Vitamins Flashcards
Which vitamins are fat-soluble?
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
Which vitamins are water soluble?
- Vitamin B
- Vitamin C
What are the functions of vitamin A?
What does a deficiency in vitamin A cause?
What can excess of vitamin A cause?
vision, cone growth, reproduction, maintains epithelium tissue including the lining of the respiratory tract. Is important in defending the body against disease.
Deficiency: impaired growth, reproductive failure, loss of epithelial integrity and dermatoses
Excess: Skeleteal abnormalities and hyperesthesia
Where is vitamin A sourced from?
Carotenoids (yellow, red and orange pigments) – carrots, pepper, sweet potatoes.
What is the most biologically active form of vitamin A?
Retinol
Why is vitamin A important in cats?
As cats are specialist carnivores they are unable to convert inactive vitamin A to its active form so for this reason, active form of vitamin A needs to be supplied in the diet. Active vitamin A can be found in products like fish oil, milk, liver and egg yolk
What is the function of vitamin E?
What can a defiecinecy in vitamin E cause?
What can a excess of vitamin E cause?
anti-oxidant
Deficiency: Reproductive failure or pancreatitis in cats
Excess: Non-toxic, increases the requiremtns for vitamin A and vitamin D
Where can vitamin E be sourced?
wheat germ, egg yolk, corn oil, cottonseed oil, slybean oil and sunflower oil
What are the functions of vitamin K?
What can a defieinecy of vitamin K cause?
What can a excess of vitamin K cause?
Blood clotting mechanism
Deficinecy: Increased clotting time, haemorrphage - unlikely to occur but can happen in the case of warfarin posionig or interruption in the functioning of the intestinal bacteria
Excess: Unlikely - no effect discovered
Where can vitamin K be sourced from?
green plants like spinach, kale, cabbage as well as liver, eggs and fish meal.
What is the function of vitamin C?
What can deficiency of vitamin C cause?
What can a excess of vitamin C cause?
The formation of collagen, absorption of iron, immune system, wound healing and the mainteneance of cartilage, bones and teeth
Deficinecy: Scurvy, impaired wound healing, capillary bleeding, anaemia, faulty bone formation
Excess: Unlikely and doesn’t have a toxic effect.
What are sources of vitamin C?
Vitamin C is synthesised from glucose in most plants and animals. Therefore broccoli, cabbage and other leafy greens
What are the functions of vitamin D?
What can a deficiency in vitamin D cause?
What can a excess of vitamin D cause?
regulates calcium and phosphorus metabolism – vitamin D influences the amount of these minerals absorbed from the GI tract and their deposition into bone tissue. Vitamin D also stimulate the synthesis of calcium binding protein which is necessary for the absorption of calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D also mobilises parathyroid hormone (PTH) to mobilise calcium from the bone and causes phosphate reabsorption from the kidneys. This results in plasma levels of calcium and phosphorus being increased to levels required for the normal mineralisation of bone.
Deficecny: Rickets, osteomalacia, nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism
Excess: Hypercalacemia, bone reabsorption, breakdown of tissue and bones
Where can vitamin D be sourced from?
liver, egg yolk, sunlight (UV) – Provitamin D3 is the most important form of vitamin D in omnivores and carnivores. It is synthesised in the body when 7-dehydro-cholesterol, a compound found in the skin of animals is exposed to UV light from the sun. (some dogs and cats have a limited ability to do this and require active source within their diet)
What are the functions of vitamin B?
What can a defieceicny of vitamin B cause?
Energy metabolism and tissue synthesis
Deficiency: weight loss, anaemia, lack of energy, lack of muscle mass, neurological tissues, seizures, confusion, kidney disease
