CHEM 181 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Vitamin B3 Complex, Cod Liver Oil, Vitamin B6

• School: McGill University
• Department: Chemistry
• Course: CHEM 181
• Professor: Ariel Fenster

Document Summary

Topic two: micronutrients & vitamins lesson 1: vitamins i. Vitamins are nutrients needed in small amounts to prevent deficiency diseases. A balanced diet contains all the vitamins in the required amounts. Water-soluble: b1, b2, b3, b5, b6, b7, b9, b12, c. No vitamin f, g, or h -> became known that they"re not real vitamins. History of vitamin c discovered on pioneering voyages in 15-17th centuries when sailors began to get sick after months of travel scurvy. Gums start bleeding and flesh peeled off, teeth fell out, blotchy skin; legs became swollen and black and sometimes purple with blood, many died. Jacques cartier responsible for vitamin deficiency being responsible spoke to. Aboriginals who helped treat crew with pine needles to cure their scurvy. Vitamin c (l-ascorbic acid) also present in cabbage/sour kraut. James lind (1753) discovered proper diet could prevent scurvy. Experimented with different fruits, limes were particularly effective (acidity as well as vitamin c) limey" name origin.