Vitamins areorganic compoundsthat are required in small amounts in our diet but their deficiency causes specific diseases.
Most of the vitamins cannot be synthesized in our bodybut plants can synthesize almost all of them, so they are considered as essential food factors.
Fat soluble Vitamins:
Vitamins which are soluble in fat and oils but insoluble in water are kept in this group. These are vitamins A, D, E and K. They are stored in liver and adipose (fat storing) tissues.
Water soluble Vitamins:
Bgroup vitamins and vitamin Care soluble in water so they are grouped together.
Water soluble vitamins must be supplied regularly in diet because they are readily excreted in urine and cannot be stored (except vitamin B12) in our body.