In humans there are 13 vitamins: 4 fat-soluble (A, D, E and K) and 9 water-soluble (8 B vitamins and vitamin C). The following table gives a summary of these vitamins, recommended daily allowance, deficiency and overdose information:
| Vitamin name |
Chemical name |
Solubility |
Recommended dietary allowances
(male, age 19–70) |
Deficiency disease |
Upper Intake Level
(UL/day) |
Overdose disease |
| Vitamin A |
Retinoids
(retinol,retinoids
and carotenoids) |
Fat |
900 µg |
Night-blindness and
Keratomalacia |
3,000 µg |
Hypervitaminosis A |
| Vitamin B1 |
Thiamine |
Water |
1.2 mg |
Beriberi |
N/D |
? |
| Vitamin B2 |
Riboflavin |
Water |
1.3 mg |
Ariboflavinosis |
N/D |
? |
| Vitamin B3 |
Niacin |
Water |
16.0 mg |
Pellagra |
35.0 mg |
"Niacin flush" |
| Vitamin B5 |
Pantothenic acid |
Water |
5.0 mg |
Paresthesia |
N/D |
? |
| Vitamin B6 |
Pyridoxine |
Water |
1.3-1.7 mg |
Anemia |
100 mg |
Impairment of proprioception |
| Vitamin B7 |
Biotin |
Water |
30.0 µg |
None identified |
N/D |
? |
| Vitamin B9 |
Folic acid |
Water |
400 µg |
Deficiency during pregnancy is associated with birth defects, such as neural tube defects |
1,000 µg |
? |
| Vitamin B12 |
Cyanocobalamin |
Water |
2.4 µg |
Megaloblastic anaemia |
N/D |
? |
| Vitamin C |
Ascorbic acid |
Water |
90.0 mg |
Scurvy |
2,000 mg |
Refer to Vitamin C megadosage |
| Vitamin D |
Ergocalciferol and
Cholecalciferol |
Fat |
5.0 µg-10 µg |
Rickets and Osteomalacia> |
50 µg |
Hypervitaminosis D |
| Vitamin E |
Tocopherol and
Tocotrienol |
Fat |
15.0 mg |
Deficiency is very rare; mild hemolytic anemia in newborn infants. |
1,000 mg |
? |
| Vitamin K |
Naphthoquinone |
Fat |
120 µg |
Bleeding diathesis |
N/D |
? |
|
