Vitamins Explored

Vitamins are normally associated with what the body finds difficult to produce on its own. These substances are important for a number of bodily functions and are required in small dosages.

So for our own knowledge we can break vitamins down into ‘vital minimums’.

In total thirteen vitamins have been identified and are listed as follows:

Vitamins can be divided into two groups: the fat-soluble and water-soluble:
Fat-soluble vitamins Include A, D, E, and K stored in body fat, principally in the liver. High dosages can be toxic, because the body is unable to rid excess amounts. Too much vitamins A and D can have cause serious adverse side effects.

Too much vitamin A can result in: loss of appetite, headaches, irritability, liver damage, bone pain, and neurological problems, including brain damage

While vitamin A is only found in animals, dark orange-yellow and green leafy vegetables contain carotenes (beta-carotene) that the body can use to make vitamin A. Unlike vitamin A, carotene is fairly safe when consumed in large amounts because the body stores excess carotenes (which can make the skin look yellow-orange) rather than converting them into vitamin A.

An excess of vitamin D can cause weight loss, vomiting, irritability, destructive deposits of calcium in soft tissues (such as the kidneys and lungs) and potentially fatal kidney failure.

Water soluble vitamins
Include vitamin C, vitamin B1 (thiamin), niacin, riboflavin, B6, B12, pantothenic acid, biotin, folic acid.
These are not stored in the body and need to be replaced daily.
Excess eliminated in the urine
Can be toxic with high dosages.

Consuming excess amounts of water-soluble vitamins can cause dangerous side effects:
Large amounts of niacin can cause severe flushing, skin disorders, liver damage, ulcers, and blood sugar disorders, interfere with fat metabolism and speed up glycogen depletion

Large doses of vitamin C have been associated with diarrhea, kidney stone formation, and impaired copper absorption [ see the further article on Vit C ]

An excess in vitamin B6 can result in neurological symptoms similar to multiple sclerosis, including numbness and tingling of the hands, difficulty in walking, as well as electric shocks shooting down the spine.