Vitamins Flashcards
What is the importance of vitamins?
- Act as co-enzymes and cofactors in biological reactions.
What are co-enzymes and cofactors?
Any non-protein substance required by protein for biological activity - enzyme catalyst
Name the water soluble vitamins.
B1, B2, B6, B12, C, Choline, Folates, Nicotinic acid, Pantothenic acid,
Name the fat soluble vitamins.
A, D, E, K
What is the name of vitamin B1?
Thiamine
List the sources of B1.
- Liver
- Fresh veg
- Husk of cereal grains
What is the function of Thiamine?
Required as a co-factor in oxidative decarboxylation reactions e.g ATP production.
What is the name of thiamine deficiency and how does it effect the body?
Beriberi affects tissue with a high ATP demand. Wet beriberi affects the heart and circulatory system and dry beriberi damages the nerves leading to decreased muscle strength and muscle paralysis.
Characteristics of Beriberi.
- Parasthesia
- Enlarged heart
- Wrist and foot drop
- Muscle weakness
- Digestive disturbance
Which people is Beriberi most likely to effect?
- Alcoholics
- Communities subsisting on polished rice
Characteristics of Wernick’s Encephalopathy.
- Nystagmus = rapid involuntary eye movements
- Ophthalmoplegia = paralysis of eye muscles
- Ataxia = unsteady gait/shaky movements
Characteristics of Korsakoff’s syndrome.
- Amnesia
- Additional psychiatric manifestations
What is the name of Nicotinic acid deficiency?
Pellagra
Characteristics of pellagra.
4 Ds:
- Dermatitis
- Diarrhoea
- Dementia
- Death
What are the areas most likely to experience pellagra?
Places where it is difficult to obtain green veg, fruit and animal protein.
