Vitamins Pharmacology

Letter Identifier	Name	Solubility	Actions
B1	Thiamine	water	Needed by brain cells to metabolize O2 & glucose. Deficiencies: Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
D	Calciferol	fat	Needed to regulate calcium in bone & blood stream. Deficiencies: Rickets
K	Menadione	fat	Helps with blood clotting. Deficiencies: clotting problems. Vitimin K (aquaMephyton), is the antidote for Coumarin based anticoagulants and rat poisons.
C	Ascorbic Acid	water	Needed for healthy tissues (especially oral areas). Boosts immune system, it has antioxident properties Deficiencies: Scurvy
Niacin	Nicotinic Acid	water	Plays vital role in cell metabolism, can block cholesterol production. Large doses act like vasodilators (niacin flush) Deficiencies: Pellagra
E	Tocopherol	fat	Antioxidant-prevents lipid peroxidation of polyunsaturated fats. Deficiencies: RBC hemolysis, neurological changes
Folic Acid	Folacin	water	RBC production, essential in neural tube closure of the fetus, act as co-enzyme in many body processes Deficiencies: Megaloblastic Anemia, hemologic changes, Abortion, Neuropathy Psychiatric disorders

Water soluable vitamins are easily flushed from the body. The body only uses what it needs and then discards the rest. Fat soluable vitamins, on the other hand, accumulate in the body and can be toxic in excess. This is called hypervitaminosis.

An easy way to remember the fat soluable vitamins: All Dogs Eat Kittens

Note: There are many more important vitamins not listed here. This table represents the minimum knowledge expected of the paramedic student or practicing paramedic.