Micronutrients 1: Water-soluble And Fat (lipid)- Soluble vitamins

Question 1

What are macronutrients?

Answer 1

Carbohydrates, fats and proteins and, in humans, the catabolism of macronutrients to supply energy is an important aspect of nutrition

Question 2

What are micronutrients?

Answer 2

Vitamins and minerals, (vitamins) of which are compounds necessary for metabolic processes, but the body is either unable to synthesise them, or synthesise sufficient amounts for needs, so they must be obtained from dietary sources

Question 3

What is the traditional role of a daily multivitamin?

Answer 3

To prevent nutritional deficiency

Question 4

What are the general features of vitamins?

Answer 4

1. Required in small amounts
2. Are not building blocks for larger molecules
3. Do not yield energy when broken down
4. Humans need at least 12 vitamins in diet

Question 5

How can vitamins be grouped?

Answer 5

Into water soluble and fat soluble

Question 6

What are water soluble vitamins?

Answer 6

Vitamin B group, vitamin C

Question 7

What are fat soluble vitamins?

Answer 7

Vitamins A, D, E and K

Question 8

Which vitamins are highly variable in structure?

Answer 8

Water soluble

Question 9

What vitamins are structurally similar and all isoprenoid compounds?

Answer 9

Fat soluble

Question 10

Features of water soluble vitamins?

Answer 10

1. Functional uniformity
2. Carry mobile metabolic groups (activated carriers, co-enzymes)
3. All except vitamin C require modification for function (precursor molecules)
4. Readily excreted
5. Labile- degraded

Question 11

Features of lipid-soluble vitamins?

Answer 11

1. Functionally diverse
2. Not as readily absorbed/extracted from dietary foods
3. Generally not co-enzymes/activated carriers
4. Vit A, D act more like hormones (and are toxic in excess)

Question 12

What are almost all activated carriers that act as co-enzymes derived from?

Answer 12

Vitamins