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Book Review |
Dean, College of Agriculture California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
This book provides a fresh look at the vitamins. Dr. Combs states in the preface to the first edition that he had written the book for his students, and the significant changes he has made in the second edition indicate he continues in that aspiration. The format enhances an already excellent teaching text, which expresses the passion the author has for the subject and his students.
The layout of the material in the book is excellent for pedagogical purposes. There are three major sections. In the first, the author begins by defining the vitamins in a way that stimulates initial thought processes about vitamins. As the science of nutrition developed, the vitamins became the focal point of life-giving nutrients. The author has taken time to describe the processes used in the discovery of "nutrients," using the vitamins as examples. He includes the growth of the vitamin theory, the systematic elucidation of the vitamin classes, the creation of the terminology used for vitamins and the identification of other factors sometimes called vitamins. The chemical and physiological properties of the vitamins have been characterized, with systematic inclusion of their general properties, physiological utilization, metabolism and metabolic functions. The concept of vitamin deficiencies has been developed in terms of their causes, resultant clinical manifestations and the causative biochemical changes.
The second section provides thorough, but concise, details about each vitamin. A summary identifies the sources and characterizes the absorption transport mechanisms, cellular metabolism, storage, excretion and metabolic function of each vitamin. Both vitamin deficiency and vitamin toxicity are discussed. As tools for clear teaching, clinical case studies are provided to demonstrate how deficiencies are identified and treated. The sequence of vitamin presented is typical, but includes the fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K), the water soluble vitamins (C, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, B6, biotin, pantothenic acid, folate and B12) and a list of vitamin-like compounds (choline, carnitine, myo-inositol, pyrrolquinoline quinone, ubiquinones, orotic acid, bioflavonoids, p-aminobenzoic acid, lipoic acid, ineffective factors and unidentified growth factors).
In the third section, food and feed sources of vitamins are identified. Discussions include vitamin content and their bioavailability. The causes of vitamin loses are noted; this which leads to a discussion about vitamin supplementation and fortification. A brief review of vitamin labeling of foods is included. Assessment of the vitamin status of human populations and individuals is made. The presentation covers the quantification of vitamin needs, the establishment of dietary standards for vitamins, the identification of factors affecting vitamin requirements and the creation of vitamin allowances for humans and for animals. An evaluation of vitamin safety treats the use of vitamins above required levels, the hazards of excessive intakes and the physiological signs of hypervitaminosis.
Appendices contain specific support materials—vitamin terminology past and present, original case study reports, references to a critical core of vitamin research literature, the vitamin contents of foods and animal feedstuffs.
The text is very well written, capable of being used by undergraduates for nutrition, dietetic, biochemistry or physiology studies. It could also serve as the basis of an elective course for medical students, physician assistants and public health students. Each chapter has study questions, exercises and recommended readings. The chapters are liberally interspersed with figures and tables that enhance the quality of the material presented.
Every so often a book is written that is significantly impressive that the reviewer himself wishes he had written it. The Vitamins is such a book. It is well designed, accurate in every detail, thorough in its coverage and written in a way to make reading it and studying its material gratifying. It is obvious the author is a scientist and a devoted teacher. The present reviewer has studied the vitamins and taught classes on them for more than 20 years and thoroughly enjoyed this book.
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