VITAMINS  EXAM NOTES

SCIENTISTS ASSOCIATED WITH VITAMINS

---

🔷 1. DISCOVERY OF VITAMINS (GENERAL)

Term “Vitamin” was coined by
👉 Casimir Funk (1912)

📌 He is known as the “Father of Vitamin Science”

---

🔷 2. VITAMIN A

Discovered by:
👉 Elmer McCollum

📌 Also discovered Vitamin D

---

🔷 3. VITAMIN B COMPLEX

🔹 Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

Linked to Beriberi research by:
👉 Christiaan Eijkman
📌 Won Nobel Prize (1929)

---

🔹 Vitamin B12

Discovered by:
👉 Karl Folkers

---

🔷 4. VITAMIN C

Discovered by:
👉 Albert Szent-Györgyi

📌 Won Nobel Prize (1937)

---

🔷 5. VITAMIN D

Discovered by:
👉 Elmer McCollum

📌 Important for bone health

---

🔷 6. VITAMIN E

Discovered by:
👉 Herbert Evans

---

🔷 7. VITAMIN K

Discovered by:
👉 Henrik Dam

📌 Won Nobel Prize (1943)

---

🔥 SUPER IMPORTANT REVISION TABLE

Vitamin	Scientist
Vitamin A	Elmer McCollum
Vitamin B1	Christiaan Eijkman
Vitamin B12	Karl Folkers
Vitamin C	Albert Szent-Györgyi
Vitamin D	Elmer McCollum
Vitamin E	Herbert Evans
Vitamin K	Henrik Dam

---

🎯 MOST EXPECTED MCQs

---

Q1. Who coined the term “Vitamin”?

A. McCollum
B. Funk
C. Eijkman
D. Evans

👉 Answer: Casimir Funk ✅

---

Q2. Vitamin C was discovered by:

A. Dam
B. McCollum
C. Szent-Györgyi ✅
D. Funk

---

Q3. Beriberi disease research is associated with:

A. Funk
B. Eijkman ✅
C. Evans
D. Dam

---

Q4. Vitamin K was discovered by:

A. Evans
B. Dam ✅
C. Funk
D. McCollum

---

Q5. Who discovered Vitamin A?

👉 Elmer McCollum ✅

---

📚 PYQs (SSC / UPSC / NEET)

---

Q. The term vitamin was given by:

👉 Casimir Funk ✅

---

Q. Which scientist is associated with discovery of Vitamin C?

👉 Albert Szent-Györgyi ✅

---

Q. Who discovered Vitamin K?

👉 Henrik Dam ✅

---

🧠 MEMORY TRICK

👉 “F-M-E-S-D-E-D”

Funk → Vitamin term

McCollum → A, D
Eijkman → B1
Szent → C
Dam → K
Evans → E

---

⚡ QUICK REVISION (1 MINUTE)

Funk → Term Vitamin

McCollum → A, D
Eijkman → B1 (Beriberi)
Szent → C
Dam → 

---

🔷 1. WHAT ARE VITAMINS?

• Organic compounds required in small amounts
  Essential for growth, immunity, metabolism
  Cannot be synthesized sufficiently by body

  ---

  🔷 2. TYPES OF VITAMINS (VERY IMPORTANT)
  🟡 Fat-Soluble Vitamins
  👉 Stored in body (liver, fat)
  Vitamin A
  Vitamin D
  Vitamin E
  Vitamin K
  📌 Memory Trick: “ADEK”

  ---

  🔵 Water-Soluble Vitamins
  👉 Not stored, need daily intake
  Vitamin B-complex
  Vitamin C
  📌 Memory Trick: “BC”

  ---

  🔷 3. VITAMINS, FUNCTIONS & DEFICIENCY DISEASES

  ---

  🟠 VITAMIN A (Retinol)
  Function
  Vision (especially night vision)
  Healthy skin
  Deficiency Disease
  Night blindness
  Xerophthalmia
  Sources
  Carrot, milk, fish
  📌 Exam Point: “Vitamin for eyes”

  ---

  🟡 VITAMIN B-COMPLEX
  Important Types & Diseases

  Vitamin	Deficiency Disease
  B1 (Thiamine)	Beriberi
  B2 (Riboflavin)	Cheilosis
  B3 (Niacin)	Pellagra
  B6	Anemia
  B9 (Folic Acid)	Anemia
  B12	Pernicious anemia

  📌 Pellagra = 3 D’s → Dermatitis, Diarrhea, Dementia

  ---

  🔴 VITAMIN C (Ascorbic Acid)
  Function
  Immunity
  Wound healing
  Deficiency Disease
  Scurvy
  Symptoms
  Bleeding gums
  Sources
  Citrus fruits (orange, lemon)

  ---

  🔵 VITAMIN D (Calciferol)
  Function
  Calcium absorption
  Bone strength
  Deficiency Disease
  Rickets (children)
  Osteomalacia (adults)
  Source
  Sunlight ☀️
  📌 Exam Point: “Sunshine vitamin”

  ---

  🟢 VITAMIN E (Tocopherol)
  Function
  Antioxidant
  Protects cells
  Deficiency
  Rare (muscle weakness)

  ---

  🟣 VITAMIN K
  Function
  Blood clotting
  Deficiency Disease
  Excess bleeding

  ---

  🔷 4. SUPER IMPORTANT REVISION TABLE

  Vitamin	Name	Deficiency Disease
  A	Retinol	Night blindness
  B1	Thiamine	Beriberi
  B3	Niacin	Pellagra
  C	Ascorbic acid	Scurvy
  D	Calciferol	Rickets
  K	—	Bleeding disorder

  ---

  🔥 MOST IMPORTANT FACTS (FREQUENTLY ASKED)
  Vitamin D → Only vitamin synthesized by body (sunlight)
  Vitamin B & C → Water-soluble
  Vitamin A → Vision
  Vitamin K → Blood clotting
  Vitamin C → Immunity

  ---

  🎯 MCQs (HIGH-YIELD)

  ---

  Q1. Night blindness is caused by deficiency of:
  A. Vitamin B
  B. Vitamin C
  C. Vitamin A ✅
  D. Vitamin D

  ---

  Q2. Rickets is caused by deficiency of:
  A. Vitamin A
  B. Vitamin D ✅
  C. Vitamin K
  D. Vitamin E

  ---

  Q3. Scurvy is caused due to lack of:
  A. Vitamin B
  B. Vitamin C ✅
  C. Vitamin D
  D. Vitamin A

  ---

  Q4. Pellagra is due to deficiency of:
  A. Vitamin B1
  B. Vitamin B3 ✅
  C. Vitamin B12
  D. Vitamin C

  ---

  Q5. Vitamin K helps in:
  A. Digestion
  B. Blood clotting ✅
  C. Vision
  D. Immunity

  ---

  📚 PYQs (SSC / NEET / UPSC)

  ---

  Q. Which vitamin is known as sunshine vitamin?
  👉 Vitamin D ✅

  ---

  Q. Beriberi is caused by deficiency of:
  👉 Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) ✅

  ---

  Q. Which vitamin deficiency causes bleeding gums?
  👉 Vitamin C (Scurvy) ✅

  ---

  Q. Which vitamin is essential for vision?
  👉 Vitamin A ✅

  ---

  Q. Pellagra is caused due to deficiency of:
  👉 Niacin (Vitamin B3) ✅

  ---

  🧠 MEMORY TRICKS
  👉 “A → Eyes” (Night blindness)
  👉 “C → Collagen” (Scurvy, gums bleed)
  👉 “D → Bones” (Rickets)
  👉 “K → Klotting” (Blood clotting)

  ---

  ⚡ QUICK REVISION (1 MINUTE)
  A → Eyes → Night blindness
  B1 → Beriberi
  B3 → Pellagra
  C → Scurvy
  D → Rickets
  K → Blood clotting

  ---

  📌 EXAM STRATEGY
  Focus on:
  Vitamin → Disease (most repeated)
  Vitamin → Function
  PYQs mostly from:
  👉 A, B1, B3, C, D

  ---