Vitamins Testing

Vitamins are defined as micronutrients and relatively low-molecular weight compounds that are the required in small amounts by the body. These nutrients are necessary for the human physiological and biochemical processes. They are essential for the proper functioning of our body and each vitamin plays an unique role.

There are 13 vitamins altogether considered as vital for humans. They are either water-soluble or fat-soluble. Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat-soluble, while vitamin C, and the B-complex vitamins such as thiamin (B1 ), riboflavin (B 2), niacin (B3), pyridoxine (B6), folic acid and cyanocobalamin (B12) are water soluble. Beta-carotene is as procurer to vitamin A & is converted to vitamin A in the body. The fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin A, D, E and K can be stored in our fatty tissues & liver while we can’t store the water-soluble vitamins so the body get rids of any excess in urine.

Fat-Soluble Vitamins

Fat-soluble vitamins includes vitamins A, E, D, and K.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is important for good vision, bone growth, reproduction, cell functions, and immune system. Vitamin A is an antioxidant and is found in both plant and animal sources. Plant sources include colorful fruits and vegetables. Animal sources include liver and whole milk.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium. Calcium is essential for the development, growth, and maintenance of our bones. Lack of vitamin D can lead to bone diseases such as osteoporosis or rickets. We can get vitamin D in through our skin (from sunlight), from you our diet, and from supplements. Our body also synthesize vitamin D naturally after exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D rich foods include fish, egg yolks, and liver. Some other foods, like milk and cereal, often have added vitamin D.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant. It is important for our immune system and metabolic processes. Vegetable oils, margarine, nuts and seeds, and leafy greens are considered to be good sources of vitamin E.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K plays important role in blood clotting. It also makes proteins for blood clotting. There are different types of vitamin K like vitamin K1 & vitamin K2. We get vitamin K from plants such as green vegetables, dark berries, natto, pumpkins, figs, and parsley. Bacteria in our intestines also produce small amounts of vitamin K.

Water-Soluble Vitamins

Water-soluble vitamins include all the B complex vitamins and vitamin C.

Folate

Folate is naturally present in many foods. A form of folate called folic acid is used in dietary supplements and fortified foods. Folate is needed for the body’s cells to divide. It is also important for women to get enough folic acid before and during pregnancy. It can prevent major birth defects of the baby's brain or spine. Good Sources of vitamin B12 are leafy green vegetables and legumes, seeds, orange juice, and liver.

Niacin

Niacin helps some enzymes work appropriately and helps the skin, nerves, and digestive tract stay healthy. Good Sources of Niacin includes meat, poultry, fish, whole grain foods, enriched breads and cereals, vegetables (especially mushrooms, asparagus, and leafy green vegetables) and peanut butter

Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 is found in many foods and is added to other foods. The body needs vitamin B6 for many chemical reactions involved in metabolism. It assists in the proper functioning of the nervous and immune systems, protein metabolism, and making the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine. Vitamin B6 contributes to the normal metabolism of proteins and glycogen. It is found in meat, fish, poultry, fruits & vegetables.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 helps to keep our body’s nerve and blood cells healthy. It is needed for producing and maintaining new cells (nerve and red blood cells) and for making DNA. Vitamin B12 deficiency leads to pernicious anemia.  Vitamin B12 also helps prevent a type of anemia that makes people tired and weak. Vitamin B12 is found naturally in a wide variety of animal foods like meat, poultry, fish, seafood, eggs, milk and milk products and not found in plant foods. It is also added to some fortified foods and is found in most multivitamin supplements.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an antioxidant. It is important for our skin, bones, and connective tissues. It promotes healing and helps the body absorb iron. Good sources of vitamin C include fruits and vegetables citrus, red and green peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, and greens.

There are various sources of these vitamins. They are either naturally found or fortified in food. In October 2016, FSSAI operationalized the Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2016 for fortifying staple food such as Wheat Flour and Rice (with Iron, Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid), Milk and Edible Oil (with Vitamins A and D) and Double Fortified Salt (with Iodine and Iron) to reduce the high burden of micronutrient malnutrition in India. The ‘+F’ logo used for fortified foods. 

Vitamin analysis of food and other biological samples has played a critical role in determining animal and human nutritional requirements. Furthermore, accurate food composition information is required to determine dietary intakes to assess diet adequacy and improve human nutrition worldwide. From the consumer and industry points of view, reliable analytical methods are required to ensure accuracy of food labeling

Many Food products are often claimed to be enriched with vitamins and thereby contributes to a balanced diet. There are different methods that allows to examine whether the product actually contains the amount of vitamins that is indicated on the label.

Eurofins India is capable of testing all vitamins by the latest technology and worldwide acceptable methodologies.

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