Vitamins Flashcards
Fat soluble vitamins
The fat-soluble vitamins are similar to oil and do not dissolve in water. Fat-soluble vitamins are most abundant in high fat foods and are much better absorbed into the bloodstream when eaten with fat as they are dissolved by fats in the body.
They are absorbed by fat globules that travel through the small intestines and are distributed through the body in the bloodstream. Fat soluble vitamins can be stored in the body when not in use.
Water soluble vitamins
Water-soluble vitamins found in food or supplements, are dissolved in water.
Water-soluble vitamins are those that are dissolved in water then readily absorbed into tissues for immediate use. Because they are not stored in the body, they need to be replenished regularly in the diet.
Fat soluble votamins examples (4)
Vitamin A (retinol)
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Vitamin K
Water soluble vitamines examples
Vitamin B Complex
B1 (Thiamine),
B2 (Riboflavin),
B3 (niacin),
B5 (pantothenic acid),
B6 (pyridoxine),
B7 (biotin), B9 (folic acid)
B12 (cobalamin)
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
Vitamin A - What the Vitamin does in the body? 3
Essential for night vision – used within the eye to adapt to changes in light.
Regulation of immune system
Appetite and maintenance of skin and coat.
Vitamin A - Deficiencies – what can this cause?
Hypovitaminosis A can cause:
Poor skin and coat condition
Night blindness
Bone & teeth abnormalities
Weakened Immunity
Vitamin A Excess - what can this cause
Hypervitaminosis A can cause
Abnormal bone formation
Bone fusion (particularly in the spine) -
skeletal malformation including fusion of the vertebrae
Skin changes
Joint problems
Vitamin A - food sources
Fish oil, liver, eggs
Vitamin A and Cats
Vit A and Cats
Most animals can synthesise vitamin A from its dietary
precursor ‘carotene’
The cat is unable to so this so must receive vitamin A in the diet
Preformed A is only found in animal meat
Thus another reason for the cat being an obligate Carnivore
Care must be taken not to over supplement vitamin A – IE feed a very high VIT A diet (liver)
Vitamin D - What the Vitamin does in the body? 3
Increases the amount of calcium and phosphorus absorbed in the small intestine
Maintains correct levels of calcium and phosphorus in the blood.
Helps with immunity and control of cell growth
Vitamin D - Deficiencies – what can this cause? 3
Weakened/softer bones as not enough calcium is absorbed
Osteoporosis (loss of bone mass)
Weakened muscles
Vitamin D - Excess - what can this cause? (4)
Bone and tooth malformation
Slowed growth
Decreased appetite
Severe ossification problems – osteochondritis (inflammation of bone and cartilage)
Vitamin D food sources
Cod liver oil
Liver /organ meats
Dairy products
Eggs
Grass & Hay
What is the role of vitamin D in regulating calcium and phosphorus levels in the body? (3)
1) Influences the amount of CAL/PHOS absorbed from the GI tract and deposition in bone tissue.
2) Synthesis of calcium binding protein
3) Vitamin D mobilises parathormone to regulate calcium levels within the blood to bone
Vitamin E - What the Vitamin does in the body? (3)
Protection of cell membranes
Regulation of immune system
Acts as an antioxidant – helps to protect cells from unstable molecules also known as ‘free radicals’
Vitamin E - Deficiencies – what can this cause?
Widespread cell damage
Reproductive and immune response failure
Muscle Weakness
Brown Bowel Syndrome is a condition used to describe a dog or cat deficient in Vitamin E. These animals have affected bowels which ulcerate, haemorrhage and degenerate
Vitamin E - Excess - what can this cause?
Excess of this vitamin is extremely rare in animals therefore does not need to be considered.
Vitamin E - food sources
Vegetable Oil
Grain, nuts and seeds
Leafy green vegetables
Vitamin K - What the Vitamin does in the body?
Plays an essential part in blood coagulation
Binds calcium to bone
Helps to produce proteins for blood, bones and kidneys.
Vitamin K - Deficiencies – what can this cause?
Anaemia
Haemorrhaging
Blood coming mucous membranes
Bleeding from bowels
Blood cannot clot/increased clotting time
Vitamin K - Excess - what can this cause?
Can cause the breakdown of RBC and liver damage – rarely seen
Vitamin K - food sources
Dark green leafy vegetables
Soybean and Canola oil
Liver and meat
Produced by bacteria in a healthy GI tract
—-> Bacteria in the large intestine can also synthesize vitamin K
Vitamin C - What the Vitamin does in the body?
Antioxidant and plays a role in immunity and in drug and steroid metabolism.
Holds cells together through collagen synthesis
Aids in bone and tooth formation
Wound healing
Strengthens blood vessel walls
Functioning of the immune system
Vitamin C - Deficiencies – what can this cause?
Does not occur in dogs and cats
Scurvy
Haemorrhages
Muscle/joint pain
Anorexia
Struggle standing, bone/joint pain
Susceptibility to infection/wounds don’t heal
Vitamin C - Excess - what can this cause?
No applicable as water soluble
Vitamin C - food sources
All fruit and veg but especially citrus
fruits, potatoes, green leafy veg.
What is Vitamin C synthesised from?
Synthesised from glucose – except from man and guinea pig
Vitamin B - What the Vitamin does in the body?
metabolism, digestion, red blood cells, coat and skin health, and cognitive functioning.
Plays a role in many enzyme reactions of the metabolism.
Helps maintain nervous system and blood cell production in bone marrow
Important in normal cardiovascular function
Vitamin B - Deficiencies – what can this cause?
Skin disorders, dermatitis, skin lesions, slow would healing – this is all due to poor cell growth and production
Anaemia, lethargy
Vomiting and nausea
Mouth ulceration
Poor coat
GI upsets
Loss of appetite, Lethargy and fatigue – seen especially in vit B12 deficiencies
Vitamin B - Excess - what can this cause?
Rare
Vits B1, B3, B5 & B6
VERY rarely seen due to being water soluble.
Nausea
Vomiting
Nerve damage
Vits B2, B7,B9, B12
No problems occur as excess is filtered out through glomeruli (excreted in urination)
Vitamin B - food sources
meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, legumes, grains, nuts and seeds are all rich in B vitamins
