Nutrients involved in blood health

Question 1

What are leukocytes?

Answer 1

White blood cell = immune function

Question 2

What are erythrocytes

Answer 2

red blood cells = O2 carrier

Question 3

What are nutrients that contribute to blood health?

Answer 3

1. iron
2. zince
3. copper
4. vit k
5. folate
6. vit b12

Question 4

What is iron?

Answer 4

-Assists with carrying and release of oxygen
- Normally only about 10-15 percent of dietary iron is absorbed

Question 5

What is ferritin and hemosiderin?

Answer 5

store iron, if there is a surplus; inadequate dietary iron intake will first affect the body’s ferritin levels

Question 6

What is transferrin?

Answer 6

• the body’s iron carrying protein which is produced by the liver
• carries the iron to tissues throughout the body; combines with ferittin to
  transport iron to where new red blood cells are made

Question 7

What is hepcidin?

Answer 7

• hormone central to the regulation of iron balance
• secreted by the liver in response to elevated blood iron
• reduces iron’s absorption from the intestine and its release from storage

Question 8

What is the role of iron?

Answer 8

cofactor to enzymes (two ionic states, ferrous iron and ferric iron)

Question 9

What is heme iron?

Answer 9

Ferrous: found in animal products such as meat and fish (part of hemoglobin and myoglobin)

• higher absorption

Question 10

Non-heme iron

Answer 10

Ferric: found in plant and animal sources

• lower absorption

Question 11

What is MFP?

Answer 11

• Meat, Fish, Poultry
• promotes heme iron and non-heme iron

Question 12

What vitamin promotes non-heme iron absorption?

Answer 12

Vitamin C

Question 13

What vitamin converts non-heme to heme?

Answer 13

Vitamin C

Question 14

Iron absorption inhibiting factors?

Answer 14

-Phytates (found in grains, beans etc)

• Fibres (found in fruits, vegetables, grains etc)
• Oxalates (found in spinach, beets etc)

Question 15

What are the iron needs for average diet?

Answer 15

• 6-7 mg in 1000 kcalories
• Women receive about 12-13 mg/day but need 18 mg during childbearing years

Question 16

RDA of iron

Answer 16

men<women<pregnancy

Question 17

What is zinc?

Answer 17

– assists in production of (heme) hemoglobin

– interacts with platelets in blood clotting

– important cofactor for many enzymes (e.g. pancreatic enzymes)

– affects immune and thyroid function

– involved in insulin synthesis, storage, and release

– transforms vitamin A to visual pigment

Question 18

What is an inhibiting factor for zinc?

Answer 18

phytates (beans, nuts, grains)

Question 19

What is copper?

Answer 19

• Key factor in hemoglobin synthesis
• Helps cells use iron
• controls damage from free radicals by being a part of superoxide dismutase

Question 20

What are good sources of copper?

Answer 20

– organ meats
– legumes
– whole grains
– seafood
– nuts & seeds

Question 21

What is folate and B12

Answer 21

• Both play a role in protein metabolism and
  DNA synthesis
• Both involved in RBC production in the
  bone marrow

Question 22

What is Vitamin K?

Answer 22

• Quinones
• Phyllquinone Vit K1 ( green leafy veggies, cabbage)
• Activation of blood clotting proteins