Vitamins

        BIOLOGICAL FUNCTION          

        DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS               

 A

Plays a role in mechanisms required for sight;

Essential for growth and development;

Required for healthy skin, epithelia and mucosa;

Important for fertility; Essential for proper immune

functions

Reduced growth; Lowered resistance to disease;

Eye lesions, muscular incoordination, lowered

egg production and blood spots in eggs

 D3 

Regulation of metabolism of calcium

and phosphorus: Essential for normal

bone development and maintenance;

Plays a role in innate immunity by

stimulating immune cells proliferation

and cytokine production

Rickets and lowered growth rate; Osteomalacia;

Reduced egg production and hatchability

 E

Biological antioxidant: Protects lipids

(cell membranes), proteins, and DNA

from oxidation and thereby contributes

to cellular health

Exudative diathesis; Encephalomalacia;

Muscular dystrophy

K3 (Menadione)

Essential anti-haemorrhaging agent

Impairment of blood coagulation,

Increase in blood clotting time, Hemorrhages

 B1

Coenzyme in carbohydrate metabolism

and function of neural tissues.

 B2

Coenzyme in carbohydrate fat and

protein metabolism.

 B3 (Nicotinic acid)

Coenzyme in total metabolism of

proteins, fats and carbohydrates,

especially in furnishing energy.

Required for the energy supply

to all metabolic reactions in the body

Severe metabolic disorders in the skin and

digestive organs; loss of appetite, retarded

growth, weakness, digestive disorders and

diarrhea

 B5 (Pantothenic acid)

Required for the synthesis of

co-enzyme A and acyl carrier protein (ACP);

Key role in metabolism of carbohydrates,

proteins and fats; Important for maintenance

and repair of tissues and cells

Reduce egg production and hatchability;

Reduced growth and retardation of

feather growth; Inflammatory changes at

the corner of the beak. At the eyelids,

and partly on the toes.

B6 (Pyridoxine) 

Coenzyme in protein metabolism, but

also fat and carbohydrate metabolism.

Required for the majority of biological

reactions 

Retarded growth, dermatitis, epileptic-like

convulsions, anemia, partial alopecia

 B12

Red blood cell synthesis, maintenance

of nervous system, metabolism of

nucleic acids.

Nervous disorder and defective feathering;

Anemia, gizzard erosion, and fatty deposits

in the heart, liver, and kidneys;

Reduced hatchability

 Folic acid (B9)

Required for the production of nucleic

acids and in cell reproduction

Severe macrocytic anemia; Poor growth,

very poor feathering, an anemic appearance;

Perosis

 Biotin (B7; Vit H) 

Coenzyme in carbohydrate, fat and

protein metabolism.

Poor feathering, lesions and encrustations on

the underside of feet, leg weakness and

deformity, reduced growth rate and feed

conversion, fatty liver & kidney syndrome (FLKS), reduced hatchability.

C (Ascorbic acid)

Intracellular antioxidant, collagen biosynthesis.

Poultry are able to synthesize Vitamin C