Unit 4: Nutritional Deficiencies Flashcards
Deficiencies
hypovitaminosis or avitaminosis
Vitamins
Organic substances essential for normal growth & activity of the body
-help enzymes to regulate metabolism (coenzymes)
Toxicity
hypervitaminosis
–uncommon
–usually occurs in association with food or dietary supplement faddism
Vitamin Types
Fat Soluble (A,D,E,K) Water Soluble (B complex, C)
Fat Soluble Vitamins
- Stored in body fat more difficult to deplete by dietary deficiency
- May cause toxicity (hypervitaminosis)
Vitamin A
•obtained from carotene
–from foods
–manufactured in liver
Vitamin A Deficiency
results in dry nonepithelial cells •create risk of infection •keratinization of conjunctiva (dry eye) •night blindness •dry skin •dryness of respiratory, digestive (tooth defects), urinary, reproductive tracts
Vitamin B complex
obtained from grains & rice
Vitamin B complex includes
- Thiamine (B1)
- Riboflavin (B2)
- Niacin (B3)
- Pantothenic acid (B5)
- Pyridoxine (B6)
- Biotin = vitamin H (B7)
- Folic acid (B9)
- Cobalamin (B12)
Thiamine (B1) - Deficiency
beriberi (type of neuritis)
•rare, occurs in chronic alcoholics;
beriberi results in
- Peripheral Neuropathy (disturbances in sensation, motion)
- Cardiac Failure (edema & paralysis, enlarged right side of the heart)
- CNS Symptoms (muscle atrophy, CNS degeneration)
Niacin (B3) - Deficiency
results in:
- abnormal heart rate
- damage to blood vessels
- pellagra
- *Predisposed by excessive use of alcohol
Pellagra
dietary lack of B3 and tryptophan (essential amino acid)
Symptoms of Pellagra: The 4 D’s
- Diarrhea - excess salivation, ulcerated intestine, loss of appetite, atrophy of organs & tissues, emaciation (anorexia, wasting)
- Dermatitis - skin eruptions (sores), brown scaly skin, tongue & mouth are red & raw
- Dementia -nervous & mental changes, depression, insanity
- Death
Vitamin B Complex:
•Riboflavin (B2)
–important for energy metabolism
–deficiency results in cheilosis (sore cracked & bleeding lips)
Vitamin B complex:
•Folic acid (B9) deficiency
–important for cell division & CNS development
–deficiency results in anemia & increased risk of birth defects
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
- required for correct collagen synthesis
* obtained from some grains, citrus fruits, lean meats, tomatoes
Vitamin C Deficiency
–decreased formation of collagen – decreased absorption of iron –increased infections (especially viral) –may prevent progression of Alzheimer’s disease by decreasing oxygen-free radicals that accelerate cell death –scurvy
Vitamin C- Scurvy
- weakness, anemia
- swollen & bleeding gums, foul breath, loose teeth
- hemorrhage in nose & kidneys
- susceptibility to infections (e.g., pneumonia)
- swollen legs
Infantile scurvy (Barlow’s disease)
•condition in young children
–poor appetite & poor growth (reversible)
“Scorbutic” tongue
Latin for “Scurvy” tongue
Vitamin D
- important in absorption of calcium from intestines
- obtained from fish, butter, yeast, egg yolk,
- made in the body from cholecalciferol
- converted to Vitamin D in presence of U.V. light (sunlight) in skin
Vitamin D Deficiency
•results in rickets (rachitis) in children
•due to decrease in absorption of calcium from intestines
–in infants 6-18 months of age
–in high risk groups (urban, African-American)
Vitamin D Deficiency: Rickets
- deformities of long bones, skull, spine
- bones are soft & unable to bear weight (bow legs)
- ankles & wrists thicken
- thin skull with slow closure of fontanels
- enlarged junction between ribs & sternum, (pigeon chest)
- defective teeth
- body soreness, night restlessness, fevers, night sweats
- infections
