Vitamins

Question 1

why are vitamins essential and how is their importance measured?

Answer 1

they are used in metabolic reactions
importance measured by how well they prevent disease or improve growth/reproduction

Question 2

what is the primary role of vitamins?

Answer 2

they act as cofactors in metabolic reactions
they aid enzymes in converting nutrients into compounds, creating protein, and help break down nutrients to provide energy

Question 3

do vitamin requirements differ based on the life stage of an animal?

Answer 3

yes

Question 4

which vitamins are classified as fat soluble?

Answer 4

A, D, E, K

Question 5

which vitamins are classified as water soluble?

Answer 5

C and some members of the B-complex group

Question 6

what is the difference between fat-soluble and water soluble vitamins?

Answer 6

fat soluble vitamins can be stored in the body and water soluble can’t be stored

Question 7

do metabolic and physiologic changes increase the need for vitamins as animals age?

Answer 7

yes

Question 8

does prolonged starvation and various disease deprive animals of vitamins and other nutrients and deplete vitamin storage?

Answer 8

yes

Question 9

is it necessary to supplement commercial foods with additional vitamin supplements?

Answer 9

no, if you choose a high quality food for your pet they shouldn’t need a ton of supplements

Question 10

do different vitamins have different roles in metabolism?

Answer 10

yes
this is why deficiency symptoms can vary or it can take a while to appear clinically

Question 11

can animals survive their normal life span with marginal vitamin deficiencies?

Answer 11

yes and a lot of wildlife animals do

Question 12

how does modern nutritional practice formulate rations when it comes to vitamins?

Answer 12

with a balance of naturally occurring vitamin sources supplemented with synthetic vitamins to ensure a proper and consistent supply

Question 13

can vitamins get destroyed in commercial foods?

Answer 13

they can get destroyed during cooking but are supplemented after cooking

Question 14

what are some clinical signs of vitamin deficiency?

Answer 14

slow growth, impaired reproduction, general malaise, skin lesions, hair loss

Question 15

what are some other roles of vitamins besides enzyme reactions?

Answer 15

antioxidant factors, regulatory agents, roles in nutrient absorption and transport, structural functions in membranes

Question 16

what are the two types of vitamins?

Answer 16

fat soluble and water soluble

Question 17

deficiencies of which type of vitamin develop slowly?

Answer 17

fat soluble

Question 18

what effect does polyuric disease have on vitamins?

Answer 18

it increases the excretion of water soluble vitamins

Question 19

vitamin A functions

Answer 19

vision, bone growth, reproduction, maintenance of epithelial tissue, immune response

Question 20

sources of vitamin A

Answer 20

vegetables (carrots and sweet potatoes), plants, fish liver oils, milk, liver, egg yolk

Question 21

what does vitamin D consist of?

Answer 21

a group of sterol compounds that regulate calcium and phosphorus metabolism

Question 22

sources of vitamin D

Answer 22

marine fish and fish oils

Question 23

vitamin E functions

Answer 23

acts as a potent antioxidant

Question 24

vitamin E sources

Answer 24

egg yolks, wheat, corn oils, cottonseed, soybean, sunflower

Question 25

vitamin K sources

Answer 25

green leafy plants, liver, egg, certain fish meals

Question 26

where is vitamin K synthesized?

Answer 26

large intestine
dietary supplement only needed when bacterial populations in large intestine is reduced

Question 27

what is vitamin K used to treat?

Answer 27

rodenticide poisoning
best known function: blood clotting

Question 28

water soluble vitamin functions

Answer 28

involved in energy metabolism and tissue synthesis

Question 29

Thiamin

Answer 29

vitamin B1
role in carbohydrate metabolism
heat-labile = destroyed in high heat

Question 30

Riboflavin

Answer 30

vitamin B2
yellow and contains simple sugar D-ribose
destroyed by light and radiation exposure
after absorption 50% in blood is bound to albumin and other half is bound to globulins
helps release energy from carbs, fats, and proteins

Question 31

Niacin

Answer 31

vitamin B3
processing conditions can release bound niacin which increases availability

Question 32

Pantothenic acid

Answer 32

vitamin B5
named after Greek term pan because it occurs in all body tissues and in all forms of living tissues
involved in reacting to carbs, fats, and protein metabolism

Question 33

Pyridoxine

Answer 33

vitamin B6
required for synthesis of hemoglobin and is influenced by the level of protein in the diet

Question 34

Biotin

Answer 34

vitamin B7
involved in certain steps of fatty acids, nonessential amino acids, and purine synthesis

Question 35

Folic acid

Answer 35

vitamin B 10 and 11
folic acid is the name of a group of vitamins with related biological activity
common names: folate, folates, folacin
required in diet
synthesized by bacteria in large intestine

Question 36

Cobalamin

Answer 36

vitamin B12
contains cobalt (mineral)
only B vitamin that excess can be stored in body

Question 37

Choline

Answer 37

B-complex vitamin even though it doesn’t entirely satisfy definition of vitamin
integral part of cell membranes
can be synthesized in body