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
Vitamin D: Hypervitaminosis
•increased blood calcium levels (hypercalcemia) causing:
–arteriosclerosis
–risk of kidney stones
–decalcification of bones
Vitamin E
- Antioxidant - prevents oxidation of cell membranes and DNA
* In wheat, cotton seeds, rice, grain, liver, lettuce
Vitamin E Deficiency
Hemolysis of RBCs
Vitamin K
- important for blood clotting
* obtained from green leafy vegetables, liver
Vitamin K Deficiency
–bleeding due to decreased level of coagulation factors (prothrombin) coagulation defects
Protein functions
- enzymatic catalysts
- transport molecules (hemoglobin transports oxygen)
- storage molecules
- used in movement of muscles
- mechanical support (collagen of skin & bone)
- antibodies (immune protection)
- cell growth & differentiation (hormones)
Protein Deficiency
•from starvation or low protein diet results in: •gross loss of weight •atrophy of tissues •edema •reduction of lymphoid tissue, suppression of immunity •mental changes
Marasmus
depravation of calories & proteins •in developing nations •muscle waste, thin limbs •aged wrinkled appearance (skin) •viscera NOT affected so much
Kwashiorkor
very low protein, some calories
•liver & viscera affected, low food absorption
•hair (keratin) – loses color, becomes sandy & reddish
•skin (keratin) – white depigmented, with lesions
Calcium deficiency
results in soft bones & teeth, irregular heartbeat, poor coagulation of blood
Iron Deficiency
results in anemia, pale appearance, decreased enzyme activity, changes to fingernails & toenails
Potassium Deficiency
from dehydration disorders (diarrhea, high fevers, vomiting) or steroid use (kidney problems, paralysis)
Iodine deficiency
Can result in an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter)
