Ch. 10 Intro to Vitamins

Question 1

Define vitamin.

Answer 1

Non-caloric essential nutrients that are necessary in very small amounts for specific metabolic control and disease protection.

Question 2

Do vitamins provide energy?

Answer 2

No

Question 3

Are vitamins essential?

Answer 3

Yes! Body can’t produce them in sufficient quantities; must be obtained exogenously

Question 4

What are the 3 functions of vitamins?

Answer 4

Metabolic control agent (coenzyme partner)
Tissue structure
Prevention of deficiency diseases

Question 5

How are water-soluble vitamins: absorbed, transported, stored in cells, and excreted?

Answer 5

Absorbed: through blood stream
Transported: freely (directly in circulation)
Cell Storage: circulate freely
Excretion: readily excreted

Question 6

How are fat-soluble vitamins: absorbed, transported, stored in cells, and excreted?

Answer 6

Absorbed: into lymphatic system
Transported: via carriers
Cell Storage: fat tissue
Excreted: less readily excreted

Question 7

What are provitamins?

Answer 7

Used when it’s desirable to label a substance with little or no vitamin activity, but which can be converted to an active form by normal metabolic processes.

In a nut shell: vitamins consumed in inactive form –> become active in body

Question 8

What are coenzymes?

Answer 8

Complex organic molecules that work with enzymes to facilitate the enzymes’ activity.

Many coenzymes have B vitamins as part of their structures

Question 9

What’s bioavailability?

Answer 9

Rate and extent to which a nutrient is absorbed and used

Question 10

Nutrient losses

Answer 10

Vitamins are destroyed by light, oxidation, cooking, and storage

How to properly store:
refrigerate
use airtight containers or wrappers
cook in small amounts of water
avoid high temps and long cooking times