Answer to Question #122308 in Cell Biology for Yashwanth

Question

Why vitamin deficiency causes health problems in us?

Answer 1

Because vitamins affect many cellular processes, deficiencies can lead to serious upsets of homeostasis and many adverse health effects. Vitamin A resists the living being to infection and forms visual purple in retina. Its deficiency causes night blindness. Vitamin B1 is essential for proper metabolism of carbohydrates and tissue respiration. Its deficiency causes beriberi disease. Vitamin B2 is also essential for growth. Vitamin B6 is essential for protein synthesis and its deficiency causes anemia. Vitamin B12 is helpful for red blood cells formation. Vitamin C is useful in tissue respiration, normal growth of bones and teeth. Its deficiency results in scurvy in which bones become weak and skin becomes rough. Vitamin D is essential for the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, thus helps in bone formation. Its deficiency causes dental carries and deformation of bones. Vitamin E is essential for rapid cell growth and its deficiency causes death of embryo and sterility. Vitamin K helps in the formation of blood protein prothrombin and its deficiency causes haemorrhage as blood fails to coagulate. Vitamin P maintains cement of capillary walls, thus affecting capillary fragility.