Lecture 15 - Nutrients for Blood Health Flashcards
What is the composition of blood?
55% plasma (mostly water)
<1% white blood cells
45% red blood cells
Why is vitamin K important for blood health?
Vit K is a coenzyme in the synthesis of proteins involved in blood clotting
-also coenzyme in bones
What are the 2 groups of vitamin K and how do they differ?
Phylloquinone (plant form)
Menaquinone (bacteria in gut)
What are sources of vitamin K?
Green leafy veggies, soy beans, canola oils
What is the deficiency accosted with low vitamin K?
Lack of normal blood clotting
Who is more at risk of developing vitamin K deficiency?
Newborns
Elderly
How many pathways are involved in blood clotting?
Many pathways lead to the same destination
How many proteins that are involved in these pathways are associated with vitamin K?
4 proteins in the pathways require vitamin K to become active
What are the 2 states of Fe, and how do they differ?
Ferrous (++)
-body absorbed this Fe in the reduced state
Ferric (+++)
Can Ferrous and Ferric Fe convert back and forth?
Yes, very easily
What is the difference between myoglobin and hemoglobin?
Myo: transports O2 to muscles and only has 1 subunit
Hemo: transports O2 in blood and has 4 subunits
Where do you find the highest source of heme Fe?
In blood and muscle products
In a piece of meat, what % if heme vs non heme Fe?
40% Heme iron
60% non-heme iron
What is the % of heme vs non-heme in food that isnt meat?
100% non heme Fe
How is Fe absorbed?
Fe goes into intestine and in mucosal cells of intestinal wall. If body doesn’t need Fe it stays in cells until they die and are excreted (Fe included). When the body needs Fe it is bound to ferritin (storage protein) in the mucosal cells until the body sends transferrin to pick up the Fe to take it into the blood
What is our need for Fe dependent on?
Need for Fe
Whether Fe is heme vs non-heme
What is the absorption rate of heme vs non heme in veggie vs mixed diet?
Average absorption of mixed diet= 18% Fe
Average absorption of veggie diet= 10%
What are the factors that enhance Fe non-heme absorption?
MFP: When animal flesh is consumed it helps to increase absorption of non heme
Vitamin C
What are factors inhibiting the absorption of non heme Fe?
Phytates- in fibre
Vegetable proteins
Ca- with Fe inhibit each other
Polyphenols- All plant chemicals that give plants their colour
What is transferrin?
Transport protein of Fe that takes Fe to other tissues and bone marrow
What is ferritin?
The protein within the mucosal cells that hold Fe
What is hemosiderin and what does it do?
Stores iron at high levels only
-slowly releases iron to protect the body against free radicals