Scientific Name of Vitamins and their sources

Scientific Name of Vitamins and their sources

When it comes to nutrition and wellness, vitamins play a vital role in maintaining our health, energy levels, and overall bodily function. Understanding the scientific names of vitamins and their natural sources can help us to crack any competitive exam. 

In this article, you’ll discover:

  • The scientific names of all major vitamins
  • Their food sources
  • Deficiency Diseases

Rohit Academy offers simplified Static GK notes designed for easy comprehension, ideal for competitive exams such as UPSC, SSC, banking, railways, and state-level tests. The notes feature FAQs based on previous exam papers, targeting high-scoring topics to aid preparation. Free study resources are available to support students across these exams. Check Rohit Academy’s official website or platform for access.

Vitamins, which serve as organic nutrients required for a variety of bodily functions, are categorized by their solubility since it determines their absorption, storage, and role in the body. Below is an elementary division of vitamins into two groups, namely: water-soluble and fat-soluble along with their principal characteristics, sources, and functions.

  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin E
  • Vitamin K

These vitamins dissolve in fats and oils and can be stored in the body’s fatty tissues and liver. They are absorbed through the digestive tract with the help of dietary fats.

  • Stored in the body (liver and adipose tissue), so daily intake is not strictly necessary.
  • Excess intake can lead to toxicity due to accumulation.
  • Best absorbed when consumed with dietary fat.
  • Vitamin B Complex
  • Vitamin C

These vitamins dissolve in water and are not stored in significant amounts in the body. Excess amounts are typically excreted in urine, requiring regular intake through diet.

  • Not stored in large amounts, so regular dietary intake is necessary.
  • Excess is excreted in urine, reducing the risk of toxicity (except in cases of extreme supplementation).
  • Sensitive to heat, light, or processing, which can reduce their content in food.
Name of Vitamins Chemical / Scientific Name Deficiency Diseases Food Sources
Vitamin A Retinol Night blindness, Xerophthalmia Liver, fish oil, eggs, dairy, carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, kale, mangoes
Vitamin D Calciferol Rickets (in children), Osteomalacia (in adults) Sunlight, fatty fish, egg yolks, fortified milk, mushrooms
Vitamin E Tocopherol Sterility Nuts, seeds, spinach, broccoli, vegetable oils
Vitamin K Phylloquinone Bleeding disorders, poor bone health Green leafy vegetables, fermented foods, meat, dairy
Name of Vitamins Chemical / Scientific Name Deficiency Diseases Food Sources
Vitamin C Ascorbic Acid Scurvy (bleeding gums, fatigue, joint pain) Citrus fruits (oranges, lemons), bell peppers, strawberries, broccoli, tomatoes
Vitamin B1 Thiamin Beri Beri Whole grains, pork, fish, legumes, nuts, seeds
Vitamin B2 Riboflavin cracked lips, sore throat, skin issues Dairy, eggs, green leafy vegetables, lean meats, almonds
Vitamin B3 Nicotinic Acid / Niacin Pellagra (dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia) Poultry, fish, beef, peanuts, whole grains, mushrooms
Vitamin B5 Pentothenic Acid Pellagra, Dermatitis, Diarrhea Chicken, beef, eggs, avocados, broccoli, whole grains
Vitamin B6 Pyridoxine  Anemia, dermatitis, depression, confusion Bananas, potatoes, chickpeas, poultry, fish
Vitamin B7 Biotin Dermatitis, blood cholesterol increases, loss of hair and paralysis Egg yolks, liver, nuts, seeds, salmon, avocados
Vitamin B9 Folic Acid Anemia Leafy greens, lentils, beans, citrus fruits, fortified cereals
Vitamin B12 Cobalamin Anemia Meat, fish, eggs, dairy, fortified plant-based milk
  1. Vitamin A
    Scientific Name: Retinol
    Deficiency Diseases: Night blindness, Xerophthalmia
    Sources: Liver, fish oil, eggs, dairy, carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, kale, mangoes 
  2. Vitamin B1
    Scientific Name: Thiamine
    Deficiency Diseases: Beriberi
    Sources: Whole grains, pork, fish, legumes, nuts, seeds
  3. Vitamin B2
    Scientific Name: Riboflavin
    Deficiency Diseases: cracked lips, sore throat, skin issues
    Sources: Dairy, eggs, green leafy vegetables, lean meats, almonds
  4. Vitamin B3
    Scientific Name: Niacin 
    Deficiency Diseases: Pellagra (dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia)
    Sources: Poultry, fish, beef, peanuts, whole grains, mushrooms
  5. Vitamin B5
    Scientific Name: Pantothenic Acid
    Deficiency Diseases: Pellagra, Dermatitis, Diarrhea
    Sources: Chicken, eggs, avocados, broccoli, whole grains
  6. Vitamin B6
    Scientific Name: Pyridoxine
    Deficiency Diseases: Anemia, dermatitis, depression, confusion
    Sources: Bananas, potatoes, chickpeas, poultry, fish
  7. Vitamin B7
    Scientific Name: Biotin
    Deficiency Diseases: Dermatitis, blood cholesterol increases, loss of hair and paralysis
    Sources: Egg yolks, liver, nuts, seeds, salmon, avocados
  8. Vitamin B9
    Scientific Name: Folic Acid 
    Deficiency Diseases: Anemia
    Sources: Leafy greens, lentils, beans, citrus fruits, fortified cereals
  9. Vitamin B12
    Scientific Name: Cobalamin 
    Deficiency Diseases: Anemia
    Sources: Meat, fish, eggs, dairy, fortified plant-based milk
  10. Vitamin C
    Scientific Name: Ascorbic Acid
    Deficiency Diseases: Scurvy (bleeding gums, fatigue, joint pain)
    Sources: Citrus fruits, bell peppers, strawberries, broccoli, tomatoes
  11. Vitamin D
    Scientific Name: Cholecalciferol 
    Deficiency Diseases: Rickets (in children), Osteomalacia (in adults)
    Sources: Sunlight, fatty fish, egg yolks, fortified milk, mushrooms 
  12. Vitamin E
    Scientific Name: Tocopherol
    Deficiency Diseases: Sterility
    Sources: Nuts, seeds, spinach, broccoli, vegetable oils
  13. Vitamin K
    Scientific Name: Phylloquinone 
    Deficiency Diseases: Bleeding disorders, poor bone health
    Sources: Green leafy vegetables, fermented foods, meat, dairy 
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Chemical Names of Vitamins and Their Sources in Hindi
Chemical Names of Vitamins and Their Sources in Bengali

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Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to vitamins, their scientific names, and deficiency diseases — useful for SSC and other competitive exams:

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