9.3 Water-Soluble Vitamins Flashcards
What are all the water soluble vitamins?
B vitamins and vitamin C
How many B vitamins exist in total?
8
In addition to fortified foods, B vitamins can be found naturally in _____ and _______
plants, animals
B vitamins are involved as _________ for cellular respiration
coenzymes
Vitamins as a whole do not provide ______
energy
What do antioxidants do?
Decrease the rate of oxidation happening in the body
What is oxidation?
A loss of electrons
How does oxidation affect the body?
Molecules form in the body called free radicals. They are unpaired electrons
Free radicals can then steal an electron from somewhere such as DNA. This oxidizes the DNA and turns the free radical into a neutralized free radical. This compromises the DNA
How do antioxidants prevent oxidation from damaging the body?
Antioxidants have extra electrons to donate to free radicals so they don’t steal it from somewhere else.
What is Vitamin B1: Thiamine used for?
Plays a roles in muscular contraction, nerve conduction and is required for ATP synthesis
Part of the coenzyme thiamine pyrophosphate, required for CAC
What are the effects of Vitamin B1: Thiamine toxicity?
No known toxicity
What are the effects of Vitamin B1: Thiamine deficiency and what causes it?
Typically associated with alcoholism in developed world, and malnutrition in developing world
Can promote neuronal death
Can lead to Wernicke/Korsakoff syndrome:
short-term memory loss, confusion, disorientation and changes in eye movements
Beri Beri: Wet - Negatively impacts the cardiovascular system and can lead to heart failure. Dry - Negatively impacts the nervous and muscular systems, potentially leading to muscle paralysis
What are sources of Vitamin B1: Thiamine?
Nuts, seeds, eggs, milk, poultry and fortified cereals
What is Vitamin B2: Riboflavin used for?
Helps form two important coenzymes: flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)
FAD = electron transporter required for electron transport chain
Conversion of the amino acid tryptophan to niacin
Maintaining appropriate levels of homocysteine
What are the effects of Vitamin B2: Riboflavin toxicity?
No known toxicity
What are the effects of Vitamin B2: Riboflavin deficiency and what causes it?
More common in vegetarians
Hormonal abnormalities may promote it
Can lead to ariboflavinosis: skin disorders, swelling in the mouth and throat, dry and cracked lips, red eyes and hair loss
What is Vitamin B3: Niacin used for?
Forms the coenzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), an electron transporter required for electron transport chain
NAD is required by more than 400 enzymes
High doses (>2000 mg) have been shown to reduce triglycerides, VLDL, LDL and increase HDL, but no links to reduced CVD
What are the effects of Vitamin B3: Niacin toxicity?
Niacin flush: Flushing, itching, burning of skin
May also lead to low blood pressure, fatigue, insulin resistance