Module 9: Vitamins Flashcards
what type of nutrients are vitamins
micronutrients
are vitamins organic or inorganic
organic (contain carbon)
how do vitamins assist is providing energy
through metabolic processes
which vitamins are fat soluble
K, A, D, E
describe fat soluble vitamins storage in the body (time, amount, place)
- stored for long periods of time, not required in diet every day
- stored in large quantities
- stored in liver and fat cells
describe water soluble vitamins storage in the body (time, amount)
- stored for short periods of time, required in diet everyday
-not generally stored in large quantities
are fat soluble vitamins more likely to be deficient or toxic
toxic
are water soluble vitamins more likely to be deficient or toxic
deficient
what are the three chemical forms of vitamin A
- retinol
- retinal
- retinoic acid
which form of vitamin A is the most active
retinol
what is a precursor to vitamin A that is found in the pigment of carrots
beta carotene
what are the functions of vitamin A
- integrity of epithelial cells
- bone growth
- cell membrane stability
- gene regulation
- vision
- immune function
what does RAE stand for
retinol activity equivalent
who needs an increased amount of vitamin A and why
- women who are pregnant and breastfeeding
- needed for epithelial tissue growth of babies
define preformed vitamin A
ready to use, not needed to be converted
what are food sources of preformed vitamin A
- animal-based foods
- fortified foods
define provitamin A
- must be converted to active form of vitamin A as needed
- ex: beta carotene
what are food sources of provitamin A
plant-based foods
what are the effects of early stages of deficiency of vitamin A on vision and can it be reversed
- night blindness
- reversible
what are effects of short term vitamin A deficiency on the cornea
cornea becomes dry and damaged
what are effects of long term vitamin A deficiency on the cornea
xerophthalmia: permanent loss of vision
describe how vitamin A assists immune function
- disease resistance, particularly for children
- production of white blood cells
describe how vitamin A assists in the integrity of epithelial cells
- epithelial tissue in the skin, lungs, and lining of the GI tract
- vitamin A aids in proliferation of cells
which vitamin is linked with cell differentiation (development of specialized cells)
vitamin A
describe how vitamin A assists with gene regulation
- role in turning genes on and off
- indirect role in the regulation of metabolism
describe how vitamin A assists with bone metabolism
stimulates osteoclasts that break down the inner part of bone
why should children 1-3 get less vitamin A than older people
- vitamin A assists in bone metabolism
- too much vitamin A can lead to poor growth in children
what is the difference between osteoclasts and osteoblasts
- osteoclasts: break down bone
- osteoblasts: build up bone
where is vitamin A stored
- fat tissue
- liver
what are symptoms of vitamin A toxicity
- liver damage
- birth defects
is provitamin A toxic
no
what can beta carotene help prevent
- heart disease
- cancer
why are smoker encouraged to avoid vitamin A
- increased risk of lung cancer in smokers
- vitamin A can cause proliferation of cells which can lead to cancer in smokers
should the general public take beta carotene supplements
no
what is the scientific name for vitamin D
cholecalciferol
what is vitamin D classified as
- vitamin
- hormone
- steroid
what is the function of vitamin D
- regulation of calcium metabolism:
- producing calbindin
- stimulating kidneys to conserve calcium
- stimulating calcium release from bone to blood
what does vitamin D stimulate the small intestines to produce and what does it do
- calbindin
- calcium-binding protein
- increases calcium absorption
how does vitamin D affect the kidneys
- stimulates kidneys to conserve calcium
- decreases urinary calcium excretion
why are bones broken down for calcium
broken down when calcium is needed for other functions throughout the body
how often do you have a completely new skeleton
every 10 years
what happens to the recommendation for amount of vitamin D as we age and why
- requirement increases as we age
- less ability to convert vitamin D into its active form
- less likelihood of adequate sunlight exposure
what food sources do we get a majority of vitamin D from
fortified foods
is vitamin D essential or nonessential and why
- non essential
- body can make it through exposure to sunlight
how does the body make vitamin D from sunlight
- cholesterol in skin combine with UV rays from the sun
- cholesterol enters bloodstream
- converted into precursor of vitamin D
- sent to liver where it is converted to another inactive form
- goes to kidneys
- converted to active form D3
what factors influence vitamin D synthesis
- distance from equator
- amount of clothing coverage
- sun block use
- cloud cover
- skin color
- age
describe rickets
- caused by vitamin D deficiency in children
- softening and deformity of long bones, bowing of legs
- inability to deposit calcium in newly formed bone
- malformation of skull, rib cage, and ends of long bones
describe osteomalacia
- caused by vitamin D deficiency in adults
- softening of bone caused by decalcification
- similar to rickets in children
is vitamin D toxicity common
no
what could cause vitamin D toxicity
overuse of supplements
what are symptoms of vitamin D toxicity
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- calcification of soft tissue
why do ethnic populations have higher rates of vitamin D insufficiency
- less conversion of cholesterol to vitamin D due to melanocytes in skin
- consume less milk due to culture, many are lactose intolerant
what are chronic diseases linked with vitamin D insufficiency
- diabetes
- hypertension
where is vitamin E primarily found
cell membranes
what is the group of compounds that makes up vitamin E called
tocopherols
what are the 4 types of tocopherols
- alpha
- beta
- gamma
- delta
what are the functions of vitamin E
- antioxidant: neutralizes free radicals
- enhances immune function
- required for nerve cell development
what is the number 1 antioxidant
vitamin E
define free redicals
- unstable compounds with unpaired electrons
- attack other molecules with electrons which damages cell membranes, proteins, enzymes, and DNA
how does vitamin E act as an antioxidant
neutralizes free radical by donating electrons
describe how vitamin C and E work together to neutralize free radicals
- vitamin C gives an electron to vitamin E which gives the electron to the free radical
- vitamin C becomes radicalized, but its water soluble so it will be eliminated quickly
where can free radicals come from
- UV rays (sun)
- pollution
- stress
- poor diet
- small amounts form normal metabolism
why are smokers discouraged from taking vitamin E supplements
increase incidence of brain hemorrhage
what vitamins are smokers discouraged from taking
vitamins A and E
is vitamin E deficieny common or rare
rare
who is most likely to experience vitamin E deficiency
- premature infants
- those with insufficient stores
what condition results from vitamin E deficiency
anemia
why does vitamin E deficiency cause anemia
red blood cells become fragile and malformed and eventually rupture