Vitamins Flashcards
What is a vitamin and in what amounts are they needed?
Vitamins are essential organic substances needed in minute amounts to activate highly specific metabolic functions in the body
Why are vitamins accessory nutrients?
Because they themselves supply no energy and form no structures but their deficiencies can be dangerous as well as toxic if some are in excess
What are vitamins that must be consumed called?
Preformed vitamins
What are vitamins that may be synthesised by the body using precursors called?
Pro-vitamins
Vitamins can be classified, what are the two sub divisions?
Water soluble vitamins and lipid soluble vitamins
How would you describe water soluble vitamins?
They are not stored in any tissues and excess is removed in urine
Examples of some water soluble vitamins would include?
b1, b2, b3, b5, b6, b9, b12, vitamin c, biotin (vit h)
Where are lipid soluble vitamins stored and can they be removed?
They are stored in the liver and adipose. The body has no way of removing them until they are used.
Give some examples of some lipid soluble vitamins
Vitamins a, d, e and k
Of the vitamins that are ingested, where do the majority originate from?
From plant sources (except b12) as byproducts of photosynthesis
Give two examples of pro vitamins and from what they are synthesised
carotene –> vitamin a ultraviolet light –> vitamin d
What are most vitamins converted into, for use inside the body? What is one of their main roles?
Most vitamins are converted into coenzymes - b12
Some vitamins such as vitamin d and some metabolites of vitamin a have a different role other than coenzymes, what can they do?
They act more like hormones, binding to receptors and controlling gene expression and metabolism
Some vitamins such as vit c and vit e act as ______, not as coenzymes or the control of gene expression and metabolism
antioxidants
What is the role of antioxidants
Preventing or delaying some types of cell damage
What is a coenzyme?
A coenzyme is a non protein compound that is necessary for the functioning of an enzyme
Some coenzymes allow the substrate to react more readily, give some vitamin derivatives that allow this
CoA, pyridoxal phosphate, thiamin diphosphate and vitamin b12
There are some oxidative coenzymes, what are these
NAD+, NADP+, FAD, lipoic acid
What is the function of oxidative coenzymes?
To carry hydrogen atoms or electrons
What is the protein part of the enzyme called?
The apoenzyme
When the protein part of the enzyme is in combination with the coenzyme the catalytically competent enzyme is known as what?
As the holoenzyme
Apoenzyme + coenzyme =
holoenzyme
Vitamin b1 is
thiamine
vitamin b2 is
riboflavin
vitamin b3 is
niacin
vitamin b5 is
pantothenic acid
vitamin b6 is
pyridoxine
vitamin b9 is
folic acid
vitamin b12 is
cobalamin
vitamin c is
ascorbic acid
vitamin a is
retinol
vitamin d is
calcitrol
vitamin e is
tocopherols
Where is thiamine/vitamin b1 derived from?
From a substituted pyrimidine and thiazole
Is thiamine water soluble or lipid soluble?
It is water soluble
How can one obtain vitamin b1/thiamine?
Through their diet from most grains
Where is a deficiency of b1 prevalent?
In South east Asia
What is the active form of thiamine?
Thiamin pyrophosphate - TPP
Where is thiamine converted to its active form of thiamin pyrophosphate?
In the brain and liver
What enzyme converts thiamin/vit b1 to thiamin pyrophosphate?
The enzyme thiamin diphosphotransferase
Why is thiamin pyrophosphate necessary in the body?
It is a key coenzyme for the pyruvate and a-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase catalysed reactions
What is the function of pyruvate dehydrogenase?
Part of a multi enzyme complex that acts to convert pyruvate generated in glycolysis into acetyl coA for entry into the krebs cycle
What is the function of a-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase?
regulation in the krebs cycle. Involved in the conversion of ketoglutarate to syccinyl coA
Thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP) is a necessary coenzyme for pyruvate dehydrogenase and a-ketoglutarate, what does TPP assist in in both cases?
Assists in the decarboxylation of a small ketoacid
In addition to its uses in metabolism, list three other uses of thiamine/ vitamin b1.
- Enhance circulation and blood formation 2. Maintenance of nervous system - biosynthesis of acetylcholin and GABA 3. Production of HCl in stomach - digestive role
What is a deficiency of b1 called?
Beriberi
Alchohol-related thiamin deficiency is caused by an
inadequate intake of thiamine as well as impaired absorption and storage
What are the early symptoms of beriberi
they are non specific and include fatigue, loss of appetite, irritability, abdominal discomfort
As the disease of beriberi progresses, what do patients tend to develop?
Burning sensations, tingling in the extremities, changes in sensation - numbness, may develop psychosis. Heart failure,
Is vitamin b2/riboflavin water soluble or lipid soluble?
Water soluble
What is vitamin b2/riboflavin synthesised by?
Microorganisms and plants
What types of food provide vitamin b2?
Milk, liver, cheese, green vegetables, almonds
What destroys vitamin b2?
Exposure to light
What is the active form of riboflavin?
Riboflavin is the precursor for the coenzymes flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD). So it is active as a coenzyme
The enzymes that require FMN and FAD as coenzymes are called?
Flavoproteins
Several flavoproteins also contain metal ions, what are these termed?
Metalloflavoproteins
Both FMN and FAD are involved in a wide range of
redox reactions and help the metabolism of carbohydrates, amino and fatty acids
Symptoms associated with a deficiency of vitamin b2/riboflavin include
sore throat, dermatitis, anemia, neuropathy and cataract formation
Where is b2/riboflavin deficiency observed?
In malnutrition or chronic alcoholism
The conversion of riboflavin to flavin mononucleotide is required for absorption and transport into many tissues. This conversion is inhibited by…
hypothyroidism and the structurally similar medications such as tetracycline and tricyclic antidepressants
What is hypothyroidism?
Thyroid produced less thyroid hormone than it should which causes the metabolism to run too slow
Is niacin water or lipid soluble
Water soluble
B3/ niacin can be synthesised by the body, how?
It can be synthesised in the liver from the essential amino acid tryptophan but the synthesis is inefficient
The synthesis of niacin within the human body is inefficient, so what types of food can you obtain vitamin b3/niacin from?
Proteins, meat, fish, milk, eggs, peanuts
What is the active form of b3/niacin?
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide NAD+ and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate NADP+
What is the function of the active forms of b3/niacin (NAD+, NADP+)?
Both function as cofactors for numerous dehydrogenases
What is the role of the derivatives of NAD+/NADP+ that come from coenzymes from b3/niacin?
Energy metabolism
List two other functions of niacin in the body
Removing toxic chemicals from the body and assisting in the production of steroid hormones
What is the deficiency disease associated with a b3 deficiency?
Pellagra
What two ways could cause an individual to develop b3 deficiency?
Failure of the body to absorb niacin or trptophan
What are the symptoms of pellagra?
dermatitis, blackening of the tongue, scaly skin sores
Where were early cases of pellagra observed?
Europe shortly after the introduction of corn
Why did the consumption of corn cause niacin deficiencies?
The niacin in corn is not bioavailable unless treated with a strong base