Water-soluble vitamins: B and C
There are two water-soluble vitamins: B and C. Because they are not stored in the body, they have to come from food regularly.
Vitamin B
What it is for
- The proper condition of nerve tissue
- A component needed for forming red blood cells
- Keeping skin healthy
- Fat metabolism
- Forming bone marrow
- Maturation of red cells and formation of antibodies
Deficiency symptoms
- Beriberi
- Sores at the corners of the mouth
- Anaemia
- Dry skin and changes in its colour
Extra knowledge — B is not one vitamin
Vitamin B is a complex vitamin. It has variants: B1, B2, B6, B12. These reach the body through food, and some of them are produced by bacteria living in the human intestine.
Vitamin C
What it is for
- The health of the skin
- Forming the enamel of teeth
- Taking part in the synthesis of collagen fibres
Deficiency symptoms
- Weakening of the gums
- Internal bleeding
- Slow healing of illness
- Scurvy
Follow the connection
Vitamin C's main job is making collagen — the protein holding skin, gums and blood vessels together. What happens when it is not made shows up directly in the deficiency symptoms: weak gums, bleeding, and wounds that will not heal.