Name of the Ingredient

The Need

Cuases of Deficiency

Health Benefits

Vitamin A
Retinol

Essential for eyes, skin and the proper function of the immune system. Helps maintain hair, bones and teeth.

Night blindness; reduced hair growth in children; loss of apetite; dry, rough skin; lowered resistance to infection; dry eyes.

 Useful Antioxidant

Beta Carotene
(Pro-Vitamin A)
(See Vitamin A)

Antioxidant. Converted to Vitamin A in the body. (See Vitamin A)

The antioxidant properties of this nutrient may be a factor in reducing the risk of certain forms of cancer

Vitamin D

Helps build and maintain teeth and bones. Enhances calcium absorption.

Rickets in children; bone softening in adults; osteoporosis.

 Useful in the absorption of Calcium when taken as supplement or from Calcium Rich food

Vitamin E

Antioxidant. Helps form red blood cells, muscles and other tissues. Preserves fatty acids.

Deficiency: Rare, seen primarily in premature or low birth weight babies or children who do not absorb fat properly. Causes nerve abnormalities.

The antioxidant properties of this nutrient may be a factor in reducing the risk of certain forms of cancer.  It is also use full in Fibro cystic Breast disease in Women

Thiamine
Vitamin B1

Necessary for carbohydrate metabolism and muscle coordination. Promotes proper nerve function.

Deficiency:
Anxiety; hysteria; depression; muscle cramps; loss of apetite; in extreme cases beriberi (mostly in alcoholics).

1. Keeps mucous membranes normal and healthy,
2. Improves Brain function,
3. Improves Nervous system functions
4. Useful adjuvant with oral contraceptives

Riboflavin
Vitamin B2

Needed for metabolism of all foods and the release of energy to cells. Essential to the functioning of Vitamin B6 and Niacin.

Deficiency: Cracks and sores around the mouth and nose; visual problems.

1. Pregnant women require more B2 due to higher metabolic rate
2. Useful adjuvant with oral contraceptives
3. Boosts immunity

Niacin
Vitamin B3

Needed in many enzymes that convert food to energy. Helps maintain a healthy digestive tract and nervous system. In very large doses, lower cholesterol (large doses should only be taken under the advice of a physician).

Deficiency:
In extreme cases, pellagra, a disease characterized by dermatitis, diarrhea and mouth sores.

1. Needed for Red blood cell production
2. Essential during pregnancy for foetus protection
3. Improves oxygen utilization of skin and repairs damage

Pantothenic Acid
Vitamin B5

Converts food to molecular forms. Needed to manufacture adrenal hormones and chemicals that regulate nerve function.

Deficiency:
Unclear in humans.

1. Anti-inflammatory property of B5 is help ful in acne
2. Accelerate wound healing

Vitamin B6
Pyridoxine

Needed for protein metabolism and absorption, carbohydrate metabolism. Helps form red blood cells. Promotes nerve and brain function.

Deficiency:
Anemia, irritability, patches of itchy, scaling skin; convulsions.

1. Necessary for the production of hydrochloric acid and proteins
2. Useful in premenstrual syndrome including depression, dys-menorrhea..
3. Effective Neuro-transmitter
4. Useful in Pregnancy form 1st triamester to control nausea and vomitting

Vitamin B12
Cyanocobalamin

Builds genetic material. Helps form red blood cells.

Deficiency:
Pernicious anemia; nerve damage. (Note: Deficiency rare except in strict vegetarians, the elderly or people with malabsorption disorders.)

1. Most potential forms of Vitamin B-12
2. Effective Neuro-transmitter
3. Works in tandem with Folic Acid
4. Controls hyper-homocysteins levels hence useful in pregnancy
5. Corrects B-12 deficiency anemia in normal and pregnant women

Biotin

Needed for metabolism of glucose and formation of certain fatty acids. Essential for proper body chemistry.

Deficiency:
Seborrhic dermatitis in infants. Rare in adults, but can be induced by consuming large amounts of egg whites - anorexia, nausea, vomiting, dry scaly skin.

1. Protects skin
2. Improves Hair growth
3. Maintain health hair
4. Prevent Hair loss during Lactation

Folic Acid

Essential for the manufacture of genetic material as well as protein metabolism and red blood cell formation.

Deficiency: Impaired cell division; anemia; diarrhea; gastrointestinal upsets.

1. Supplementation prevent Neural Tube defects in pregnancy
2. Essential neuro-vitamin
3. Helps in Foetus growth
4. Control Homocysteine levels

Vitamin C
Ascorbic Acid

Antioxidant. Helps bind cells together and strengthens blood vessel walls. Helps maintain healthy gums. Aids in the absorption of iron.

Deficiency: Muscle weakness, bleeding gums; easy bruising. In extreme cases, scurvy.

1. Can reduce the risk of certain forms of cancer.
2. May reduce the effects of the common cold
3. Essential vitamin for various metabolic process

Calcium

Helps build strong bones and teeth. Promotes muscle and nerve function. Helps blood to clot. Helps activate enzymes needed to convert food to energy.

Deficiency: Rickets in children; osteomalacia (soft bones) and osteoporosis in adults.

1. Useful in pregancny when there is a increased need for calcium
2. Useful in menopausal women

Magnesium

Activates enzymes needed to release energy in body. Needed by cells for genetic material and bone growth.

Deficiency: Nausea, irritability, muscle weakness; twitching; cramps, cardiac arrhythmias.

1. Useful in preventing postmenopausal osteoporosis in women

Potassium

Helps maintain regular fluid balance. Needed for nerve and muscle function.

Deficiency: Nausea, anorexia, muscle weakness, irritability. (Occurs most often in persons with prolonged diarrhea.)

1. Useful to maintain body fluid balance

Zinc
Men: 12 mg
Women: 9 mg

Necessary element in more than 100 enzymes that are essential to digestion and metabolism.

Deficiency:
Slow healing of wounds; loss of taste; retarded growth and delayed sexual development in children.

1. Boost immunity
2. Useful in pregnancy, prevents neural tube defects
3. Useful in premenstrual syndrome
4. Useful in per-meno-pause where the estrogen levels are eratic, Adequate zinc in necessary to prevent symptoms
5. Useful for healthy skin

Selenium
0.05-0.2 mg

Antioxidant. Interacts with Vitamin E to prevent breakdown of fats and body chemicals.

Deficiency: Unknown in humans.

1. Essential Antioxidant

Copper
2-3 mg

Component of several enzymes, including on needed to make skin, hair and other pigments. Stimulates iron absorption. Needed to make red blood cells, connective tissue and nerve fibres.

Deficiency: 
Rare in adults. Infants may develop a type of anemia marked by abnormal development of bones, nerve tissue and lungs.

1. Stimulates iron absorption
2. Helps in the metabolic activities of the skin

Manganese
2-5 mg

Needed for normal tendon and bone structure. Component of some enzymes important in metabolism.

Deficiency: Unknown in humans.

1. Needed for various metabolic processes

Molybdenum
0.15-0.3 mg

Component of enzymes needed in metabolism. Helps regulate iron storage.

Deficiency: Unknown in humans. .

1. Needed for various metabolic processes