NOT JUST SUN BUT RAIN CAN ALSO GIVE YOU VITAMIN

NOT JUST SUN BUT RAIN CAN ALSO GIVE YOU VITAMIN

We all know how important vitamins are for normal functioning of our system. Deficiency of some of these can cause severe diseases. There are both natural and synthetic ways to get those vitamins. Synthetically we get them as supplements. Naturally they can become part of our system through the diet we intake. Nature is rich with these vital substances and provide it through Vegetables, fruits and oils.

Ever wonder why they are called as vitamins?

Because the person who discovered them thought they are vital and are amines. Later it was discovered that all vitamins are not amines so the ‘e’ from the initial name “vitamine” got droped. They are organic compound that are essential for life. They are required by humans in small amount. There are thirteen types of Vitamin and they are classified as water soluble and fats soluble vitamins.

Water soluble vitamins that are vitamin C and Vitamins of B family. They get dissolve in water and as they can eliminate through urine so there is need of their regular consumption. Whereas, other that include vitamin A, D, E, and K are fat soluble as they dissolve in fat so get store in body and eliminate much more slowly.

Vitamin D that we can get from a number of foods such as oily fish, egg yolk cereals and others. Apart from food our body is also capable of producing this vitamin when exposed to Sun.

7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC) that is present in the plasma membrane (outer most boundary of a human cell) of skin when get UV B (ultraviolet) radiations from the sun it converts into vitamin D.

Firstly, UV-B rays that has wavelength of 290-320 nanometers. Due to its short wavelength it has high energy (as shorter the wavelength higher the energy) and it reach to the epidermal layer of the skin where already present 7-DHC absorb it. Now the energy of UV-B break opens a bond in 7-DHC and convert it into the pre Vitamin D₃ which is thermodynamically unstable (means they can immediately react to form another stable substance). As pre vitD₃ is biologically inactive so by using the ambient heat of skin it undergoes a hydrogen shift (one hydrogen move from one place to other within same molecule) and converted into vitamin D₃ that is biologically inactive but stable form of vitamin D.

Now this vitamin D_3­ enters into bloodstream where its bind to a protein (vitamin D binding protein VDB). This protein carries it to the liver. In liver vitamin D₃ gets an OH group (i.e., undergo hydroxylation). After getting an OH group it is called as calcidiol which is a marker for vitamin D (it can tell how much vitamin D a person has). Now calcidiol is transported to the kidney and get another OH group (second hydroxylation) and converted to the calcitrol, the biologically active form of Vitamin D.

Rain that a lot of people enjoy is a great source of joy. It is a sign of life as it provides water to the crops we depend on, water for industries, hygiene, etc. But it like sun can also provide us with vitamin. Vitamin B12 is what we can get from rain.

Like other vitamins, vitamin B12 also present in a lot of foods primarily in animal meat, fish, eggs, and diary. Vitamin B12 being a part of B group is water soluble. It gets stored in liver and body can store it for future use. Our body cannot synthesize vitamin B12 so it must be taken through food or supplements. Its deficiency can result in to pale skin, numbness in hands and feet, depression and even dementia in severe cases. Apart from food, rain is also a source of Vitamin B12.

How vitamin B12 present in rainwater

Vitamin B12 also known as cobalamin is a complex molecule synthesized exclusively by certain microorganisms. They produce it as a by-product of metabolism or other needs. Some of these microorganism may be present in the atmosphere. Other that are present in soil, waterbodies, etc. can become aerosolized (process of dispersing a substance into air) and enter in the atmosphere. Then they can get carried by air currents and eventually incorporate into rainwater.

Bacteria like Bacillus and Pseudomonas synthesize it as they need it as a co-enzyme for energy production. Some air-borne bacteria face harsh conditions such as UV rays, oxidative stress, desiccation, etc., B12 dependent pathway help in enhancing resilience. Areas with high microbial activity, Strong winds, Evaporation from waterbodies all support its synthesis. Microbial aerosols and other particles act as nuclei for cloud formation, incorporating associated compounds into rainwater.

The presence of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) in rainwater is not a commonly observed phenomenon, but it could potentially be explained by environmental processes involving microbial activity and atmospheric deposition. Here’s how it might happen:

1. Microbial Production: Vitamin B12 is synthesized by certain microorganisms, such as bacteria, archaea, and fungi. These microbes might be present in the soil, water bodies, or even the atmosphere.
2. Aerosolization: During natural processes like ocean spray, soil disturbance, or evaporation, microbial cells or organic matter containing vitamin B12 could become aerosolized and enter the atmosphere.
3. Atmospheric Transport: Once in the atmosphere, vitamin B12 or microbial particles could be carried by air currents and eventually incorporated into rainwater.
4. Rainwater Collection: When rain forms, atmospheric particles, including organic compounds and microbes, may be captured by water droplets, leading to their deposition in rainwater.
5. Analysis and Detection: Studies examining the composition of rainwater might detect trace amounts of vitamin B12 if present. However, the levels would likely be very low

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Rainwater doesn’t inherently contain Vitamin B12 but there are circumstances when it can contain this vitamin. Rainwater is not a direct source of vitamin B12, but under specific circumstances, it can acquire trace amounts through interactions with airborne microorganisms, organic aerosols, and human activities. The actual concentration of vitamin B12 in rainwater is likely to be extremely low and depends on local environmental and atmospheric conditions. It’s important to note that while rainwater can contain vitamin B12, the amounts are typically negligible and not sufficient to serve as a reliable dietary source. The primary sources of vitamin B12 for humans remain animal-derived foods and fortified products.