Vitamin Deficiencies Flashcards
Where is Vitamin A absorbed?
Small intestine which can cause night time blindness.
What is B1 also known as, and what deficiency can it cause?
Thiamine, absorbed in small intestine and causes Wernicke’s encephaloapthy.
What are the three symptoms of Wernicke’s encephalopathy?
- Broad base ataxia
- Confusion
- Nystagmus
What conditions can be associated with thiamine deficiency aside from alcohol abuse?
- Severe malnutrition
- Hyperemesis gravidarum
- Malignancy
- Liver disease
- Hyperthyroidism
What role does B1 thiamine play in metabolism?
Cofactor for enzymes in Krebs cycle and Pentose phosphate pathway
Where is B2 absorbed?
small intestine and can cause angular stomatits
Where is B3 absorbed?
Jejnum - deficiency causes pellagra which occurs with malnutrition, vegan diets, starvation and alcohol abuse, liver disease, carcinoid syndrome, IBD, Hartnup disease (reduced tryptophan absorption) and medications like isoniazid, 5-fluoruuracil..
What is the function of B3?
B3 is essential for synthesis of cholesterol and fatty acids and is from sources like meat, fish, nuts and coffeee. It can be synthesised in the liver from tryptophan that requires riboflavin
What are the four Ds associated with B3 deficiency?
- Diarrhoea
- Dermatitis (pigmented, photosensitive)
- Dementia (with disorientation and anxiety)
- Death
What are common sources of B3?
- Meat
- Fish
- Nuts
- Coffee
What vitamin is absorbed in the ileum and whose deficiency can cause glossitis and macrocytic anaemia?
B12
Where is vitamin C absorbed?
Ileum which is stored in WBCs, and whose deficiency can cause scurvy.
Scurvy is prominent in severe malnourished invidiuals that ae institutionalised, chronic alcoho abuse and chronic illness.
There is a risk with smoking tobacco, bariaric surgery and iron overload causies loss of vitamin C. It can result in reduced type 4 collagen synthesis and catecholeamine synthesis.
What are some dental manifestations of Vitamin C deficiency?
- Gingivitis
- Bleeding gums
- Recession
What are systemic symptoms of scurvy?
- Hypotension
- new curly corkscrew strands from impaired collagen synthesis
- Depression
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Neuropathy
What is the haematological manifestation of vitamin C deficiency
ecchymosis, petechia and haemolytic anaemia.
What is the rheumatogical mainefestation of vitamin C?
impaired wound healing and follicular hyperkeratosis. Perifollicualr haemoorahge of th skin and joint pain.
How is Vitamin C deficiency diagnosed?
Diagnosis is via plasma WBC for recent or current consumption and WBC vitamin C levels for store. Treatment is vitamin C supplementation for at least 1 month in adults but dietary options include citrus fruits, potatoes, broccoli, strawberries.
Where is Vitamin D absorbed?
Jejunum
What vitamin is absorbed in the small intestine and can cause bleeding disorders if deficient?
Vitamin K
Where is iron absorbed in the body and what deficiency can it cause?
Duodenum and jejunum; microcytic anaemia
Where is zinc absorbed and what deficiency can it cause?
Jejunum; poor wound healing
Where is copper absorbed?
Stomach and jejunum; defieincy can cause menkes’ syndorme.
What characterizes Menkes’ syndrome?
X linked condition with
* Progressive multi-systemic disease of copper metabolism
* CNS degeneration and ataxia
* Autonomic symptoms (hypotension, hypothermia)
What is pernicious anaemia?
Megaloblastic anaemia caused by inability to absorb vitamin B12 due to autoimmune destruction of gastric parietal cells
What are some signs and symptoms of pernicious anaemia?
- Fatigue
- Pallor
- Optic atrophy
- Glossitis
- Neurological symptoms
- Jaundice
- Cognitive impairment
What findings would a full blood count (FBC) show in pernicious anaemia?
- Hypersegmented neutrophils
- High MCV and MCH
- Low reticulocyte count
- Low hemoglobin
What is a potential complication of pernicious anaemia?
- atrophic body gastritis
*Gastric cancer - Carcinoids
Vitamin C is essential for the synthesis of _______.
[collagen]
What are some dietary sources of vitamin C?
- Citrus fruits
- Potatoes
- Broccoli
- Strawberries
