List all Vitamins
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When
we set out to list all vitamins we were surprised at what we
compiled, perhaps you, too, will discover some you didn't know
about ...
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- Vitamin A – a fat soluble vitamin with an RDA of
3000 IUs for men
and 2,333 IUs for women. The upper suggested limit for daily intake is
10,000 IUs. Vitamin A is used in the body for white blood cell
production, white blood cell health, cell division and growth. Common food sources of the vitamin
include carrots, liver, broccoli, sweet
potatoes and kale.
- Vitamin B1 – a water soluble vitamin also known
as thiamine. The RDA
is commonly set at 1.4 mg per day. There are no known side effects from
taking too much thiamine so an upper limit is not currently set.
Thiamine is part of the B-Complex set of vitamins that help to
convert carbohydrates to glucose for energy. Common food sources
include oatmeal, flax, sunflower seed and brown rice. Flour and
cereals, in the United States, are fortified with
thiamine.
- Vitamin B2 – a water soluble
vitamin also known as riboflavin.
The
RDA for the vitamin is about 1.2 mg per day. There is no upper limit as
toxicity caused by intake of large amounts of vitamin B2 does not
exist. Riboflavin is a B-complex vitamin that aids in the conversion of
carbohydrates to energy. Riboflavin also has anti-oxidant properties.
Common food sources include almonds, whole grains, wheat germ and wild
rice.
- Vitamin B3 – a water soluble
vitamin commonly called niacin. There
are two other forms of B3 – niacinamide and inositol
hexanicotinate.
As a B complex vitamin, niacin works to convert food to energy.
Sex hormones, stress hormones and cholesterol levels are all
affected by niacin. RDA for adults is about 15 mg a day. Intake of 50
mg of niacin or more can cause “niacin flush” which is characterized by
burning and tingling of the face and chest. Liver damage and stomach
ulcers may
also occur. Common food sources include beef organ meats, beets,
fish,
salmon, tuna and peanuts.
- Vitamin B4 - also known as adenine.
When attempting to list all
vitamins, this B vitamin must be included though it is no longer
considered a vitamin needed by humans. Vitamin B4 is found in plant an
animal tissue and is thought to prevent muscle weakness in rats and
chickens.
- Vitamin B5 – a water soluble vitamin known as pantothenic
acid.
In
addition to working with energy conversion, B5 also aids in production
and maintenance of sex and stress hormones. Red blood cell production
is also affected by proper B5 levels. The RDA for pantothenic acid in
adults is 5 mg a day. It is not uncommon for patients to take in excess
of 2,000 mg a day for specific ailments. Common food sourcesinclude
corn, cauliflower, kale, broccoli and tomatoes.
- Vitamin B6
– a water soluble vitamin that works with the metabolism
of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. B6 is also helps in the production
of neurotransmitters in the brain. The RDA for B6 is about 1.5 mg per
day. The upper limit for B6 supplementation or consumption is 100
mg. If 200 mg or more are consumed, neurological disorders may develop.
Common food sources of vitamin B6 include chicken, turkey, tuna,
salmon and shrimp.
- Vitamin B7 – a water soluble
vitamin also known as biotin, vitamin
H or vitamin I. in addition to working in carbohydrate
conversion, biotin aids in
strengthening hair and nails. The RDA for vitamin B7 is 30 mcg for
adults. Physicians may suggest intake up to 1,000 mcg for certain
illnesses. Common food sources include egg yolks, sardines, nuts,
soybeans and grains.
- Vitamin B8 - known as adenosine
monophosphate, to list all vitamins
without this questionable inclusion would be incomplete. Vitamin B8
works in
much the same manner as other B Complex vitamin and is found in yeast.
- Vitamin B9 – a water soluble
vitamin also known as folic acid. This
vitamin is popular for its use in fetal development. Folic acid
supplementation is necessary for the neurological development of the
fetus from the first weeks after conception.
The RDA for folic acid is
400 mcg, but pregnant women should consume a minimum of 600 mcg. Common
food sources of folic acid include dark leafy greens, beets, lima beans
and kidney beans.
- Vitamin B10 - a slightly water
soluble substance called para-aminobenzoic acid or PABA.
While no longer considered a vitamin,
the substance is currently used to treat patients with Peyronie's
Disease. In some cases, people with irritable bowel syndrome take in
the potassium salt to fight off gastrointestinal distress.
- Vitamin B11 - a questionable
inclusion in a list of all vitamins.
Known as Pteryl-hepta-glutamic acid, the "vitamin" is
predominantly
used by chickens to maintain body and feather growth. Also referred to
as Vitamin S.
- Vitamin B12 – a water soluble vitamin is popular
as an energy
supplement. Patients who have undergone surgery of the intestine
may be
forced to take supplemental B12 in order to maintain the health of red
blood cells and the central nervous system. The RDA for the vitamin is
2.4 mcg a day, but there are no known side effects reported for taking
larger amounts of the vitamin. Common food sources include eggs, meat,
poultry and milk. (See Vitamin B12 deficiency)
- Vitamin B13 - found in whey and root vegetables,
Vitamin B13 is a
mineral transporter. An official name has not been noted, but Aspartic
Acid and Colamin Phosphate also transport minerals and could be
Vitamin B13. Lack of the vitamin may cause Multiple Sclerosis.
- Vitamin B14 - this vitamin has no official name
but needs to be mentioned when we list all
vitamins. It works similarly to Vitamin B10 or B11. Foods sources
include yeast, organ meats and wine. Some think this vitamin is the
reason wine may improve health.
- Vitamin B15 - also referred to as Pangamic
Acid, its inclusion on a
list of all vitamins is often overlooked since its importance is
debated. Foods sources include yeast,
apricot seeds and corn. May work to improve liver health.
- Vitmain B16 - may have been studied by Russian
scientists, but this
vitamin is often omitted when preparing a list all
vitamins important to humans.
- Vitamin B17 - is naturally occurring in
buckwheat, millet and flax.
It is included when attempting to list all vitamins, though its status
as a vitamin has not been confirmed. Some researchers have suggested it
has anti-cancer benefits.
- Vitamin Bc - known as Folic
Acid.
- Vitamin Bh - known as Inositol.
- Vitamin Bp - known as choline.
- Vitamin Bt - commonly known as L-Carnitine.
Though not an official
vitamin, you cannot list all vitamins without this popular amino acid.
While non-essential as a vitamin, per se, supplementation is commonly
used by patients with heart disease and body builders. May also be good
for brain health in acetylated form.
- Vitamin Bx - known as Para-Aminobenzoic
Acid or PABA.
- Vitamin Bw - known as Biotin
and also Vitamin H.
- Vitamin C
– a water soluble vitamin that works as an anti-oxidant in
the body. C is also used for tissue repair and growth. The RDA is
commonly set at 75 to 90 mg for adults, but some people take 2,000 to
3,000 mg per day or more with no harmful side effects. The best known
source of natural vitamin C is citrus fruits. See Foods High in Vitamin C.
- Vitamin D – a fat
soluble vitamin that aids the body in calcium
absorption. The RDA for vitamin D ranges from 5 to 10 mcg for children
and adults. Too much vitamin D can lead to kidney stones, calcium
deposits and vomiting. The best source of vitamin D is the sun.
Spending 10 to 15 minutes in the sun every day allows the skin to
product vitamin D. Milk and cereal, in some countries, are fortified
with the vitamin. Also see Vitamin D Facts, Foods High in Vitamin D.
- Vitamin E – a fat
soluble vitamin that works in the blood stream to
prevent cholesterol from clogging arteries. It also works with the body
to allow vitamin K to be used. The RDA for vitamin E is about 22.5 IUs
every day. According to the American Heart Association, as little as
400 mcg a day can be harmful to health. Common food sources include
liver, eggs, nuts, sunflower seed and mayonnaise.
- Vitamin F - commonly included when asked to list
all vitamins,
Vitamin F is commonly called Linoleic Acid. More
appropriately, this
vitamin is an essential fatty acid which may improve heart health.
Found naturally in vegetables oils. There is no RDA.
- Vitamin G - another name for Vitamin B2
or Riboflavin.
- Vitamin H - known as Biotin.
This vitamin is naturally found in soy
beans and egg yolks. People who do not get enough Biotin may suffer
from eczema or difficulties with fat metabolism. An RDA of 300 mcg is
set, but optimal levels can reach up to 10,000 mcg a day. High doses
may help patients with diabetes.
- Vitamin I - another name for Vitamin B7 or Biotin.
- Vitamin J - found in woody plants, this term is
used for Catechol
which is a flavonoid.
- Vitamin K – a fat soluble vitamin that plays a
role in blood
clotting and bone health. The RDA for the vitamin is 90 mcg for adult
females and 120 mcg for adult males. Higher doses of vitamin K may be
administered to help certain illnesses such as excessive bleeding or
osteoporosis. Common foods high
in vitamin K include beef liver, green tea,
cabbage, spinach and chlorophyll.
- Vitamin L1 - known as Ortho-Aminobenzoic
Acid. Found in beef liver,
to list all vitamins would be to include this amino acid. While not
essential in humans, affects lactation in animals.
- Vitamin L2 - known as Adenyl
Thiomethylpentose. This naturally
occurring substance is found in yeast and may benefit animals during
the lactation process.
- Vitamin M - known commonly as Folic
Acid and also vitamin B9, Vitamin M is essential to
the brain development of the fetus in utero. Natural food sources
include green leafy vegetables and oranges. Additional benefits may
include a reduction in fetal birth defects and reduction in risk for
colon cancer. Adults should intake between 400 mcg and 1,000 mcg a day
with the RDA being set at 400 mcg for non-pregnant adults.
- Vitamin N - known as Thioctic Acid
or ?-lipoic acid. Intake can
range from 50 to 100 mg a day. To list all vitamins would not normally
include Vitamin N. The substance can be used to regulate blood sugar
levels.
- Vitamin O - known as stablized liquid
oxygen, this vitamin is no
longer recognized for human consumption.
Vitamin P - known as Bioflavonoids. Commonly taken
in conjunction with
Vitamin C, most people do not include this vitamin when they list all
vitamins. Vitamin P is commonly referred to as the "C Complex".
The
vitamin can be found in citrus fruits and onions. Optimal daily intake
can range from 100 mg to 1,000 mg.
- Vitamin PP - another name for Vitamin B3
or Niacin.
- Vitamin Q - discovered by Dr. Armand James Quick
and used only by
patients with telangiectasia. The vitamin is also known as
Coenzyme
Q10. It is common to list all vitamins without Coenzyme Q10 or
Vitamin
Q as most people never come in contact with the vitamin.
- Vitamin R - another name for Vitamin B10
or PABA.
- Vitamin S - another name for Vitamin
B11 or Pteryl-Hepta-Glutamic
Acid. Referenced when some list all vitamins as being a kelp
derived
vitamin.
Vitamin T - is rarely included when you list all
vitamins. There is
some confusion about the vitamin as two scientists used the same name
for different discoveries. Vitamin T is a growth promoter in termites,
fungus and yeast. It is also the name for a blood health promoting
substance in sesame seeds.
- Vitamin U - a questionable vitamin found in
uncooked cabbage juice.
The vitamin could be either S-Methylmethionine, Allantoin
or Glutamine.
For more information see:
Much more
than List All Vitamins
discussed back
on the home page