Ch. 8 (Edited): Vitamins and Phytochemicals

Question 1

What is a vitamin?

Answer 1

Essential organic (carbon-containing) substances needed in small amounts in the dietary pattern for normal function, growth, and maintenance of the body.

Question 2

What are the two types of vitamins?

Answer 2

Fat-soluable and water-soluable

Question 3

What are the fat-soluable vitamins?

Answer 3

Vitamins A, D, E, and K

Question 4

How are fat-soluable vitamins stored and transported?

Answer 4

They are stored mostly in the liver and fatty tissues. They travel with dietary fats as part of chylomicrons to reach body cells.

Question 5

How are fat-soluable vitamins absorbed?

Answer 5

They are absorbed in the presence of dietary fat. About 40-90% of these vitamins are absorbed.

Question 6

How are water-soluable vitamins absorbed?

Answer 6

After being ingested, B vitamins are broken down into free vitamins, absorbed (about 50-90% of them), transported to the liver via the hepatic portal vein, and distributed to body tissues. Once inside cells, they are resynthesized into their coenzyme forms.

Question 7

Fat-soluable vitamins are not readily excreted from the body. Because of this, what can happen from having too much fat-soluable vitamins?

Answer 7

There may be an issue of toxicity.

Question 8

How are water-soluable vitamins excreted?

Answer 8

When the tissue vitamin stores are full (tissue saturated), the rate of excretion increases sharply. This prevents toxication. (Except B-6 and B-12)

Question 9

What are the two types of vitamin A?

Answer 9

Retinoids and carotenoids

Question 10

Which type of vitamin A has antioxidant effects?

Answer 10

Carotenoids

Question 11

Where is vitamin A found in the diet?

Answer 11

Preformed vitamin A is often found in protein and animal foods, while carotenoids are mainly found in dark-green and yellow-orange vegetables and some fruits

Question 12

What are the functions of vitamin A?

Answer 12

They help improve vision, assist with growth/development of the cell structure, and help with the immune system.

Question 13

How does vitamin A deficiency effect the body?

Answer 13

There is impaired vision, weakened immune function, and stunted growth

Question 14

How does vitamin A toxicity effect the body?

Answer 14

There is increased risk of birth defects and liver toxicity

Question 15

Where is vitamin D found in the diet?

Answer 15

Although sunlight is the best source of vitamin D, you can find some in high protein foods, fortified milk, and breakfast cereals

Question 16

How is vitamin D synthesized?

Answer 16

The sunlight converts 7-dehydrocholesterol in your skin to vitamin D3. The vitamin D3 then enters the bloodstream and goes to the liver and kidney

Question 17

What function does vitamin D have on the body?

Answer 17

It maintains the normal range of calcium and phosphorus in the blood.

Question 18

How does latitude effect vitamin D deficiency?

Answer 18

The amount of sunlight one gets can change depending on your latitude. It’s possible for people near the poles to barely get any sunlight, resulting in a vitamin D deficiency.

Question 19

What are vitamin D deficiency diseases?

Answer 19

Rickets and osteomalacia

Question 20

What are the functions of vitamin E?

Answer 20

It mainly serves as an antioxidant, but it can also play a role in formation during early human development.

Question 21

Where is vitamin E found in our food?

Answer 21

Mostly in plant products (especially the oils)

Question 22

What is the deficiency disease related to vitamin E?

Answer 22

Hemolytic anemia

Question 23

Where is vitamin K found in the diet?

Answer 23

Mostly vegetables; particularly green leafy vegetables and peas

Question 24

What is the function of vitamin K in the body?

Answer 24

It synthesizes blood clotting factors and helps with bone health

Question 25

What are some factors that make foods lose vitamins, and what can be done to limit this?

Answer 25

Factors that influence vitamins are heat, oxygen, light, water and storage time. Using gentle cooking methods like microwaving can help minimize losses.

Question 26

What is the main role of B-Vitamins?

Answer 26

They help enable the metabolism processes for all macronutrients by interacting with enzymes.

Question 27

What do coenzymes do?

Answer 27

They interact with enzymes to enable the enzymes to function.

Question 28

What is the difference between enrichment and fortification?

Answer 28

Enrichment means adding back the original nutrients that were lost during food processing, while fortification means adding vitamins to a food that weren’t originally in the food.

Question 29

What 4 B-vitamins are required to be enriched in milled grains?

Answer 29

Thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and folic acid

Question 30

What function does thiamin (B1) have, and which foods can it be found in?

Answer 30

It helps with metabolism of carbohydrates and branched-chain amino acids; it can be found in small amounts in a wide variety of foods.

Question 31

What function does riboflavin (B2) have, and which foods can it be found in?

Answer 31

It helps with many metabolic pathways, such as the breakdown of fatty acids and metabolism of vitamins and minerals; mostle foods from the grains, dairy, and protein groups

Question 32

What function does niacin (B3) have, and which foods can it be found in?

Answer 32

Its coenzymes participate in oxidation-reduction reactions; foods from the protein group

Question 33

What function does B-6 have, and which foods can it be found in?

Answer 33

Helps with activity of numerous enzymes involved in macronutrient metabolism; mostly animal products and breakfast cereals

Question 34

What function does pantothenic acid (B5) have, and which foods can it be found in?

Answer 34

Helps create a coenzyme that allows the release of energy from macronutrients; meat, milk, and vegetables

Question 35

What function does biotin (B7) have, and which foods can it be found in?

Answer 35

Helps cozymes add CO2 to various compounds; found in many foods, especially foods from protein group

Question 36

What function does folate (B9) have, and which foods can it be found in?

Answer 36

It supplies or accepts single carbon compounds, which helps with DNA synthesis and metabolism of amino acids; green leafy vegetables are great sources of folate

Question 37

What function does vitamin B12 have, and which foods can it be found in?

Answer 37

Helps folate do its job; animal products are filled with vitamin B12

Question 38

What is unique about riboflavin exposure to light?

Answer 38

Although it is stable, it can be destroyed via exposure to light.

Question 39

What function does vitamin C have, and which foods can it be found in?

Answer 39

It functions as an electron donor, which also helps with deoxyfication. (This helps prevent certain cancers!) Can be found in fresh, ripe fruits and vegetables

Question 40

Which deficiency disease is associated with thiamin?

Answer 40

Beriberi (“I can’t, I can’t) (Weakness, loss of appetite, irritability)

Question 41

Which deficiency disease is associated with riboflavin?

Answer 41

Ariboflavinosis (Inflammation of mouth, eye disorders, confusion)

Question 42

Which deficiency disease is associated with niacin?

Answer 42

Pellagra (“Rough or painful skin”) (Dementia, diarrhea, dermatitis)

Question 43

Which deficiency disease is associated with folate?

Answer 43

Macrocytic anemia (There is fewer mature red blood cells present)

Question 44

Which deficiency disease is associated with vitamin B-12?

Answer 44

Pernicious anemia (Sore mouth, depression, severe nerve degeneration)

Question 45

Which deficiency disease is associated with vitamin C?

Answer 45

Scurvy (Bleeding gums, tooth loss, bruising)

Question 46

What group of people should ensure adequate folate in their diet?

Answer 46

People with limited financial resources or physical problems, and people with an alcohol use disorder

Question 47

How does folate relate to neural tube defects?

Answer 47

Low maternal plasma folate and vitamin B-12 levels are risk facotrs for neural tube defects.

Question 48

What are the two types ofneural tube defects?

Answer 48

Spina bifada (spinal cord or spinal fluid bulge through back) and anencephaly (absence of major part of the brain)