Vitamin C is water soluble vitamin. Sources of this vitamin are citrus fruits, like lemon, pineapple. Deficiency of vitamin c cause Beriberi, wound healing, swollen

2. Vitamin History
 1905 Researching disease ‘Beriberi’
Prevented by unpolished rather than
polished rice
 1906 Eng Biochemist discovered AA
tryptophan 1901
 Term Vitamin originated from ‘Vitamine’
in 1911 by Cashmir Funk

3. Vitamin
 Organic Compound as such as
utilizable precursors required in minute
amount e.g. normal growth, Normal
nutrition
 Regulate Metabolism
 Most Vit can’t synthesize by animal or
humans
 Vitamins are essential nutrients
 Distinct from carbo , fat& protein in function

4. Classification
 Fat Soluble: A, D, E, K.
 Water Soluble: Non-B Complex Vit C,
B Complex : B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9,
B12, Biotin.
Water Soluble Vit Fat Soluble Vit
Solubility Water Soluble Fat Soluble
Absorption Simple Along with Lipid
Excretion Excreted Not Excreted
Deficiency Manifests Rapidly Manifests Slowly
Treatment Dietary Supply Large Dose

5. Water Soluble Vitamins
 Vitamin C : Ascorbic Acid
 Chemistry;
 An Enediol-Lactone of an Acid with Configuration similar to
Sugar L-glucose
 Strong Acid than Acetic Acid, Dissociation at C2 and C3
 D form is inactive as anti-scorbutic agents
L-Ascorbic Dehydro-ascorbic Di-ketogulonic
acid acid acid
Oxalic
 Stable in solid & acidic solution but destroyed in
alkaline solution
-
2H
+2
H
+H2O
-H2O

6. Biosynthesis
 Lower Mammals like rats can synthesize vit ,
glucose to uronic acid
 Metabolism
 Readily Absorb from small intestine, subcutaneous
tissue
 From maternal blood, it can cross the placental
barrier and supplies the foetus
 Normal human blood plasma; 0.6 to 1.5 mg of
ascorbic acid per 100 ml.
 Secreted in milk

7. Metabolites
 Terminal metabolite in rats and guinea pig
are CO2 and Oxalic acid
 Conversion of ascorbic acid to oxalate in
man may account for major part f
endogenous urinary oxalate
 Occurrence and Sources
 Distributed in plants and animals
 No storage in animal tissue
 Highest conc in highly metabolic active
organs

8. Dietary Sources
 Citrus Fruits, pappaya, pineaple, strawberry,
leafy vegetable cauliflower, tomatoes
 Amla is richest source
 Metabolic Role & Function
 Cellular Oxidation-Reduction: Vit C is
sensitive to reversible oxidation
 Ascorbic acid reversible from dehydroascorbic
acid, which involve in Oxy-Red reaction
 Role in Collagen Synthesis: Hydroxyproline &
hydroxylysine constituent of collagen fibers

9. Metabolic Role & Function
 Activity of Fibroblast/Osteoblast: Formation of
MPS of connective tissue, osteoid tissue
intercellular cement substance of capillaries
 Tryptophan Metabolism: As a cofactor for
hydroxylation of tryptophan to form 5-OH
 Tyrosine Metabolism: As a cofactor with enzyme
p-OH phenyl pyruvate hydroxylase, convert to
homogentisic acid

10.  Formation of Ferritin: Ascorbic acid necessary for
forming ferritin,ATP,NADP
 Absorption of FE: Help in absorption of Fe convert the
ferric to ferrous
 Formation FH4: maintain folic acid reductase in active
form, it reduced in tetrahydrofolate FH4
Clinical Aspect
• Manifestation Scurvy
• Defects in Collagen Synthesis
• Delayed wound healing
• Swollen, spongy germs-bleeding
• In animals:Rats; associate with bradycardia
Pigeon; develop reaction
‘opisthotonos’

11. Daily Requirements
 Adults: 0.5mg for 1000 cal, 1.0 to 1.5 mg
for diets 2000 to 3000C
 Children: 0.4mg for infants to 1.3mg for
10-12 years of age
End