Vitamins: A Daily Need: General Introduction, Extraction, Isolation and Identification of Vitamins

Vitamins are micronutrients required by the body to carry out a range of normal functions. However, these micronutrients are not produced in our bodies and must be derived from the food we eat. Vitamins are organic substances that are generally classified as either fat-soluble or water-soluble. Fat-soluble vitamins (vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K) dissolve in fat and tend to accumulate in the body. Water soluble vitamins, such as vitamin C, are rapidly eliminated from the body and their dietary levels need to be relatively high. Vitamins boost the immune system, support normal growth and development, and help cells and organs do their jobs. In this book, we talk about classifications of vitamins, different extraction methods for vitamins, and techniques used for vitamin isolation.