Vitamins and Cofactors

ADEK: absorbed with fat, stored in the body, and capable of toxicity

A mnemonic for the fat soluble vitamins and their functions.

Each is a cofactor whose loss produces a recognisable syndrome

A memory aid for the clinically important trace element deficiencies.

Wet beriberi, dry beriberi and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome

A memory aid for the presentations of vitamin B1 deficiency.

Zinc, copper, iodine, selenium and chromium, each with a characteristic syndrome

A memory aid for the essential trace elements and their deficiency states.

Vision, epithelium and differentiation, with teratogenicity in excess

A memory aid for the roles of vitamin A and the dangers of excess.

B12 releases folate from its methylated form

A memory aid for the methyl trap and why B12 must be replaced first.

Collagen hydroxylation, antioxidant activity and iron absorption

A memory aid for the roles of ascorbic acid.

Skin to liver to kidney, with calcitriol acting mainly on the gut

A memory aid for the vitamin D pathway and its effects.

Fat-soluble ADEK and the water-soluble B vitamins and C

A memory aid for the classic vitamin deficiency syndromes.

Cofactor for gamma-carboxylation of factors II, VII, IX and X plus proteins C and S

A memory aid for the role of vitamin K in clotting.

The B group and vitamin C, largely unstored and excreted in urine

A memory aid for the water soluble vitamins and their coenzyme roles.