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A P P E N D I X E
Vitamins
■■
TABLE E Vitamins (continued)
Vitamin
Solubility type
Recommended dietary intake (RDI) Therapeutic uses/special considerations
retinol (vitamin A)
(generic)
Fat
900 mcg (male)
700 mcg (female)
700–800 mcg (pregnancy)
1100 mcg (breastfeeding)
300–700 mcg (paediatric)
Hypervitaminosis A can occur, including
cirrhotic-like liver syndrome with
central nervous system effects;
gastrointestinal drying, rash and liver
changes.Treat by discontinuing the
vitamin and give saline, prednisone
and calcitonin IV. Liver damage may be
permanent
ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
(generic)
Water
45 mg (male)
45 mg (female)
80–85 mg (breastfeeding)
55–60 mg (pregnancy)
35–40 mg (paediatric)
Treatment of scurvy:
300–1000 mg/day. Enhanced wound
healing: 300–500 mg/day for 7–10 days.
Burns: 1–2 g/day. Also being studied
for treatment of common cold, asthma,
coronary artery disease, cancer and
schizophrenia. May be very toxic at
high doses
biotin (vitamin B
7
)
(contained in combined
generic products)
Water
30 mcg (male)
25 mcg (female)
35 mcg (breastfeeding)
30 mcg (pregnancy)
8–25 mcg (paediatric)
Biotin deficiency is uncommon but
increased requirements in people with
genetic biotinidase deficiency
cholecalciferol
(vitamin D
3
) (Ostelin,
OsteVit-D)
Fat
5–15 mcg (male)
5–15 mcg (female)
5 mcg (breastfeeding)
5 mcg (pregnancy)
5 mcg (paediatric)
Vitamin D deficiency: 25 mcg/day.
May be useful for the treatment
of hypocalcaemic tetany and
hypoparathyroidism
choline (contained in
combined generic
products)
Water
550 mg (male)
425 mg (female)
525 mg (breastfeeding)
415–440 mg (pregnancy)
200–400 mg (paediatric)
Vegetarians may experience choline
deficiency
cyanocobalamin (B
12
)
(generic)
Water
2.4 mcg (male)
2.4 mcg (female)
2.8 mcg (breastfeeding)
2.6 mcg (pregnancy)
0.9–2.4 mcg (paediatric)
Deficiency: 25–250 mcg/day. (Note:
oral route is not for the treatment
of pernicious anaemia.) Pernicious
anaemia: 100 mcg IM each month for
life; given with folic acid; nasal route is
preferable
alpha tocopherol
(vitamin E) (E-100,
E-500, E-Prime)
Fat
10 mg (male)
7 mg (female)
11–12 mg (breastfeeding)
7–8 mg (pregnancy)
5–8 mg(paediatric)
Used in certain premature infants to
reduce the toxic effects of oxygen on
the lung and retina; report fatigue,
weakness, nausea or headache
niacin (vitamin B
3
)
(generic)
Water
16 mg (male)
14 mg (female)
17 mg (breastfeeding)
18 mg (pregnancy)
6–14 mg (paediatric)
Prevention and treatment of pellagra: up
to 500 mg/day. Niacin deficiency: up to
100 mg/day
nicotinamide (B
3
)
(Niacinamide)
Water
15–20 mg (male)
13–15 mg (female)
20 mg (breastfeeding)
17 mg (pregnancy)
5–13 mg (paediatric)
Prevention and treatment of pellagra: up
to 50 mg, 3–10 times per day
bioflavonoids (contained
in combined generic
products)
Water
Unknown
Used to treat bleeding, abortion,
poliomyelitis, diabetes and other
conditions.There is little evidence these
uses have any clinical efficacy
pantothenic acid
(vitamin B
5
) (contained
in combined generic
products)
Water
6 mg (male)
4 mg (female)
6 mg (breastfeeding)
5 mg (pregnancy)
3.5–4 mg (paediatric)
Deficiency very uncommon; symptoms
similar to those of other B group
vitamins
