Question

Enriched vitamin tablets are produced from
A. Nostoc
B. Yeast
C. Mushroom
D. Spirulina

Answer 1

Medicine can be defined as the science and practice of the establishment of treatment and prevention of diseases or ailments after their diagnosis and prognosis. It consists of healthcare practices meant to maintain and revive the health of a person. Based on their action, medicines are manufactured in different forms. Some are solid dosage forms meant for oral administration such as tablets, pills, capsules, etc. While others are liquid dosage forms such as solutions, syrups, emulsions, suspensions, etc. In this session, we shall do a brief discussion on tablets.

Step by step answer: Tablets are referred to as unit solid dosage forms that are administered orally i.e., they are taken by mouth. Tablets consist of excipients and therapeutic active drugs. Most of the medicines are available in tablet forms as they are easily administered without any hassle. For infants and very old people who have difficulty in swallowing, they have an alternative of liquid dosage forms such as suspensions, syrups, etc. Most tablets are meant to be swallowed wherein they disintegrate and dissolve in the body and get absorbed in the bloodstream. Some tablets are chewable tablets that are meant to be chewed instead of being swallowed whole. They have a characteristically pleasant taste. Other tablets such as lozenges and troches are not swallowed or chewed but are allowed to dissolve in the mouth. These types of tablets are used for throat discomfort, cough, etc. Similarly, some tablets are formulated with nutrient and vitamin supplements in them. The body has the ability to synthesize certain vitamins such as Vitamin D is synthesized when the skin is exposed to sunlight and vitamin K is produced by the bacteria present in the gut, etc. But not all vitamins can be synthesized within the body and requires to be incorporated into the body through a vitamin-rich diet and vitamin-enriched tablets or vitamin supplements. Vitamin is defined as an essential organic micronutrient required in small quantities for the genuine metabolic functions of an organism. They are obtained from different food sources and supplements. Enriched vitamin simply means the addition of vitamin in food or drug formulation meant to be consumed for dietary purposes. Vitamin enriched tablets are preferred as they have a longer shelf life and can be easily administered.
-Nostoc : Nostoc is cyanobacteria species that consist of photosynthetic pigments in the cytoplasm of their cell. This means they are capable of photosynthesis. They belong to the family Nostocaceae. They consist of vitamin C and proteins. In Asia, they are formulated and consumed as food either as a salad or stir fry. It has been researched and determined to possess anti-inflammatory activities.
-Yeast- Yeast is a single-cell organism that requires food, moisture, and warmth to thrive. They have the ability to ferment sugar and starch into alcohol and carbon dioxide. They are primarily used in baking bread. The carbon dioxide is what makes the dough, used for baking, to rise.
-Mushroom- Mushrooms are a species of fungi. Some fungi are edible and can be incorporated into food while others are not edible and can be poisonous. Edible mushrooms are a fleshy fungus that is available above ground, on soil, or on they grow on their food sources. Edible mushroom species are both cultivated or harvested wild and are easily accessible in markets. They are consumed for their nutritional value. Most mushroom species are incorporated in food and culinary.
-Spirulina- Spirulina is consumed as a dietary supplement. It is a type of spiral-shaped blue-green algae. It has high contents of vitamins and proteins and is also considered a superfood for such reasons. It is also considered a source of iron, calcium, manganese, and other essential amino acids. Spirulina is considered an essential part of a vegan or vegetarian diet. It also comprises vitamins such as Vitamin A, K1, K2, B12, C, D, and E. They are also used in the formulation of vitamin-enriched tablets and consumed as supplements. Spirulina has been researched and determined to possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant activity and are also believed to regulate and strengthen the immune system.
**Hence, the correct answer is option D, i.e., Spirulina_

Note: Spirulina was discovered to play a vital role in decreasing or preventing heart diseases in a 2013 review. This possibly could be due to their anti-inflammatory, cholesterol-lowering, and antioxidant activity. Paracelsus was a Swiss alchemist, physician, philosopher, and lay theologian of the German Renaissance who coined the name Nostoc. Yeast is believed to constitute 1 percent of all determined fungus species and the first species of yeast are believed to have originated hundreds of millions of years ago.