1. Community pharmacy Chapter5: Vitamins and minerals

2. Vitamins
They are complex organic compounds required by the body in very small amounts. They are concerned with vital metabolic function in the body, and hence essential for maintenance of health.
since vitamins can not be manufactured in body, they have to be supplied through the diet.

3. Vitamins are classified into two major groups:
Fat soluble vitamins: A, D,E,K
Water soluble vitamins: B complex and C (ascorbic acid)

4. Fat soluble vitamins: A, D,E,K
Deficiency
Function
Source
Vitamin
Stunted growth, night blindness, keratinization
750mg
Maintenance health epithelial tissue, proper functioning of retina and vision
Milk, butter, egg yolk, fish liver oil, green leafy vegetables, fruits like mango
Vitamin A
(retinol)
Racket, ostemalacia
2.5 mg
Facilitate the absorption and utilization of calcium and phosphorus for healthy bones and teeth
Fish liver oil, milk, cheese, egg yolk
Vitamin D
(calciferol)
Fat soluble vitamins: A, D,E,K

5. 8-10 mg
Maintain healthy muscular system, anti oxidant
Egg yolk, milk, butter, green vegetables
Vitamin E
(tocopherols)
Slow blood clotting, hemorrhages in new born
70-140gm
Formation of Prothrombin and factor VI,IX, and X in liver
Cabbage, fish liver, fruits, leafy vegetables
Vitamin K
(phylloquinone)

6. Minerals
The human body consists of number of minerals and trace elements which are required for various metabolism function in the body.
The important minerals involved are: calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, iron and iodine.

7. Calcium
Its is obtained from milk, cheeses, eggs, green vegetables and some fish. A well –balanced diet provides adequate amount of calcium for the body's need.
Calcium in association with vitamin D, and phosphorus is essential for the hardening of the bone and teeth.
There is no clear cut definition as signs and symptoms due to the deficiency of calcium. Children, expectant and nursing mothers require higher amount of calcium as it is needed for the growth of tissues and bones

8. Phosphorus
Good source of phosphorus are cheese, meat, liver, cereals, oil seeds. If there is sufficient calcium in diet, it is unlikely that there will be deficiency of phosphorus.
Phosphorus is associate of with calcium and vitamin D in the hardening of bones and teeth and helps to maintain the constant composition of the body fluids. Phosphorus are essential part for energy transport inside cells

9. Potassium
It is found widely in all foods. The normal intake of the potassium chloride varies from 5-6 gm and this meets the body's potassium requirements.
It is the most commonly occurring intra cellular cation and is involved in various chemical activities inside cell. It also plays important role in contraction of the muscle, transmission of nerves impulses and maintenance of electrolyte balance in the body.

10. Sodium
Is found in most foods specially in fish, meat, eggs, milk, artificially enriched bread and as cooking and table salt. The normal intake of sodium chloride/day varies 5-20 gm whereas the daily requirements is between 2-5 gm, excess amount is excreted in urine.
Sodium is the most commonly occurring extra cellular cation and is associated with the contraction of muscle, transmission of nerve impulses in nerve fiber and maintenance of electrolytes balance in the body

11. Iron
Is soluble compound, found in green leafy vegetable, liver, kidney, eggs yolk, and whole meal bread. Normal adults lose about 1 mg iron daily from the body. The normal daily diet may contain more but the amount absorbed is equal to the amount lost. Higher intake is necessary for women particularly during pregnancy

12. Iron from an important component of hemoglobin which functions as a carrier of oxygen in the blood. Iron is necessary for growing children and pregnant women and deficiency of this mineral leads to anemia. It also necessary for tissue oxidation.

13. Iodine
It is found in salt water fish and in vegetables grown in soil containing iodine. In some parts of the word including india where iodine is deficient in soil very small quantities(1 in 40000) are added to table salt. The minimum daily requirement of iodine is 140 μg, for an adult man and 100 μg for an adult woman

14. Iodine is essential for the formation of the thyroxin and triiodothyronine, the harmful secreted by thyroid gland. Its deficiency can lead to endemic goiter, hypothyroidism and impaired hearing and brain development.

15. Fluorine
Is never found in nature. About 96% of fluoride is found in bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal mineralization of bones and formation of dental enamel.
The main source of fluoride to man in drinking water in our country is mg/let. The average adult man may ingest about 1 mg of fluoride from drinking water and his daily diet may provide another mg of fluoride

16. Fluorine is often considered a two edged sword
Fluorine is often considered a two edged sword. Ingestion of large amount is associated with dental and skeletal fluorosis characterized by mottled enamel and osteosclerosis respectively.
On the hand, if the fluoride deficiency occurs due to less than optimum intake of fluoride, it may lead to development of dental caries

17. Trace elements
Apart from the mentioned minerals, there are other element which are required by the body in very minute amount and hence they are known as trace elements.
Zinc:
Is present in all the tissues and is constitute of insulin and many enzymes in the body. It is widely distributed in the food stuffs both animal and vegetable. Daily intake in adults range from 5-10 mg.

18. Low circulating zinc levels have been associated with lever disease, pernicious anemia and delayed wound healing.