Vitamins and supplements are constantly advertised in all the media, and in the whole civilized world there is practically no problem of access to products. How else can there be a shortage? And why are these substances needed at all?
Role
Even a very long time ago, when medicine was much less developed, people noticed that, getting into rather difficult conditions, for example, on a long voyage, in the north, or excluding certain foods from their diet, a person seemed to this makes him sick. Traditional methods of treatment did not help, and it gradually became clear that the matter was in nutrition. Moreover, not every food was suitable in order to avoid the disease or treat it, so people came to the conclusion that various types of foods contain certain substances. Intuitive understanding was later reinforced by the research of scientists who were able to isolate and then synthesize these elements. But more on that later.
Every person who makes a reasonable diet knows that it must be balanced. And it's not just about proteins, fats and carbohydrates, but also about essential vitamins andtrace elements. Of course, you can get them by taking special preparations, but it will be much more beneficial for the body to absorb them naturally - from food. But what are they for?
Conditionally, each of the vitamins plays its own special role. But in fact, they are all designed for the normal flow of a huge number of processes. For example, vitamin C has over 300 biological functions. By the way, it cannot be synthesized by the human body.
History of the discovery of vitamins
For a long time, the intuitive understanding that the diet should be varied was not supported by research. The well-known Russian scientist N. I. Lunin was one of the first who began to experiment in this area at the end of the 19th century. He fed mice in parts all the known components of cow's milk, that is, fats, carbohydrates, proteins, s alts, sugar, but the animals died. And then he concluded that certain substances are necessary, which have not yet been discovered, but are essential for the life of the organism.
In 1906, this conclusion was made by the English biochemist F. Hopkins, who called these components "accessory food factors". But the last step in the isolation of these substances was carried out by the Pole Casimir Funk, who received crystals that cured the signs of hypovitaminosis B, at that time it was called beriberi. He called this drug "Vitamin" (from the Latin word vita - "life" and the English amine - "amine", a nitrogen-containing compound). He also suggested that similar substances can cureand diseases such as night blindness, scurvy, pellagra, and rickets. And he was right.
Recognition
In the first half of the 20th century, almost all the main vitamins were obtained, and later their chemical structure was deciphered. Other substances have been found that act on the same principles. With the wording "for the discovery of vitamins" in 1929, Hopkins and Aikman, who studied animal hypovitaminosis using chickens as an example, received the Nobel Prize. The merits of Lunin and Funk were forgotten for many years.
However, further research has made it possible to isolate new substances that are now considered vitamins, as well as to understand their functions.
Classification
Today there are a huge number of vitamins, and they are divided into groups. Previously, they were also distinguished by fat and water solubility, but the appearance of a large number of analogues deactivated this classification.
- A: This group of substances includes retinoids, which are part of the main visual pigment. It also stimulates growth and development, provides antioxidant and immune protection of the body. Found in carrots, pumpkin, fish oil.
- B: this group includes a very large number of substances responsible for many functions at once. It is present in large quantities in wholemeal flour, legumes.
- C: this includes only one substance - ascorbic acid. Its entry into the body is possible only from the outside, with food, while other vitamins can beto some extent synthesized. It is with its help that collagen, serotonin, tryptophan, corticosteroids are formed. It is involved in the digestion of food, immunomodulation, neutralizes some substances. It is one of the most important substances in the body and is fortunately found in many fruits and vegetables.
- D: A group of substances that form in the skin when exposed to ultraviolet light. Provides absorption of calcium and phosphorus, stimulates the synthesis of a number of hormones, regulates cell division, metabolic processes.
- E: vitamins that support reproductive function. In addition, they act as antioxidants and affect muscle development. They are effective immunomodulators. Contained in vegetable oils.
- K: Primarily responsible for blood clotting. In addition, they participate in the work of the kidneys, metabolism in bone and connective tissues, synthesize protein structures used in the heart, lungs and other organs. Found in spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, avocado, kiwi, bananas.
- P: rutin, which is responsible for reducing the fragility and permeability of capillary walls. Increases the elasticity of red blood cells and has antioxidant properties. Found in citrus fruits, green tea, sorrel.
Sometimes vitamins include substances similar to them, working on the same principles and having the same great importance for the body. After all, their deficit translates into exactly the same extremely unpleasant situation. And if it is not changed, even death can result.
Hypo-, hyper- and avitaminosis
Any qualified nutritionist or just a sane person knows that it is better to eat up to 5-6 times a day, but in small portions, than to eat the same amount of food in one sitting. The same is the case with vitamins - their intake should be as uniform as possible, since extremes threaten to cause problems.
Prefixes hypo-, hyper- and a- mean, respectively, deficiency, excess and complete absence of something. This is also true for conditions associated with problems with the intake of vitamins. While none of these conditions develop overnight, treatment can be quite lengthy and complex.
Sometimes in everyday life beriberi and hypovitaminosis mean about the same thing - vitamin deficiency. This is often talked about in the spring, when for a long time you have to eat canned foods that are poor in nutrients.
Reasons
They can be both external and internal. The first is the lack of intake of vitamins from food. And the second - a whole range of problems.
Firstly, it may be an increased need for vitamins. This happens during pregnancy, with great physical exertion, the presence of diseases.
Secondly, their digestibility or their delivery mechanisms to their destination may be impaired. There may also be problems with the transition of vitamins to the active form. Then even their sufficient sufficient receipt is not the prevention of hypovitaminosis. The body just doesn'tcan absorb or use the substances he needs.
In turn, the internal causes of hypovitaminosis can be both congenital and acquired due to other diseases. In any case, it is almost always possible, if not to cure completely, then to compensate for hypovitaminosis as much as possible.
Symptoms of the main species
Obviously, it is not for nothing that the Latin root "life" is in the name of these substances, but their lack does not automatically mean death, everything starts quite innocently. However, hypovitaminosis is serious if left untreated.
As already mentioned, group A is involved in the mechanisms of perception of visual information. Its lack also affects the immune system and the condition of the skin. Fortunately, one of the first signs indicating hypovitaminosis of vitamin A are cracks in the corners of the lips - painful and long healing. At this time, it is still impossible to talk about a he alth hazard, but the symptom is obvious. If the disease state is not compensated, vitamin A deficiency can lead to visual impairment, especially in the dark - the so-called night blindness.
Group B is involved in a huge number of life processes. Deficiency can lead to depression, skin lesions, birth defects, joint pain, gastrointestinal disorders, hair loss, impaired attention and memory, anemia and other serious problems.
Lack of ascorbic acid at first looks like a decrease in immunity, frequent SARS. Maybefeel tired and weak. In the future, this can result in nosebleeds and the appearance of ulcers in the oral cavity - scurvy.
Rickets - a lack of vitamin D - is expressed primarily in sweating, thinning hair and softening of the bones due to poor absorption of calcium. This is especially dangerous at an early age, as the skeleton can be deformed.
Hypovitaminosis is no joke. So during seasonal illnesses, in the absence of access to fresh vegetables and fruits, with increased physical exertion, you need to think about he alth. Prevention of hypovitaminosis is simple. It does not require much time and effort, but it can save you from a huge number of problems.
Prevention and treatment
Even if the causes of hypovitaminosis are unknown, the tactic of getting rid of it is always the same - replenishing the lack. Prevention, accordingly, is aimed at preventing it from occurring.
Of course, this is primarily achieved by reviewing the patient's diet. If necessary, the amount of certain substances used daily increases. If there is no access to appropriate natural products, they can be replaced by synthesized ones, that is, medicines. True, excess can also lead to problems, so you should not be too zealous. Everything should be in moderation - this was known even in antiquity. If there is hypovitaminosis, the symptoms of which have been ignored for a very long time, complex treatment is ahead, which will be aimed both at eliminating the deficiency of the necessary substances and at getting rid of the symptoms.
Consequences
Hypovitaminosis is a serious disease, no matter what kind it is. The normal functioning of the body is disturbed, which is aggravated if the situation remains unchanged. Of course, this all develops more than one day, but in severe cases the consequence is one - death. And if its cause does not become a deficiency of certain vitamins directly, then the diseases caused by their lack, for sure. It is all the more terrible to realize that in most cases it is very easy to prevent the causes of hypovitaminosis and, accordingly, such an outcome. To do this, you just need to eat a variety of foods. And if this is not possible, take multivitamin preparations on time.
About hypervitaminosis
As a rule, it is quite difficult to achieve this state. If hypovitaminosis is a more or less common condition, then excess is rare. The fact is that usually the body simply removes those substances that it does not need. But not always. In order to get an excess of vitamins, you need to eat foods rich in them, while taking drugs in large doses. Excess A and D are most common. In hypervitaminosis type A, itching and flaking of the skin, headache, nausea and vomiting are felt. In general, it looks like poisoning. Hypervitaminosis D is osteoporosis and calcium deposition in the heart, kidneys, and vessel walls. At the initial stage, it is characterized by loss of appetite, headache, gastrointestinal upset.
