Fat Soluble Vitamins Flashcards
What are the fat soluble vitamins?
A,D,E,K
What do fat soluble vitamins need for absorption?
Bile and fats (emulsifiers)
What is an emulsifier?
Consists of a water loving hydrophilic head and an oil loving hydrophobic tail. The hydrophilic head is directed to the aqueous phase while the hydrophobic tail is directed to oil phase.
Where are excess vitamins stored?
Liver and adipose tissue
Digestion and absorption of fat soluble vitamins
1) Bound to proteins as we eat them.
2) Once in stomach, they are degraded into small peptides releasing vitamins.
3) Form micelles with bile salts allowing them to passively transport into intestinal enterocytes.
4) They are packaged into chylomicrons and released into lymphatic system.
5) Travel up the thoracic duct and enter left subclavian vein to enter circulation.
How do we obtain Vitamin A?
Retinyl esters from animal food and beta carotene from plant food. Retinal esters are converted into Retinol while beta carotene is converted into Retinal. Retinal is converted into Retinoic Acid
What is retinol important for?
Supports reproduction.
What is Retinal important for?
Participates in vision.
What is retinoic acid important for?
regulates growth
Is the conversion of Retinol into Retinal reversible?
Yes they can interconvert.
Is the conversion of Retinal into Retinoic Acid reversible?
No.
Liver is rich in Vitamin A (remember polar bear story). What form of vitamin A?
Retinyl esters
What vegetables are best for vitamin A and in what form?
Sweet potatoes and carrots. Vitamin A in form of Beta Carotene.
Biochemically, what is the difference between retinol, retinal, retinoic acid, and beta-carotene?
Retinol has a hydroxyl group, Retinal has an aldehyde, retinoic acid has a carboxyl group, and Beta carotene is a dimer of two retinal molecules.
What is the form of vitamin A that is circulating within chylomicrons in the plasma?
Retinol Ester
Where is retinol stored?
Retinol is stored in the stelatte cells.
Functions of Vitamin A
Vision Maintenance of cornea, epithelial cells, mucous membranes, skin Bone and tooth growth. Reproduction Immunity
Function of beta-carotene
Antioxidant