Ch. 7 - Vitamins

Question 1

what are vitamins

Answer 1

organic molecules required in small amounts for cellular metabolism

Question 2

what is a primary deficiency of a vitamin?

Answer 2

when a specific vitamin is not consumed in sufficient amounts to meet physiologic needs

Question 3

what is a secondary deficiency of a vitamin

Answer 3

develops when absorption is impaired or excess excretion occurs, limiting bioavailability

Question 4

what individuals are most at risk for vitamin deficiencies?

Answer 4

older adults, pregnant women, people living in poverty, people with long term chronic disorders that affect the total body response (AIDS)

Question 5

what are water-soluble vitamins?

Answer 5

dissolve in water - B complex vitamins, choline, vitamin C

Question 6

what are fat-soluble vitamins

Answer 6

dissolve in fatty tissues or substances - vitamins A, D, K, E

Question 7

what does solubility have to do with absorption?

Answer 7

a water-soluble vitamin = easily absorbed in small intestine and passes into blood stream for circulation
fat soluble vitamin = more complicated absorption, bile is required

Question 8

what stores excess fat-soluble vitamins?

Answer 8

liver, spleen, other fatty tissues in body

Question 9

what are phytochemicals? what foods will have them?

Answer 9

nonnutritive substance that appear to have disease-fighting properties
-plant-based foods

Question 10

what does flavonols do? what foods have them?

Answer 10

reduce risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer & have an anti-inflammatory effect
-broccoli, onions, grapes

Question 11

what is sulforaphane?

Answer 11

blocks growth of tumors in animals

Question 12

what are functional foods?

Answer 12

foods that offer physiologic benefits beyond the nutrients they contain

Question 13

what factors have caused functional foods to increase in availability?

Answer 13

increased cost of health care, aging population, changing food regulations, increase sense of self-efficacy and health care autonomy (self governing)

Question 14

function of vitamin B1 (Thiamin)

Answer 14

serve as coenzyme (activates an enzyme) in energy metabolism, nerve functioning related to muscles actions

Question 15

results of Thiamin deficiency? disease?

Answer 15

alters nervous, muscular, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular systems
-beriberi

Question 16

RDA for Thiamin? is consuming this vitamin a problem?

Answer 16

men = 1.2 mg
women = 1.1mg
-no, most of us consume adequate amounts

Question 17

foods to find thiamin

Answer 17

lean pork, whole/enriched grains and flours, legumes, seeds, nuts, very high intakes of fish, highly polished rice

Question 18

what does ataxia mean?

Answer 18

muscle weakness and loss of coordination

Question 19

describe wet beriberi

Answer 19

manifests as edema, affecting cardiac function by weakening heart muscles and vascular system

Question 20

describe dry beriberi

Answer 20

affects nervous system, paralysis, extreme muscle wasting

Question 21

describe Wernickle-Korsakoff syndrome? effects? people at risk?

Answer 21

caused by severe Thiamin deficiency, cerebral form of beriberi

• effects = loss of memory, ataxia, extreme confusion
• people at risk = HIV/AIDS, patients undergoing dialysis, anorexia nervosa

Question 22

what is riboflavin (B2) sensitive to?

Answer 22

sunlight or artificial light

Question 23

function of riboflavin (B2)

Answer 23

like thiamin, a coenzyme to release energy from nutrients in every systemic cell

Question 24

RDA for riboflavin, what changes individuals’ RDA?

Answer 24

men - 1.3mg
women - 1.1mg
-daily kcal intake, size, body type, metabolic/growth rate

Question 25

sources of riboflavin

Answer 25

plants: broccoli, asparagus, leafy greens, whole grains, enriched breads and cereals
animals: dairy products (milk**), fish, chicken

Question 26

what is Ariboflavinosis? symptoms?

Answer 26

deficiency of riboflavin (B2)

• swollen lips, cracked corners of mouth, swollen tongue, dermatitis
• related to congenital heart disease, chronic excessive alcohol ingestion, anorexia, lactose intolerance

Question 27

function of niacin (B3)

Answer 27

coenzyme for many enzymes involved w energy metabolism, critical for glycolysis and triboxylic acid (TCA) cycle (Krebs Cycle)

Question 28

sources of niacin

Answer 28

diets adequate in protein

Question 29

what is Pellagra? symptoms?

Answer 29

deficiency of niacin, common in low-income lifestyle

• dermatitis (scaly rash on sun-exposed skin)
• dementia (confusion, anxiety, insomnia, paranoia)
• diarrhea

Question 30

what are vitamin B6 and pyridoxine

Answer 30

represent group of related chemicals: pyridoxine, pyridoxal, and pyridoxamine — can be converted to coenzyme PLP

Question 31

function of vitamin B6 in form of PLP

Answer 31

coenzyme to metabolize amino acids and proteins

Question 32

RDA for vitamin B6

Answer 32

men & women = 1.3mg

based on protein intake

Question 33

symptoms of deficiencies in B vitamins

Answer 33

altered nerve functions, weakness, dermatitis, poor growth, small RBC (insufficient in carrying hemoglobin)

Question 34

function of folate

Answer 34

synthesis of amino acids, DNA, RNA

• required for to form “heme” of hemoglobin
• neural tube development

Question 35

describe Spina Bifida

Answer 35

incomplete closure of fetus’s spine during early pregnancy

-results: incomplete brain, spinal cord development

Question 36

describe anencephaly

Answer 36

congenital defect that the brain doesn’t develop properly, develops shortly after birth
-can be prevented by adequate folate consumption during early pregnancy

Question 37

RDA for folate

Answer 37

400ug

-600 during pregnancy

Question 38

cause for folate deficiency

Answer 38

any condition requiring cell division to speed up (cancer, infection, blood loss, GI damage, growth, pregnancy)

Question 39

function of cobalamin (Vitamin B12)

Answer 39

supports metabolic functions, synthesis of DNA/RNA, fatty acids, and amino acids
-also helps maintain myelin sheaths around nerve cells