Introduction :
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
Static GK Notes and Exam Support by Rohit Academy :
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.
Classification Of Vitamins
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.
(i) Fat-soluble vitamins:
- 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.
Characteristics of Fat-Soluble Vitamins:
- 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.
(ii) Water-soluble vitamins:
- 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.
Characteristics of Water-Soluble Vitamins:
- 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.
Fat Soluble Vitamins (Vitamin A, D, E, K)
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 |
Water Soluble Vitamins (Vitamin C, B-Complex)
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 |
- Vitamin A
Scientific Name: Retinol
Deficiency Diseases: Night blindness, Xerophthalmia
Sources: Liver, fish oil, eggs, dairy, carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, kale, mangoes - Vitamin B1
Scientific Name: Thiamine
Deficiency Diseases: Beriberi
Sources: Whole grains, pork, fish, legumes, nuts, seeds - Vitamin B2
Scientific Name: Riboflavin
Deficiency Diseases: cracked lips, sore throat, skin issues
Sources: Dairy, eggs, green leafy vegetables, lean meats, almonds - Vitamin B3
Scientific Name: Niacin
Deficiency Diseases: Pellagra (dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia)
Sources: Poultry, fish, beef, peanuts, whole grains, mushrooms - Vitamin B5
Scientific Name: Pantothenic Acid
Deficiency Diseases: Pellagra, Dermatitis, Diarrhea
Sources: Chicken, eggs, avocados, broccoli, whole grains - Vitamin B6
Scientific Name: Pyridoxine
Deficiency Diseases: Anemia, dermatitis, depression, confusion
Sources: Bananas, potatoes, chickpeas, poultry, fish - Vitamin B7
Scientific Name: Biotin
Deficiency Diseases: Dermatitis, blood cholesterol increases, loss of hair and paralysis
Sources: Egg yolks, liver, nuts, seeds, salmon, avocados - Vitamin B9
Scientific Name: Folic Acid
Deficiency Diseases: Anemia
Sources: Leafy greens, lentils, beans, citrus fruits, fortified cereals - Vitamin B12
Scientific Name: Cobalamin
Deficiency Diseases: Anemia
Sources: Meat, fish, eggs, dairy, fortified plant-based milk - Vitamin C
Scientific Name: Ascorbic Acid
Deficiency Diseases: Scurvy (bleeding gums, fatigue, joint pain)
Sources: Citrus fruits, bell peppers, strawberries, broccoli, tomatoes - Vitamin D
Scientific Name: Cholecalciferol
Deficiency Diseases: Rickets (in children), Osteomalacia (in adults)
Sources: Sunlight, fatty fish, egg yolks, fortified milk, mushrooms - Vitamin E
Scientific Name: Tocopherol
Deficiency Diseases: Sterility
Sources: Nuts, seeds, spinach, broccoli, vegetable oils - Vitamin K
Scientific Name: Phylloquinone
Deficiency Diseases: Bleeding disorders, poor bone health
Sources: Green leafy vegetables, fermented foods, meat, dairy
Scientific Name of Vitamins and their sources PDF
Recommended |
You Can Also Visit:
Complete List of Static GK |
Study Materials for Competitive Examination |
Chemical Names of Vitamins and Their Sources in Hindi |
Chemical Names of Vitamins and Their Sources in Bengali |
Official Websites:
By clicking the following link, you can visit the official website of the respective organization.
- NCERT
- Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
- Staff Selection Commission (SSC)
- Railway Requirement Board (RRB
- Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC)
- Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC)
- Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC)
- Public Service Commission, West Bengal (WBPSC)
- West Bengal Police Recruitment Board (WBPRB)
- Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB)
FAQs: Scientific Name of Vitamins and their sources
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to vitamins, their scientific names, and deficiency diseases — useful for SSC and other competitive exams:
Which vitamins are fat-soluble and water-soluble?
Which vitamin is helpful in blood clotting?
Which vitamin is produced by the human body?
Which vitamin is also known as the “anti-sterility vitamin”?
Which vitamin prevents scurvy?
Which vitamin helps in calcium absorption?
Which vitamin deficiency causes night blindness?
Which vitamin is essential for red blood cell (RBC) formation?
Which vitamin is called the “sunshine vitamin”?
Which vitamin is destroyed by heat?
Which vitamin is synthesized by gut bacteria?
Which vitamin is required for proper nerve function?
Which vitamin is involved in blood clotting?
Which vitamin helps in wound healing?
Which vitamin is important for healthy skin and vision?
What is the deficiency disease of Vitamin B3 (Niacin)?
Which vitamin is found abundantly in citrus fruits?
What are the sources of Vitamin A?
***Note: “If you find any errors or mistakes, let us know by commenting or sending us an email.”

