Choline (a B vitamin)

Choline is an organic substance, a conditionally essential nutrient, which can be produced in the human body in small amounts, but you need an additional amount from food to meet your body's needs. The Institute of Medicine of National Academics in the US considers choline as a vitamin.

 

Choline is required for the:

• Synthesis of lecithin (phosphatidylcholine) and sphingomyelin in the cell membranes

• Synthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which is needed for muscle contraction and proper function of the nervous system

• Blood transport of fats and cholesterol from the liver to cells (as part of VLDL cholesterol)

• Synthesis of betaine

 

Vitamin C (aka Ascorbic Acid)

Vitamin C is known for its ability to heal wounds throughout the body.  It is needed for many functions in the body including helping the body use carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.  Vitamin C also aids in the strengthening of blood vessel walls which is important for the older generations.  Ascorbic acid is the chemical name for Vitamin C and originates from the Latin word "scorbutic", which means "of scurvy".  The A in front of scorbic refers to the opposite - so it translates to the opposite of scurvy.  Vitamin C is a preventative measure for scurvy and lack of wound healing in the body.  

 

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, an essential nutrient needed for:

• Synthesis of collagen, a protein fiber that gives strength to the bones, ligaments, muscles, skin, blood vessels and internal organs

• Synthesis of norepinephrine (noradrenaline), a neurotransmitter

• Synthesis of L-carnitine, which helps to break fats into energy

• Protection against free radicals (antioxidant activity); it also regenerates other antioxidants, such as vitamin E

 

 Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, a conditionally essential nutrient, which means, it can be produced in your body in sufficient amounts when your skin is exposed to sunlight for a certain period of time, but when it is not, you need to get an additional amount from food or supplements. It is needed for building and maintaining healthy bones.  This is because calcium, the primary component of bone, can only be absorbed when vitamin D is present. 

 

Vitamin D Functions:

• Promotes absorption of calcium and phosphate in the intestine. When blood calcium levels are low, vitamin D, stimulated by the parathyroid hormone (PTH), promotes the absorption of calcium and phosphate from the small intestine and bones. When blood calcium levels are high, vitamin D stimulates calcium incorporation into the bones and teeth and thus strengthen them. Vitamin D deficiency can result in rickets, osteomalacia or osteoporosis.

• Helps to maintain the muscle strength and normal glucose levels

• Helps to maintain immunity 

 

Vitamin E (Tocopherol)

Vitamin E is an important nutrient for vision, reproduction, and health of your blood, brain, and skin.  It has antioxidant properties protecting your cells against the effects of free radicals - molecules produced when your body breaks down food or exposed to tobacco smoke and radiation.  A deficiency in vitamin E can cause nerve pain or neuropathy.  

 

• Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin, an essential nutrient, which acts as an antioxidant in the human body.

• Several forms of vitamin E exist: alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-tocopherol and -tocotrienol, from which only alpha-tocopherol has a known active function in the human body.

• Vitamin E or tocopherol has got its name from the Greek toko = childbirth + pher(ein) = to carry; meaning “to carry a pregnancy”, because it was first isolated from a dietary fertility factor in rats.