Chapter 13: Nutrients Involved in Blood Health

Question 1

____ is needed for single carbon metabolism and methyl transfer

Answer 1

folic acid/folate

Question 2

Why is folate needed for cell division? what happens to cell appearance if there is not enough folate?

Answer 2

folate is needed for cells to duplicate because they are used during cytokinesis. Without enough folate, the cells cannot divide properly and appear “blobby” called macrocytic anemia.

Question 3

Why should one take folate supplement during pregancy

Answer 3

to reduce the chance of neural tube defects?

Question 4

What is spinabifida? anncephaly?

Answer 4

spinabifida is a result of neural tube defects that makes the spine not close properly. anencephaly results in missing sections of brain and skull, also caused by not enough folate.

Question 5

Women of child bearing ages should take a ______ supplement

Answer 5

folate

Question 6

What is another word for cobalamin?

Answer 6

vitamin b12

Question 7

Where is cobalamin produced?

Answer 7

in the gut, by gut bacteria.

Question 8

What kinds of foods wuld you find vitamin B12 in?

Answer 8

food from animal origin

Question 9

What three things are needed for Vitamin B12 absorption? Why?

Answer 9

acid, pepsin, and intrinsic factor, a glycoprotein. They are needed because vitamin b12 from food is bound to protein. acid and pepsin release the b12 from the food protein.

Question 10

what organ secreted intrinsic factor?

Answer 10

cells in the stomach lining. helps with b12 absorption

Question 11

What happens in the upper portion of the small intestine for B12 absorption? lower portion?

Answer 11

in the upper portion of the SI, the intrinsic factor binds to vitamin B12. inthe lower protion, the B12 intrinsic factor binds to the receptors, allowing absorption.

Question 12

Can you absorb your own synthisized B12?

Answer 12

no, you must obtain it by eating animal products

Question 13

How is folate activated? What is active folate used for?

Answer 13

B12 activates folate. the active folate then is used for methyl transfer, regeneration of folate etc.

Question 14

Why is B12 needed for proper nerve conduction?

Answer 14

B12 maintains the myelin coating on nerves. it is essential for nerve transmision.

Question 15

Why may an individual with pernicious anemia have affected b12 levels

Answer 15

pernicious anemia destroys the stomach lining that creates intrinsic factor, which is salient for the proper absorption of B12.

Question 16

What is atrophic gastritic? why may this disease affected B12 absorption?

Answer 16

inflammation of the stomach lining which affects stomach acid secretion and reduces intrinsic factor. wihtout enough acid and digestive enzymes, the b12 cannot be torn apart from the protein complex it resides in in food. without intrinsic factor, the b12 cannot be absorbed in the small intestine.

Question 17

What’re the three forms of vitamin B6? what do they all convert into?

Answer 17

pyridOXAL, pyridOXINE, pyridOXAMINE. All types are converted into Pyridoxal phosphate, an active coenzyme.

Question 18

4 Main functions of B6

Answer 18

1) Hb synthesis
2) myelin synthesis (along with B12)
3) amino acid and neurotransmitter synthesis
4) immune function and WBC synthesis.

Question 19

What type of anemia is caused by vitamin B6 deficiency? why? what is the disease characterized by

Answer 19

can cause microcytic anemia, RBCs look like small pale cells. It’s cause RBC’s are involved in hemoglobin protein synthesis.

Question 20

What is homocysteine?

Answer 20

an intermediate in the blood involved in methionine metabolism

Question 21

if you have too much homocysteine in the blood you are at risk for ____

Answer 21

higher risk of CVD

Question 22

What is the relationship between Folate, B12, B6 and homocysteine?

Answer 22

Folate, b12 and b6 are all involved in the methyl transfers used to make methionine into homocysteine. When methionine turns into homocysteine, B12 is regenerated and active folate is converted back into body folate. Homocysteine then turns into cysteine by the help of B6 and methyl transfers

Question 23

Whats the difference between phylloquinines and menoquinones

Answer 23

phylloquinones are vitamin K species in plants, and menoquinones are vitamin K species in animals

Question 24

Four main functions of vitamin K

Answer 24

1) is a cofactor used to make prothrombin and specific clotting factors
2) makes functional proteins
3) used in bone health and demineralization
4) keeps bood vessels elastic by preventing calcification of blood vessels.

Question 25

What’re the two forms of iron

Answer 25

1) heme iron: Fe2+, used in Hb and Mb, found in animal products
2) non heme iron: Fe3+, found in plants. needs vitamin C to convert to heme iron.

Question 26

Where is Fe2+ iron absorbed

Answer 26

Fe absorbed into SI cells.

Question 27

Why would calcium aid in the absorption of Fe?

Answer 27

It wouldn’t. Calcium actually affects the absorption of Fe2+, increasing the likelihood of the iron supplement just being peed out

Question 28

Where is iron stored? What form is it stored as?

Answer 28

in the liver and spleen. Stored as ferritin and hemoseridin.

Question 29

What factor enhances non heme iron absorption?

Answer 29

the meat fish poultry MFP factor.

Question 30

where is Hb and Mb and bone cells synthesized?

Answer 30

in the bone marrow

Question 31

What factors may promote iron loss?

Answer 31

1) menstruation
2) Incessant bleeding and RBC death
3) shedding of the intestinal cells responsible for absorbing iron

Question 32

Main function of iron?

Answer 32

to bind oxygen in the hemoglobin and to deliver it to the cells. also

Question 33

T/F the RDA for iron is higher in young women then men

Answer 33

true. menstruating women (18mg/day) need more iron than men *8mg/day

Question 34

what’re the three stages of iron deficiency?

Answer 34

1) iron depletion 2) iron deficiency-erythropoesis 3) anemia

Question 35

Should you take an iron supplement with tea?

Answer 35

nope. teas contain tannins, which inhibit absorption of calcium and iron.

Question 36

Ferric vs ferrous

Answer 36

ferric Fe3+ ferrous Fe2+

Question 37

What is hemochromatosis? What is a method of treatment?

Answer 37

increased iron absorption that causes iron deposits in the skin. May cause damage to intestinal lining and liver failure and ph change. A popular treatment is blood withdrawal.