Vitamins

Question 1

Vitamin A

Answer 1

carotene; unsaturated hydrocarbon involved in vision, growth and immune system. Converted into retinal for vision, retinoic acid for epithelial growth regulation

Question 2

Vitamin B1

Answer 2

thiamine; deficiency causes Wernicke’s encephalopathy which if untreated then leads to Korsakoff syndrome which causes severe memory problems (common in alcoholism and malnutrition)

Question 3

Vitamin B2

Answer 3

riboflavin; includes FAD and FMN, electron carriers in mitochondria involved in ETC and decarboxylation of pyruvate + glutathione, DNA repair, as well as many other functions

Question 4

Vitamin B3

Answer 4

Niacin; includes NAD+ and NADP+. It is important for ETC and pentose phosphate pathway.

Question 5

Vitamin B7

Answer 5

biotin; required in the first step of catabolism of propionyl-CoA (3 carbon remnant of odd numbered fatty acid). Gut bacteria produce it.

Question 6

Vitamin C

Answer 6

ascorbic acid; important for connective tissue. Deficiency = scurvy. Vitamin is also important in immune system and wound clotting

Question 7

Vitamin D

Answer 7

cholecalciferol; UV light. involved bone breakdown releasing calcium and phosphate to be taken up in the gut. Deficiency causes rickets which results in underdeveloped curved long bones and poor growth.