146 The Vertebrate Organ Systems 



to act as catalysts in certain important activities. Very small quantities 

 are needed, and fortunately they are widely distributed in many dif- 

 ferent foods. 



There are a number of different vitamins essential in human nutri- 

 tion. The most important of these along with their importance, sources, 

 and deficiency symptoms are given in the accompanying table. 



Summary of Vitamins Important in Human Nutrition 



I 



\ 



vitamin 



A 



Carotene 



Thiamin 



B, 

 Riboflavin 



Niacin 



D 



K 



source 



IMPORTANCE 



DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS 



Leafy green vege- 

 tables, dairy prod- 

 ucts, yellow vege- 

 tables, fish liver 

 oil 



Yeast, liver, eggs, 

 milk, legumes, 

 fruit, lean meat, 

 cereals 



Milk, eggs, liver, 

 meat, leafy vege- 

 tables, wheat germ 



Liver, kidney, pea- 

 nuts, lean meat, 

 yeast, bran, green 

 leaf vegetables, 

 eggs 



Essential for growth, 

 vision, resistance 

 to skin infections 



Necessary for carbo- 

 hydrate metabo- 

 lism; for good ap- 

 petite, normal di- 

 gestion, proper 

 nerve functioning 



Necessary for growth 

 and tissue respira- 

 tion, increases 

 vitality 



Important in cellular 

 respiration; essen- 

 tial for growth 

 and health 



Night blindness 

 Dry skin 

 Poor growth 



Poor growth, loss of 

 appetite, emotional 

 instability, enlarge- 

 ment of heart 

 (beriberi) 



Roughening of skin ; 

 light sensitivity 



Alfalfa, cabbage, 

 tomatoes, pine- 

 apple, citrus fruits 



Egg yolk, fish, liver, 

 fish liver oil 



Lettuce, spinach, egg 

 yolk, meat, seeds 



Spinach, tomatoes, 

 cabbage, cauli- 

 flower 



Cures and prevents 

 scurvy; resistance 

 to infections; im- 

 portant for tooth 

 and bone forma- 

 tion 



Bone calcification; 

 use of calcium and 

 phosphorus 



Prevents sterility in 

 rats 



Normal clotting of 

 blood; normal heal- 

 ing of wounds 



Pellagra ; soreness of 

 mouth, digestive and 

 nervous disturbances 



Scurvy; gum infections, 

 defective teeth and 

 bone formation 



Rickets and tooth 

 decay 



Importance has not 

 been demonstrated 

 in human nutrition 



Poor healing of wounds; 

 tendency to hemor- 

 rhage 



