Biochemistry: Nutrition

Question 1

Signs of Vitamin A deficiency?

Answer 1

Night blindness (nyctalopia), dry skin, corneal degeneration (keratomalacia), bitot spots, immunosuppression

Question 2

Side effects of Vit A toxicity?

Answer 2

Isotretinoin (acne) is teratogenic- cleft palate, cardiac abnormalities in babies. Can get alopecia, pseudotumour cerebri, hepatic toxicity, arthalgias

Question 3

What’s B1?

Answer 3

Thiamine

Question 4

What’s B1 (thiamine) good for?

Answer 4

ATP- glucose breakdown (alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (TCA cycle), transketolase (HMP shunt) and branched-chain ketoacid dehydrogenase

Question 5

What’s Beriberi?

Answer 5

Can get wet or dry. Wet-cardiac failure, dilated cardiomyopathy and edema. Dry (nervous system) polyneuropathy, symmetrical muscle wasting

Question 6

What’s Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome?

Answer 6

confusion, opthalmoplegia and ataxia because of B1 deficiency

Question 7

What’s B2 and what’s it used for?

Answer 7

riboflavin, redox reactions (FAD and FMN)- get cheilosis and cuts to side of mouth

Question 8

What is pellagra?

Answer 8

Caused by B3 (niacin) deficiency? Diarrhea, dementia and dermatitis.

Question 9

What is podagra?

Answer 9

Too much N3 (niacin)- hyperglycemia, hyperuricemia, facial flushing

Question 10

What is B5? What does it do?

Answer 10

pantothenic acid- component of Coenzyme A. Deficiency results in dermatitis, enteritis, alopecia, adrenal insufficiency

Question 11

What is B6? What does it do?

Answer 11

pyridoxine- makes neurotransmitters, converted to PLP (cofactor for transamination-AST, ALT)- can get polyneuropathies, comvulsions, sideroblastic anemias

Question 12

What is B7? Function?

Answer 12

biotin- cofactor in carboxylation enz- can get dermatitis, enteritis and alopecia

Question 13

B9? Function?

Answer 13

Folate- needed for N base synthesis for DNA/RNA. Deficiency- macrocytic anemia, hypersegmented neutrophils, glossitis. Get it from leafy veggies (absorbed jejunum. No neuro effects like B12. get increased homocysteine

Question 14

B12? Function

Answer 14

Cobalamin-cofactor for methionine synthase-DNA synthesis. Stored in liver. Get paresthesias, macrocytic anemia, irreversible nerve damage. Need intrinsic factor absorb (pernicious anemia)

Question 15

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) function and deficiency?

Answer 15

antioxidant, needed in collagen synthesis (proline and lysine). Increases iron absorption. Deficiency= scurvy-swollen gums, immunosuppression, bruising, petechiae, hemarthosis, poor wound healing, perifollicular and subperiosteal hemorrhage, corkscrew hair

Question 16

Vitamin E?

Answer 16

Antioxidant-deficiency can cause hemolytic anemia, acanthocytes (spur cells), muscle weakness, demyelination.

Question 17

Vitamin K?

Answer 17

cofactor for maturation of factor 2,7,9,10 and protein C and S. Warfarin inhibits vitamin K dependent synthesis of these factors. Not in BM, must give to neonates to prevent hemorrhagic disease of the newborn.

Question 18

Zinc deficiency?

Answer 18

Important in enzymes- deficiency results in immunosuppression, poor wound healing, hypogonadism, decrease in hair, dysgeusia, anosmia, acrodermatitis enteropathica.

Question 19

What is Kwashiorkor?

Answer 19

protein malnutrition- small child with big belly- MEALS-malnutrition, edema, anemia, liver is fatty and slom lesions (hyperkeratosis and dyspigmentation)

Question 20

What is Marasmus?

Answer 20

protein malnutrition NOT causing edema, deficient in calories, but no absent nutrients, you get muscle wasting

Question 21

What is Fomepizole?

Answer 21

inhibits alcohol dehydrogenase-antidote for methanol and ethylene glycol OD

Question 22

What is Disulfiram?

Answer 22

inhibits alcohol dehydrogenase and causes build up of acetylaldehyde which causes hangover symptoms to try and prevent binge drinking