Biology research project: “Vitamins in our lives”

The concept of "vitamins"

Vitamins are organic substances that come from outside or are synthesized in the body, participate in the construction of enzymes and hormones, which in turn act as regulators of various biochemical processes.
Beneficial substances include trace elements, essential amino acids and other vital substances that enter the body daily with food.

Microelements, like vitamins, are the basis of enzymes, specialized cells, and hormones. Essential amino acids are vital building materials. Contained in animal proteins.

Types of vitamins

Vitamin A is important for vision, normal skin and hair. The richest in it are liver and fish oil. B vitamins – are involved in energy metabolism. Contained in grains, cereals, meat, yeast. Vitamin C – together with vitamins A and E, prevent the formation of free radicals. It is important for connective tissues and iron absorption. Fresh vegetables and fruits are richest in vitamin C. Vitamin D can be produced in the human body independently, from cholesterol in the skin, under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. Regulates the exchange of phosphorus and calcium. Egg yolks, cream, and butter are rich in this vitamin. Vitamin E – reduces the risk of thrombosis, is important for good skin condition and muscle development. Contained in vegetable oils, spinach, beets, cabbage.

Vitamins and their importance for the human body

Before starting my research, I turned to the dictionary to find out the meaning of the word “vitamins.” Ozhegov’s “Explanatory Dictionary” gives the following explanation: “ VITAMIN is an organic substance, the primary source of which is usually a plant necessary for the normal functioning of the body, as well as a preparation containing such substances.”

Also, at the beginning of the study, it was found out what my friends and peers know about vitamins. For this purpose, a survey of 20 students from our school was conducted.

The following results were obtained:

• To the question “What are vitamins?” 50% answered that these are useful substances that our body needs.
• To the question “what vitamins do you know?” 70% answered that they know vitamins A, B, C.
• To the question “What foods contain vitamins?” 95% of children listed the names of different vegetables and fruits.
• From the answers to the question “Why should we take vitamins?” It was found that 88% believe taking vitamins is necessary to be healthy.

Thus, not everyone knows what vitamins are and what foods, except vegetables and fruits, contain them.

From scientific sources (books and encyclopedias, the Internet) it was found out when vitamins first appeared?

In the second half of the 19th century, people believed that the only beneficial substances contained in food were proteins, fats, carbohydrates, mineral salts and water. But because people did not eat certain foods and along with them other useful substances, besides those listed, they died from unknown diseases.

For example, when ships set out on long sea voyages, many people died from scurvy despite large food supplies. Scurvy is a disease in which a person feels tired, loses a lot of weight, loses appetite, has pain in the muscles in the legs, loose teeth and bleeding gums. Later it was discovered that scurvy develops from a lack of vitamin C.

For the first time, the Russian scientist Nikolai Lunin drew attention to unknown useful substances in 1880. He conducted experiments on mice and noticed that those animals that fed artificial milk lost weight and died. And those mice that received natural milk were healthy.

Later, his experience was confirmed by another scientist - doctor Eikman. At that time, in Japan and Indonesia, many people suffered from beriberi disease. This is a disease that affects the nervous system and heart and can lead to either paralysis or death. Aikman noted that he feeds his chickens husked rice, which is also what beriberi patients eat. As soon as you give them brown rice, they immediately recover.

The first scientist to isolate the vitamin was Casemir Funk in 1911. He gave it that name. “Vita” is translated from Latin as “life”, amines are a group of chemicals, hence the word “vitamin”.

Today, about 20 vitamins are known. All of them have been studied, it is known what products contain them and what diseases occur with their deficiency. Their chemical composition has also been studied, which makes it possible to obtain vitamins artificially.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is fat-soluble, that is, it can be deposited in the liver and tissues. And this is a whole group of substances that are similar in chemical structure and retinol is the predominant active form that accumulates in tissues and in case of overdose, toxic reactions develop. The main source of retinol and other retinoids are animal products.

Vitamin precursors include carotenoids and carotene, the most important among them. You can find it in plant products. This provitamin is an antioxidant, and its main feature is that it “converts” into vitamin A only as needed, so there is practically no risk of overdose.

Role and benefits for the body:

• problems with vitamin deficiency

1) nyctalopia or “night blindness” – decreased visual acuity in low light; 2) predisposition to infectious diseases; 3) dry skin, red border of lips; 4) disorders of reproductive function; 5) growth retardation in children.

Vitamin A is found in foods such as:

• egg yolk, milk, liver, cheese and butter.
• and in the form of beta-carotene, the vitamin is found in spinach, carrots, zucchini, corn, mango and papaya.

Vitamin B

B vitamins are water-soluble vitamins, which means they do not require fat to be absorbed well by the body. Another feature is that they do not accumulate in the body (with the exception of B12), so they must be obtained from food daily.

Role and benefits for the body: how vitamin B is useful 1) B vitamins regulate metabolism; 2) normalize blood sugar levels; 3) strengthen the immune system; 4) reduce the negative impact of stressful situations on the body, acts as antidepressants.

Vitamin B is found in foods such as bread, pineapple, mango, beets, buckwheat, beans, meat, mushrooms, liver, kidneys.

Project work on the topic: “Vitamins in human life.”

Slide 1

PROJECT on the topic: “Vitamins in human life.” Completed by a student of class 2 B of MOBU secondary school No. 26 Kvashevich Artem, Taganrog

Slide 2

Contents 1. Introduction 1.1. Relevance 1.2. Object of study 1.3. Purpose of the study 1.4. Research objectives 1.5. Research methods 2. Main part 2.1. The influence of vitamins on human health 2.2. Two groups of vitamins 2.3. Experiments with vitamins 2.4. Sources of vitamins 2.5. How to preserve vitamins in foods? 3. Conclusion 4. Work prospects 5. Application

Slide 3

Nowadays it is very important to be a successful person, to find your place in life. To achieve your goals you need to be able to overcome difficulties. To move forward, it is important to have good health. It depends on proper nutrition. From conversations with adults, I learned that modern children get sick more often than their peers in the 80s. I wondered: why is this happening? I began to look for the answer to the question and want to talk about the effect of vitamins on health. Relevance

Slide 4

In my class, I surveyed 8 people. Based on the results of the questionnaires, I realized that my classmates know little about the importance of vitamins in human life, so I consider my project work on a given topic relevant and interesting.

Slide 5

Survey results.

Slide 6

Object of study: vitamins. Purpose of the study: to find out what vitamins are, to study the properties of vitamins. Hypothesis: Vitamins play an important role in human health.

Slide 7

Research objectives: 1. Get to know the group of vitamins. 2. Study the effect of vitamins on human health. 3. Conduct observations of the solubility of vitamins of different groups in order to use them correctly. 4. Learn techniques for preserving vitamins in foods.

Slide 8

1. Studying literature on this topic. 2. Observation method. 3. Conducting experiments. 4. Conversation. 5. Questionnaire. Research methods:

Slide 9

Every person wants to be healthy. One of the most important elements of health is nutrition. Vitamins play a vital role in prolonging a healthy life; nothing can replace them. In the absence of vitamins or their deficiency, health is impaired. The effect of vitamins on human health:

Slide 10

In those days when people did not know about the existence of vitamins, many diseases arose. "What is this? - they thought. “Poison, infection, God’s punishment?” Scurvy struck travelers. Brave men felt weak, their teeth fell out, and rashes appeared. Since ancient times, children have suffered from rickets, a disease in which bones become weak and change shape. There are many other terrible diseases and the cause is often vitamin deficiency. Historical reference:

Slide 11

scurvy rickets

Slide 12

One doctor found that lemons and oranges prevent scurvy. And another doctor concluded that beriberi disease affects members of those ships whose crew eats mainly rice. Adding meat, vegetables, and fish to the diet solved the problem. Historical reference:

Slide 13

There are vitamins: A, B, C, E, D and others. Vitamins are classified into two groups: 1. Water-soluble vitamins: B vitamins (B1, B6, B12, etc.) and vitamin C. 2. Vitamins that are fat-soluble: A, D, E, K. Classification of vitamins .

Slide 14

Water-soluble vitamins should be taken daily as they are not stored in the body; fat-soluble vitamins can accumulate in fatty tissue and the liver. Two groups of vitamins:

Slide 15

Experiment No. 1 After conducting an experiment, dissolving vitamins in water, I found out the following: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid powder) dissolved in water. This means that the vitamin can be distributed in the human body with ordinary liquid. The human body cannot produce vitamin C itself and accumulate it, therefore it is very important to include in the daily diet as many foods as possible that contain vitamin C. Experiments with vitamins.

Slide 17

Experiment No. 2 Vitamin A (in granules). The granule dissolved in the water after I stirred the water, forming a film with oily, greasy circles on the surface of the water. Thus, vitamin A is better absorbed from fat (oil) and is insoluble in water. The main source of vitamin A is animal products. There is a lot of it in fruits and vegetables. Moreover, red foods contain much more vitamin A than yellow and green foods. Experiments with vitamins.

Slide 19

By periodically being in the sun, a person receives sufficient amounts of vitamin D. Vitamins of group D are formed in animal tissues and in some plants. In animal products, vitamin D is found in fish oil, egg yolk, caviar, dairy products, cheese, and butter. Plant sources of vitamin D include mushrooms, nettles, and parsley. Sources of vitamins.

Slide 20

The properties of vitamins are varied, but all vitamins in the right quantities improve human health. The need for vitamins increases during the period of child growth, under any stress. Vitamins are consumed in large quantities during diseases. For best absorption, vitamins should be taken simultaneously with food and minerals. Properties of vitamins.

Slide 21

It is recommended to store products away from air and light, in a dry and cool place. The shorter the shelf life, the more vitamins will remain. Repeatedly heating food in an open container has a detrimental effect on vitamins. Vegetables and herbs should be peeled and chopped shortly before preparing dishes from them. When cooking, vegetables should be placed in a boiling liquid, and not in a cold one, in order to reduce the loss of vitamin C. Potatoes boiled in their skins retain up to 75% of vitamin C. When cooking jam from various berries, vitamin C is destroyed. When drying, salting and pickling mushrooms, the vitamin content in them decreases. How to preserve vitamins in foods?

Slide 22

1.Vitamins should be included in every person’s diet. 2. It is necessary to take vitamin preparations, especially in spring and winter. 3. It is necessary to properly prepare vegetables and fruits. Conclusion.

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• about two groups of vitamins, the characteristics of their absorption by the body. • about the influence of vitamins on human health. • about methods of preserving vitamins in products. While working on the project, I learned:

Slide 24

In the future, I want to observe the effect of vitamins on my health. Together with my parents, I will draw up a food menu for the month, including foods rich in vitamins. I will monitor my performance, mood, and health. I will present the results to my classmates. I will have conversations with peers about healthy eating. This, I hope, will help the students in our class and I become healthier and more resilient and inquisitive. Job prospects:

Slide 25

Questionnaire 1. Do you pay attention to your health? a) yes b) no c) sometimes 2. You eat food: a) varied b) which you like c) what you have at home 3. You eat: a) according to the schedule b) when you have to c) when you want to eat 4. How often do you take vitamins: a) daily b) when they buy them c) occasionally 5. How much do you take vitamins: a) as much as you want b) following the recommendation 6. Do you know what vitamins are: a) food supplement b) medicine c) no Application:

Vitamin C

Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that has powerful antioxidant properties. It performs many functions in the human body and is an important component of tendons, ligaments, blood cells, skin, bones and teeth.

Role and benefits for the body: what are the benefits of vitamin C 1) participates in the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow; 2) is responsible for hemoglobin in the body; 3) Ascorbic acid maintains the good condition of capillaries, gums, teeth;

Vitamin C is found in foods such as:

Grapefruit, guava, lemon, mango, tomatoes, strawberries, black currants, broccoli, oranges, Brussels sprouts, bell peppers, papaya, rose hips, spinach, tangerines.

Synthetic and natural vitamins

Vitamins obtained chemically can also enter our body. These are various multivitamin complexes that are sold in pharmacies in our city.

Of course, to improve health and prevent diseases, preference should be given to natural vitamins found in food. The same problem arises when the body’s need for vitamins increases, and especially in diseases that impair their absorption.

Although many vitamins can be synthesized artificially, most vitamin preparations (tablets, capsules, powders, liquids) are produced using natural sources.

For example, vitamin A is obtained from fish liver oil; B vitamins—from yeast or liver; vitamin C is considered the best if it is made from rose fruits, or more precisely from rose hips; Vitamin E is extracted mainly from soybeans, wheat germ or other grains, etc.

Chemical analysis shows that the resulting preparations do not differ from natural vitamins, but, as a rule, the latter have a more pronounced positive effect and do not cause adverse reactions. Why?

Firstly, food products usually contain a whole complex of substances that have similar vitamin activity, and not just one substance. For example, natural vitamin E can include all of the naturally occurring tocopherols, rather than just tocopherol alone, so it is more effective than its synthetic counterpart.

Secondly, food products contain various vitamins and biologically active substances that enhance each other’s effects (improving absorption and slowing down excretion). Synthetic vitamin C is only ascorbic acid and nothing else. Natural vitamin C, extracted from rose hips, contains a whole complex of vitamins C, as well as bioflavonoids (vitamin P). Therefore, natural vitamin C is much more effective.

An experiment to determine the presence of vitamin C in various vegetables, fruits and industrial juices

Very often we hear that we need to take vitamin C to get sick less.
I was wondering which foods contain the highest content of this vitamin. To determine the amount of vitamin C in foods, I conducted a study. Objects of research: orange, apple, black currant, red pepper, lemon, kiwi. Research methods: IODOMETRY, Let's determine the presence of vitamin C in vegetables and fruits using iodometry.
For this:

1. measure out 20 ml of squeezed juice of various fruits and berries and dilute it with water to a volume of 100 ml;
2. add starch paste;
3. add 5% iodine solution drop by drop until a stable blue color appears, which does not disappear within 10-15 seconds.
4. Observe the color change for 1 minute. We record the results in a table.

Research on the amount of vitamin C in vegetables and fruits

From this table we can conclude that the largest amount of vitamin C is contained in black currants and red pepper.

Study of industrially produced juices for the presence of vitamin C.

Research method: IODOMETRY,

From this table we can conclude that the largest amount of vitamin C in industrially produced juices is contained in the Multifruit and Orange juices.

Conclusion

After studying information about the effect of vitamins on the body, I realized that vitamins play a very important role in human life. Without eating them, we can get very sick. Therefore, you need to eat right and constantly eat fresh fruits, vegetables and other foods containing large amounts of nutrients.

For children, vitamins are especially important; the level of mental and physical performance, endurance and resistance of the body to the influence of adverse environmental factors depends on them.

Now I know that each vitamin is responsible for its own part of the body: A - improves vision and skin, improves immunity, group of vitamins B - promotes growth, reduces toothache, and so on. Therefore, all vitamins are equally useful; none of them can be excluded from the diet.

My hypothesis was confirmed!

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that comes in two forms—vitamin D₃ and vitamin D₂. D₃ is synthesized in the skin under sun exposure and is found in foods that naturally contain the vitamin.

Role and benefits for the body: what is vitamin D useful for?

1) vitamins D regulate the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus; 2) vitamin D prevents the formation and growth of tumors; 3) prevents the destruction of neuronal myelin sheaths; 4) promotes normal myocardial function.

Vitamin D is found in such products as: sea fish, caviar, eggs, liver, sour cream, cheese, butter, milk.