Vitamins
The term ‘Vitamin’ was first coined by the Polish Chemist, FUNK, who described it as VITAL AMINE. The final ‘e’ was soon dropped. But now vitamin is the name given to a group of potent organic compounds other than protein, carbohydrates, and fats which occur in minute quantities in foods and which are extremely essential for some specific body functions of maintenance and growth. Many of them can not be synthesized by human body; therefore, they should be supplied in adequate amounts with the diet.
The vitamins are all soluble either in fat or in water. The role of vitamins in human nutrition may be divided into two broad categories: (a) Prevention of diseases and (b) Participation in the regulations of body processes.
Fat- Soluble Vitamins
Vitamins ‘A’, ‘D’, ‘E’ and ‘K’ are fat-soluble vitamins and get destroyed if heated to a high temperature in an open vessel.
