386 Section 10/ Vitamins and Trace Elements
Adverse effects include hypercalcae-
mia and hyperphosphataemia.
It is indicated in osteoporosis, hypo-
parathyroidism, hyperparathyroidism
(with bone disease), renal osteodystrophy,
nutritional and malabsorptive rickets,
hypophosphataemic vitamin D resistant
rickets and osteomalacia.
Dosage:
Adults: Initially 1 mcg daily adjusted
according to response. Elderly: Initially 0.5
mcg daily adjusted according to response.
Children: Over 20 kg: Initially 1 mcg
daily adjusted according to response.
Under 20 kg: 0.05 mcg/kg body wt. daily.
VITAMIN E
It is an antioxidant vitamin. It
presumably prevents oxidation of
coenzyme Q and inhibits generation of
peroxidation products from unsaturated
fatty acids.
Vitamin E is a family of eight com-
pounds, four tocopherols and four
tocotrienols. Tocotrienols appear to affect
a key enzyme in the liver (HMG CoA re-
ductase), which plays a key role in the syn-
thesis of cholesterol. As such tocotrienols
help maintain good cardiovascular health.
Vitamin E is an antioxidant and prevents
the oxidation of LDL (the bad cholesterol).
Vitamin E functions as anticoagulant,
which means it delays the clotting of the
blood. It can help prevent thrombosis, the
formation of blood clots in the arteries.
Deficiency symptoms: In vitamin E
deficiency in experimental animals the
manifestations are seen in several systems
including cardiovascular, reproductive and
haematopoietic.
The clinical manifestations are axonal
degeneration, gait disturbances, ophthal-
moplegia, hyporeflexia and necrotizing
myopathy.
Adverse effects include nausea,
fatigue, headache, blurred vision, diarrhoea.
It is indicated in premature infants
exposed to high concentration of oxygen,
correction of established vitamin E defi-
ciency, in patients at risk of developing
vitamin E deficiency, nocturnal muscle
cramps, intermittent claudication,
fibrocystic breast disease, coronary artery
disease and as an antioxidant.
Dosage:
Adults:
- Nocturnal muscle cramps: 400 mg daily
for 8 to 12 weeks. - Intermittent claudication: 400 mg daily
for 12 to 18 weeks. - Fibrocystic breast disease: 600 mg daily
for 2 to 6 months.
Children: 200 mg daily.
WATER SOLUBLE VITAMINS
VITAMIN B GROUP
Vitamin B 1 (Thiamine)
Vitamin B 1 is the first member of the B
complex.
Thiamine pyrophosphate is a coenzyme
and the active form of vitamin B 1. It func-
tions as coenzyme in decarboxylation of α-
keto acid and in hexose monophosphate
shunt.
Deficiency symptoms: In severe
vitamin B 1 deficiency beriberi develops.