Vitamins Flashcards
What are Vitamins?
VITAMINS ARE A GROUP OF VARIOUS TYPES OF CHEMICAL
COMPUNDS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THE GROWTH,
FUNCTION AND HEALTH OF THE BODY.
What are vitamins classified as?
FAT SOLUBLE
WATER SOLUBLE
what are the fat soluble vitamins?
A
E
D
K
What is vitamins A chemical name?
CHEMICAL NAME
RETINOL
Where is vitamin A obtained?
VITAMIN A IS OBTAINED FROM ANIMAL FOODS IN THE
FORM OF RETINYL PALMITATE, WHICH IS CONVERTED INTO
RETINOL IN THE ILEUM (SMALL INTESTINE). RETINOL IS THE
FORM OF VITAMIN A WHICH IS STORED MAINLY IN THE
LIVER AND KIDNEYS.
What are the functions of vitamin A?
RETINOL IS CONVERTED IN THE BODY INTO RETINAL, WHICH IS NEEDED BY THE RETINA IN THE EYES. RETINAL JOINS UP WITH A PROTEIN CALLED OPSIN TO FORM A LIGHT SENSITIVE SUBSTANCE CALLED RHODOPSIN (KNOWN AS PURPLE VISION) WHICH ENABLES PEOPLE TO SEE IN DIM LIGHT.
RETINOL IS ALSO IMPORTANT FOR CELL GROWTH IN BLOOD VESSELS AND IS ALSO FOUND IN GLANDS AND ORGANS THROUGHOUT THE BODY.
VITAMIN A IS ALSO INVOLVED IN THE CORRECT WORKING OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND KEEPING MUCOUS MEMBRANES THROUGHOUT THE BODY HEALTHY, ALL OF WHICH HELPS TO PREVENT THE DEVELOPMENT OF INFECTIONS. IT IS ALSO AN ANTI OXIDANT.
Sources of Vitamin A
RETINOL
LIVER
EGG
FISH OILS
DAIRY FOOD
BETA CAROTENE
CARROTS.
SWEET POTATOES.
DARK LEAFY GREENS, SUCH AS KALE AND SPINACH.
ROMAINE LETTUCE.
SQUASH.
CANTALOUPE.
RED AND YELLOW PEPPERS.
APRICOTS
Vitamin A deficiencies
DRY AND INFECTED SKIN AND MUCUS MEMBRANES
NIGHT BLINDNESS
POOR GROWTH IN CHILDREN
Vitamin A excess
POISONOUS IF TOO MUCH TAKEN EG. IN SUPPLEMENTS ESPECIALLY TO UNBORN CHILDREN
What is vitamin D chemical name?
CHOLECALCIFEROL
What are the forms of Vitamin D?
THERE ARE SEVERAL FORMS OF VITAMIN D, ALL OF WHICH ARE STEROLS.
THE FORM OF VITAMIN D FROM FOOD THAT THE BODY USES IS VITAMIN D3, CALLED CHOLECALCIFEROL. IT IS FOUND IN LIVER AND LIVER OILS EG. COD LIVER AND IN DAIRY PRODUCTS.
VITAMIN D2 (ERGOCALCIFEROL) IS A SYNTHETIC FORM OF VITAMIN D WHICH IS USED IN SUPPLEMENTS.
What are the sources of vitamin D?
THE MAIN SOURCE OF VITAMIN D FOR HUMANS, HOWEVER, IS ITS PRODUCTION IN THE BODY BY THE ACTION OF SUNLIGHT ON THE SKIN (CALLED THE BIOGENESIS OF VITAMIN D).
OILY FISH
MEAT
EGGS
BUTTER
VEGETABLE FAT SPREADS (ADDED BY LAW)
FORTIFIED BREAKFAST CEREALS
What are the functions of vitamin D?
CALCIUM ABSORPTION
UPTAKE OF CALCIUM INTO THE BONES
AMOUNT OF CALCIUM IONS IN THE BLOOD FOR NERVE AND MUSCLE FUNCTION
NEEDED FOR THE FUNCTION OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
Vitamin D deficiencies
BONES WEAKEN AND BEND
RICKETS IN CHILDREN
OSTEOMALACIA IN ADULTS
what is Vitamin E chemicals name?
TOCOPHEROL
