Vitamins Flashcards
What disease is Vitamin D deficiency associated with?
Rickets
What disease is thiamin deficiency associated with? Hint: no nutrients in grains
Beri beri
What does beri beri cause in people?
Lethargy and fatigue; complications affecting cardiovascular, nervous, muscular, and GI systems
What disease is associated with niacin deficiency?
Pellegra
What happens in patients who suffer from pellegra?
Dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia, then death
What is the leading cause of preventable childhood blindness?
Vitamin A deficiency
What is one of the first signs of Vit. A deficiency?
Night blindness
Beta-Carotene is (a) _________ vitamin A and is found in ________.
precursor to; dark green vegetables and deep orange fruits and vegetables
Retinol is (a) ________ vitamin A and is found in _______.
pre-formed; animal products with aft (meat, fish)
What deficiency is a goiter associated with?
Iodine (salt) deficiency
What is iodine needed for? What happens with a lack of it?
Development of thyroid hormone; hypothyroidism, intellectual disabilities
What are symptoms of hypothyroidism?
inability to tolerate cold, weight gain, fatigue
What vitamins are water soluble?
B vitamins (excluding B12) and vitamin C
What does a water-soluble vitamin mean?
takes 1-several days to wash out of body
Which vitamins are toxic in high doses because of build up in body?
Vitamin B6, niacin, and vitamin C
What are 4 ways to minimize nutrient losses?
refrigerate fruit/vegetables; reduce contact with air (minimize oxidation); wash fruits/vegetables before cutting; steam or stir-fry vegetables (avoid high temps for long time)
What nutrient (natural and synthetic) is found in leafy green vegetables, legumes, liver, lentils, and fortified grain products?
Folate and folic acid
What is more bio-available between folate and folic acid?
Folic acid, as most common food source for folate is enriched or fortified food products
What does folate deficiency cause?
cancer (from DNA instability), homocysteine accumulating in blood (leads to strokes and heart attacks), fetal neural tube defects
How much folate should a woman take at different stages in her life?
400 micrograms regularly, 600 micrograms when pregnant, 4 milligrams if there was a previous neural tube defect
Which vitamin protects the tissues from oxidative stress and neutralizes free radicals along with vitamin E?
Vitamin C
What is caused by free radicals produced in response to normal metabolism, UV radiation, air pollution and tobacco smoke?
Oxidative stress
What role does vitamin C play in the immune system? What happens when there is a lack of it?
Helps form collagen, which is the structural protein of connective tissue; hemorrhage or bleeding and bruising
How does vitamin C control mood and heart rate?
converts tryptophan into serotonin and norepinephrine
