A vitamin is an organic molecule (or related set of molecules), and it is an essential micronutrient that an organism needs for the proper functioning of its metabolism in small quantities. Most vitamins are not single molecules but groups of related molecules, called vitamers. For example, vitamin E consists of four tocotrienols and four tocopherols. Vitamins are classified as either water-soluble or fat-soluble. In humans, there are 13 vitamins: 9 water-soluble (8 B vitamins and vitamin C) and4 fat-soluble (A, D, E, and K). Vitamins A and D can accumulate in the body, which can result in dangerous hypervitaminosis. Fat-soluble vitamin is particularly significant in cystic fibrosis, because of the deficiency due to malabsorption.
Vitamins have diverse biochemical functions. Some forms of vitamin A function as regulators of cell and tissue growth and differentiation. The B complex vitamins function as enzyme cofactors (coenzymes) or the precursors for them. Vitamin D has a hormone-like function as a regulator of mineral metabolism for bones and other organs. Vitamins C and E function as antioxidants. Both deficient and excess intake of a vitamin can potentially cause clinically significant illness; although excess intake of water-soluble vitamins is less likely to do so. Well-known human vitamin deficiencies involve thiamine (beriberi), niacin (pellagra), vitamin D (rickets), and vitamin C (scurvy). In addition to these classical vitamin deficiency diseases, some evidence has also suggested links between a number of different disorders and vitamin deficiency.
Vitamin Analysis Service at Creative Proteomics
Based on years of experience and knowledge in the application of vitamin analysis, Creative Proteomics can offer you a state-of-the-art vitamin analysis platform to help you with a diversity of vitamin content analysis in whatever you can image: breakfast cereal, fruit juice, soft drinks, infant formula, nutritional supplements and much more products, with the analytical and technical combination of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet (UV) or fluorescence detection(FLD), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and more solutions.
Our services include but are not limited:
At Creative Proteomics, our analytical scientists are highly experienced and knowledgeable in the application of vitamin analysis techniques, vitamin analyses have a wide variety of contents, ranging from cereal and fruit to vegetable. Our experienced scientists and advanced techniques enable us to deliver consistent and high-quality data with cost-efficiency. Please contact us to find out more about our services. We look forward to working with you in the future.
1. Clark, A; Mach, N. Role of Vitamin D in the Hygiene Hypothesis: The Interplay between Vitamin D, Vitamin D Receptors, Gut Microbiota, and Immune Response. Front. Immunol. 2016, 7: 627-639.