Vitamins are organic micronutrients needed in small amounts for normal body functioning; their shortage causes specific deficiency diseases.
- Fat-soluble vitamins (stored in the body): A, D, E, K. Water-soluble vitamins (not stored, needed regularly): the B-complex group and C.
- Vitamin A (retinol): deficiency causes night blindness and xerophthalmia; sources include carrots, leafy greens, and liver.
- Vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency causes beriberi; B3 (niacin) deficiency causes pellagra; B12 deficiency causes pernicious anaemia.
- Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) deficiency causes scurvy (bleeding gums); citrus fruits and amla are rich sources.
- Vitamin D deficiency causes rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults; it is made in the skin under sunlight and aids calcium absorption. Vitamin K is needed for blood clotting.
Matching vitamins to their chemical names, sources, and deficiency diseases is a high-frequency nutrition and health topic in CAPF General Science.
Fat-soluble (A, D, E, K) versus water-soluble (B, C); scurvy is vitamin C, beriberi is B1, rickets is vitamin D, and night blindness is vitamin A.
Vitamin A night blindness, C scurvy, D rickets, B1 beriberi, B3 pellagra, B12 anaemia.