Nutrition Flashcards
what are the lipid soluble vitamins?
vitamins A, D, E, K
what are the water soluble vitamins?
B vitamins, vitamin C
what are the major minerals? (5)
calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium
what are the trace minerals? (4)
iron, chloride, zinc, manganese
what are the ultra-trace minerals? (5)
cobalt, iodine, selenium, molybdenum, chromium
how are lipid soluble vitamins absorbed?
absorbed from gut and reach the circulation as dietary fats
where are lipid soluble vitamins mostly stored?
liver and adipose tissue- except vitamin K which has limited storage capacity
chemistry of vitamin A?
structurally related to retinol, carotenes and xanthophylls converted to vitamin by animal tissues
metabolic function of vitamin A?
antioxidant, nuclear transcription factor regulating gene expression, required for vision, growth, cell proliferation/differentiation, immune function
how are vitamin A levels assessed?
liver vitamin A levels, serum, relative dose response, retinol isotope dilution technique
what does vitamin A deficiency lead to?
birth defects, fetal mortality, de-differentiation, epithelial keratinisation, loss of appetite, xeropthalmia, blindness, impaired immune function
what causes vitamin A toxicity?
prolonged supplement use, excessive liver intake, skin preparations
what does vitamin A toxicity lead to?
birth defects, nausea, skin irritation, liver abnormalities, reduced bone mineral density
what is the alternative name for vitamin D?
calciferol
how is vitamin D activated?
photoactivation
what are factors affecting vitamin D synthesis?
ageing, skin pigmentation, clothing, season, latitude, time of day
what are the functions of vitamin D?
maintains serum [Ca] and [P] by enhancing intestinal absorption and mobilising Ca and P from bone; insulin secretion; production of renin; cell proliferation and differentiation; immune function
how are vitamin D levels assessed?
23-OH-D, 1,25(OH2D), erum alkaline phosphatase, bone collagen products in urine
what does vitamin D deficiency lead to?
rickets, decreased bone mineral density
what does vitamin D toxicity lead to?
calcification of bone and soft tissues
what are the naturally occurring forms of vitamin K?
phylloquinone (K1), menaquinones
what are good sources of vitamin K in the diet?
green leafy vegetables, some plant oils, synthesis by bacteria in large intestine
what is the function of vitamin K?
cofactor for carboxylation of glutamic acid residues in many proteins; blood coagulation; bone metabolism; prevention of vessel mineralisation; phagocytosis; cell adhesion and proliferation; protection against apoptosis
how are vitamin K levels assessed?
phylloquinone in serum, protein induced by vitamin K absence
what populations are at risk of vitamin K deficiency?
breast-fed infants, liver disease patients, people with fat malabsorption disorder
what can vitamin K deficiency lead to?
increased risk of haemorrhage
what does vitamin K toxicity cause?
liver damage, jaundice, haemolytic anaemia
what happens to water-soluble vitamins on entering the body?
dissolve in water
what happens to excess water-soluble vitamins?
can’t be stored, are excreted
what is the other name for vitamin B1?
thiamine
what is the active form of vitamin B1?
thiamine triphosphate
what is the function of thiamine?
co factor for multiple enzymes involved in metabolism of carbohydrate, branched chain amino acids and fatty acids
how are thiamine levels assessed?
TDP (diphosphate form) in whole blood or RBC, erythrocyte transkelotase activity coefficient (ETKAC)
what are high risk populations for thiamine deficiency?
patients with ETOH and/or malnutrition
what can thiamine deficiency cause?
beriberi (wet beriberi= heart failure, oedema, dyspnoea on exertion; dry beriberi= polyneuritis, symmetrical muscle wasting), can cause Wernicke encephalopathy (confusion, ophthalmoplegia, ataxia)
what does thiamine toxicity cause?
no toxic effects from oral overconsumption, anaphylactic responses with large IV doses
what is the other name for vitamin B3?
niacin