8. Micronutrient Metabolism Flashcards
What is Pellagra?
Pellagra is caused by a deficiency of vitamin B3 (niacin). Using the terms vitamin B3 or niacin
interchangeably is fine (all the vitamins have two names that can be used interchangeably).
What are the features of Nutrition-related Diseases? (2)
- NO constants! Different individuals, different requirements.
*Multiple nutrient deficiencies more likely
- Diet:
Selection of foods eaten by an individual
- Nutrient:
Substances absorbed and used to promote cellular activities + body functions e.g carbs, proteins, lipids, vitamins, mineral –> All are essential
- Essential:
needed for cellular metabolism but cannot be synthesis by body must obtain from diet
- RDA ( recommended daily allowance):
Amount per day needed to prevent clinical deficiency
- Nutrition examines ______ + ______requirements of the diet needed to maintain good health
- malnutrition —> Can be either ____ or ____ nutrition
qualitative
quantitative
under
over
What are vitamins? (2)
- Organic compounds essential for normal metabolism + health and required in small amounts
- found in a wide range of foods + cannot be synthesised by the body
How are vitamins classified?
- Classified into water and fat soluble
- Fat soluble vitamins —->
Can be stored in liver or subcutaneous tissue (with the exception of Vit. K)
- Water soluble vitamins ______ in water so they can be easily excreted in urine (except for Vit. B12)
dissolve
Why are biosynthetic pathways complex? (2)
- Biosynthetic pathways are complex so it’s more efficient to ingest vitamins than to synthesise enzymes required for making vitamins
- We therefore have a dependence on other organisms to make these vitamins required for life
Why are biosynthetic pathways complex? (2)
- Biosynthetic pathways are complex so it’s more efficient to ingest vitamins than to synthesise enzymes required for making vitamins
- We therefore have a dependence on other organisms to make these vitamins required for life
- Deficiency of a single vitamin is _____. Specific syndromes of individual vitamins exist
rare
What do the water-soluble vitamins include?
- B complex vitamins, Vitamin C, folate, and biotin
- They are easily excreted in urine Not stored in the body Need to be constantly replenished
- Exception of Vit. B12 which is stored in the ____.
liver
- All B complex vitamins act as ________.
coenzymes
How are water-soluble vitamins absorbed? (2)
- Most can be absorbed by simple diffusion when taken in high doses
- Only exception is Vit. B12 which requires intrinsic factor for its absorption from the GIT.
Vitamin: B1 Thiamine
Major Dietary Sources:
Major Functions:
Deficiency:
Vitamin: B2 Riboflavin
Major Dietary Sources:
Major Functions:
Deficiency:
Vitamin: B3 Niacin
Major Dietary Sources:
Major Functions:
Deficiency:
Vitamin: B5 Pantothenate
Major Dietary Sources:
Major Functions:
Deficiency:
Vitamin: B6 Pyridoxine
Major Dietary Sources:
Major Functions:
Deficiency:
Vitamin: B12 Cobalamin
Binds to intrinsic factor in the small intestine
Major Dietary Sources:
Major Functions:
Deficiency:
Dry and wet ______.
BeriBeri
What is the vitamin b12 absorption mechanism? (5)
- Intestinal enteric bacteria synthesise vitamin B 12 .
- Intrinsic Factor (IF) is a protein secreted by gastric parietal cells, which binds to the dietary vitamin B 12 .
- The vitamin B 12 /IF complex is resistant to pancreatic proteases and is then absorbed into gastrointestinal enterocyte cells.
- In enterocytes, vitamin B 12 binds to transcobalamin II (TCII) for delivery from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver.
- Megaloblastic anaemia (immature red blood cells) occurs if there is decreased vitamin B 12 absorption.
Nucleic Acid & Myelin Derangement: Explain this process.
When cobalamin is deficient, the erythrocytes produced are abnormally large because of excessive structural proteins and excessive cytoplasmic growth. Failure to synthesise DNA causes immature nuclei to develop and the plasma membranes are weak and are easily damaged. The friction of the capillary wall exacerbates the fragility of the large and immature erythrocytes.
This loss of erythrocytes causes anaemia and mild jaundice (to be covered later on under Liver). The reticulocyte count is increased and the MCV (check your Blood notes) is increased. The other important symptom of a vitamin B12 deficiency are classed as neurologic changes that occur due to abnormal methylation of myelin protein; and incorporation of abnormal fatty acids into myelin sheaths. Be that as it may, megaloblastic anaemia is the hallmark of a vitamin B12 deficiency.
Vitamin: Folate (foliage = leaves)
Major Dietary Sources:
Major Functions:
Effects of Deficiency:
Vitamin: Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)
Major Dietary Sources:
Major Functions: (3)
Effects of Deficiency:
Vitamin: Biotin (vitamin H)
Major Dietary Sources:
Major Functions:
Effects of Deficiency:
What causes Spina Bifida – a neural tube defect?
Folate (vitamin B-9) deficiency.