Vitamins Flashcards
Vitamin A function
- keeps the skin healthy
- produces mucus
- beta carotene in an antioxidant
- enables us to see in dim light
Vitamin A food sources
- semi-skimmed milk, cheddar, butter, eggs, spinach, kale, peas
Vitamin A effects of deficiency
- children do not properly grow
- skin becomes dry and infected
- cannot see in dim light
- can lead to blindness
Vitamin A effects of excess
- can be toxic and poisioness to the body
- can lead to damage of an unborn baby
Vitamin D function
- enables the mineral calcium to be absorbed from the small intestine during digestion
- helps the body absorb calcium for strong bones and teeth
Vitamin D food sources
- most comes from sunlight on the skin
- oily fish, salmon, sardines, butter, liver, veg fat spreads, cereals
Vitamin D effects of defficiency
- children in their bones will not strengthen and bones will bend over the wieght of the body
Vitamin D effects of excess
- cause excess calcium to be absorbed which could damage the kideys and the organs
Vitamin E function
Vitamin E is an antioxidant
- keeps your skin and eyes healthy
- improves your immune system
Vitamin E food sources
- plant foods: soya, corn oil, nuts, seeds, wheatgerm, fat spreads
Vitamin E effect of deficiency
it is rare
Vitamin E effects of excess
it is rare
Vitamin K function
enables the blood to clot when the body is injured to prevent futher blood loss
Vitamin K food sources
plant and animals foods: leafy veg, liver, cheese, green tea
Vitamin K effects of deficiency
it is rare but can occur in newborns
Vitamin K effects of excess
very rare but some babies can sometimes loose blood internally during the birth process
What are the antioxidant vitamins?
A, C, E
