Interesting facts about vitamins will cover a wide variety of topics including biochemistry, medicine, nutrition and other fields. Vitamins play an important role in the life of every person. They affect both the physical and emotional state of people.
So, here are the most interesting facts about vitamins.
- Vitaminology is a science at the intersection of biochemistry, food hygiene, pharmacology and some other biomedical sciences, which studies the structure and mechanisms of action of vitamins, as well as their use for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes.
- In 1912 the Polish biochemist Kazimierz Funk first introduced the concept of vitamins, calling them "vital amines" - "amines of life".
- Do you know or do you that an excess of a vitamin is called hypervitaminosis, a deficiency is a hypovitaminosis, and its absence is a vitamin deficiency?
- As of today, it is known about 13 types of vitamins, although in many textbooks this figure is increased several times.
- In men, vitamin D is linked to testosterone. The more sunlight a man receives, the higher his testosterone levels become.
- An interesting fact is that, based on solubility, vitamins are divided into fat-soluble - A, D, E, K, water-soluble - C and B vitamins.
- Skin contact with vitamin E causes dermatitis in almost every third person on the planet.
- If you put bananas in the sun, they will increase their vitamin D content.
- Before flying into space, NASA forced astronauts to consume a small amount of clay to strengthen bones in a weightless state. Due to the combination of minerals (see interesting facts about minerals) in the clay, the calcium it contains is absorbed better by the body than pure calcium.
- The last known vitamin B was discovered in 1948.
- Lack of iodine can lead to thyroid disease as well as stunted growth of the child.
- To compensate for the iodine deficiency, iodized salt began to be produced, the use of which led to an increase in the average IQ throughout the planet.
- With a lack of vitamin B₉ (folic acid and folate), there is a risk of fetal defects in pregnant women.
- In extreme conditions, pine needle tea can be a rich source of vitamin C. Such tea was brewed by the inhabitants of besieged Leningrad, who, as you know, experienced terrible hunger.
- Polar bear liver contains so much vitamin A that its consumption can lead to death. For this reason, it is customary for the Eskimos to bury it so that the dogs do not eat the liver.
- Several scientific studies have shown that vitamin C does not help reduce the risk of colds.
- To get a potassium overdose, a person would need to eat about 400 bananas in 30 seconds.
- An interesting fact is that a serving of chili peppers contains 400 times more vitamin C than a serving of oranges.
- An excess of vitamin K leads to an increase in platelets and blood viscosity.
- Curiously, one serving of maple syrup contains more calcium than the same serving of milk.
- With a lack of vitamin A, various lesions of the epithelium develop, vision deteriorates, the wetting of the cornea is impaired, immunity decreases and growth slows down.
- Lack of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) leads to scurvy, which is characterized by fragility of blood vessels, bleeding gums and tooth loss.