnut, cereals |
| B9 | Folic acid | Anaemia; birth defects in babies | Green leafy vegetables |
| B12 | Cobalamin | Pernicious anaemia | Milk, eggs, meat |
| C | Ascorbic acid | Scurvy (bleeding gums) | Citrus fruits, amla, tomato |
| D | Calciferol | Rickets (children), osteomalacia (adults) | Sunlight, fish oil, eggs |
| E | Tocopherol | Problems in reproduction | Vegetable oils, nuts |
| K | Phylloquinone | Delayed clotting of blood | Green leafy vegetables |
Minerals and deficiency
| Mineral | Deficiency effect |
|---|---|
| Iron | Anaemia |
| Iodine | Goitre |
| Calcium | Weak bones and teeth |
| Sodium | Muscle cramps |
Quick revision
- Vitamin B12 contains cobalt.
- Vitamin D is made in the skin in sunlight.
- Vitamin C is destroyed by heating (cooking).
- Vitamin K is needed for blood clotting.
- Scurvy: Vitamin C. Rickets: Vitamin D. Beriberi: B1. Night blindness: A.
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