Vitamin therapy

Vitamin is an essential organic micronutrient that an organism needs for its metabolism. There are 13 vitamins in our body, classified as Water-soluble vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12, C) and Lipid- soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K). The vitamins cannot be synthesized by themselves and should be made available through diet. Humans can acquire a few vitamins such as Gut Flora produce Vit — K and Biotin.

The term vitamin does not include three essential nutrients namely minerals, fatty acids, and essential amino acids. The term Vitamin is derived from ‘Vitamine’ ( vital + amines meaning amine of life). Later, it was observed that all the vitamins are not amines and hence the letter ‘e’ was removed and shortened as Vitamin.

Vitamins have diverse biochemical functions and both deficit or excess intake of them show significant clinical illness. Back in 1935, the only source for vitamins is diet. But later when the clinical illnesses are seen, yeast extract Vit B complexes and semi-synthetic Vit — C are produced. The then government made mandatory rules for the addition of synthetic vitamins into staple foods to reduce vitamin deficiency diseases, usually known as Food fortification. Folic acid supplements are made compulsory for women with pregnancy to prevent ill effects on the mother and baby.

Many physicians are currently including Multivitamins as a complementary therapy to accompany other medications. There are different kinds of Vitamin therapies. Important among them are :

It is a multidisciplinary therapy where anti-oxidants such as Vitamin A and E are administered into the body in high doses as complementary therapy to the medications or treatment being given.

The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery observed that Anti-oxidant Vitamin therapy in Brain trauma provides Cardioprotection (at least in parts) by inhibiting cardiac inflammatory cytokine secretion and translocation of transcription factor NF — kB.

It is also observed that the supplementation of high doses of Alpha-Tocopherol and beta — Carotene during radiation therapy could reduce the severity of therapy adverse effects, but it might show effects on the efficacy of radiation treatment.

It is also seen to have effects on sepsis and delay in the inflammatory responses.

It is a method of administrating vitamins directly into the bloodstream through veins. In this method, the vitamins are directly absorbed into the blood and hence bypass the first defense mechanisms against bacteria via skin and stomach. The vitamins observe almost 90% absorption into the cells as they are directly administered into the bloodstream.

Vitamin infusions showed positive results in Mayer’s cocktail treatment, which include Asthma, Migraine, Chronic fatigue syndromes, Muscle spasms, pain, Allergies, Sinusitis, rehydration, skin, and other diseases states such as Angina and Hyperthyroidism.

But sometimes, excess intake of vitamins could also result in significant clinical illnesses.

High-dose Vitamin therapies have efficacious effects in ameliorating genetic diseases. It is especially useful and remedial where the activity of the defective enzymes is low or diminished. The feeding of high doses of vitamins into the body increases the tissue cofactor concentrations and thereby increases the activity of the defective enzymes.

It is a condition where abnormally high concentrations of vitamins are stored in our bodies.

This mainly occurs with fat-soluble vitamins, especially Vitamin- A and D, which are stored in the liver and fatty tissues of our body. These vitamins remain in our body for a longer period than water-soluble vitamins.

Various conditions of Hypervitaminosis include:

Some vitamins have documented acute or chronic toxicity at larger intakes. The likelihood of consuming too many vitamins from food is remote, while the excessive intake from dietary supplements results in Vitamin- poisoning. Hence, one should consider their body needs before administering Vitamin therapies and it should be done by certified medical professionals only.

Thank you for reading my piece of article, and for any further questions or discussions, the comment box is open.

I’m a freelancing writer specialized in Pharmacy, medical and medico-legal topics. To reach me out, write to thepillandbar@gmail.com

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