Vitamins and Minerals Flashcards
What does vita mean?
life
Where are vitamins obtained from? What are they made by?
vitamins are made by plants and animals that our body CANNOT produce. They must be obtained from foods we eat.
What is the chemical structure of a vitamin?
They are organic molecules with a carbon backbone
How much of a vitamin is require?
required in very small (micro) amounts
What are the functions of vitamins?
- protection -> helping our immune system fight against infections
- help build healthy tissues and hormes
- antioxidants -> protecting cells and tissues from damage
- help turn carbohydrates, proteins and fats we eat into enry our bodies can use
What types of vitamins are there?
fat soluble and water soluble
Which vitamins are fat soluble?
K A D E
What does it mean to be a fat soluble vitamin?
It means it cannot dissolve in water or body fliuds. Excess amounts that are stored in the liver and other fatty tissues which may lead to a build up of toxic concentrations.
can fat soluble vitamins be eliminated in urine?
NO
Which vtaimins are water soluble?
the 8 different B vitamins
- thiamine (B1)
- riboflavin (B2)
- niacin (B3)
- folate
- vitamin B12
- vitamin B6
- biotin
- pantothenic acid
AND
vitamin C (asborbic avid)
Where are water soluble vitamins found within the body?
They are dissolved in water and are NOT stored by the body
How are excess amounts of water soluble vitamins passed out of the body?
Urine
What are good sources of vitamin A?
- orange vegetables
- broccoli & green leafy vegetables
- liver
- fish liver oils
- egg yolks
- butter and cheese
What does vitamin A contribute to within the body?
- essential for good eyesight, healthy skin, reproduction and growth,
- essential to tissues of the respiratory and digestive tracts
- it strengthens the immun system to help fight infections
- aids in the growth and reproduction of hair, bones and teeth
- help in protecting the body against certain forms of cancer
Where is Vitamin A deficiency common?
In many developing countries as residents have limited access to animal products and food containing beta-carotene due to poverty
What are symptoms of vitamin A deficiency?
- blindness -> which starts out as night blindness
- and increased risk of infections
What are the health risks of too much vitamin A
too much vitamin A can be toxic. Arctic explorers who ate polar bear liver experienced a range of symptoms including death.
How is vitamin D unique?
the body and syntehsize all it needs with the help of sunlight
What does vitamin D do for the body?
- it enhances calcium absoprtion for strong bones and teeth
- helps the immune system, brain, nervous system, skin and muscles
What is vitamin D deficiency called?
rickets
What can low levels of vitamin D lead to?
softening of the bones and a decreases in the ability of the body to fight infections
What happens when there is an excess of vitamin D?
it may be toxic to the body + anorexia and calcium deposits in soft tissue
How does vitamin D get produced from sunlight?
When UV light from the sun shines on a cholesterol compound in human skin the compound is transformed into vitamin D precursor
How does skin tone and vitamin D relate?
Dark skinned people require longer exposure to direct sun than light skinned for vitamin D production
What are good food sources of vitamin D
- Egg yolks
- Liver
- Fatty fish & their oil
- Fortified milk
What is another name for vitamin E?
Tocopherol
What is vitamin E
It is an antioxidant that defends the body against oxidative damage
Does the body store vitamin E
What does vitamin E do in the body?
it helps form red blood cells, muscles &
other tissues and helps in protecting the body against certain forms of cancer and in reducing the risk of heart disease
How rare is vitamin E deficiency?
Vitamin E deficiency rare in humans since the vitamin is found in many foods
What are good food sources fo vitamin E?
- Vegetable and seed oils
- Soybean oil
- Corn oil & sunflower oil
- Leafy green vegetables
- Whole grains
- Liver
- Egg yolks
- Nuts
- Seeds
What is an examples of a coenzyme?
B vitamins
What are coenzymes?
molecules that combines with an enzyme for it to function properly
What does vitamin K do?
Helps make proteins that helps clot blood and is necessary for bone formation
Where can vitamin K be obtained from?
intestinal bacteria that synthesize vitamin K or green leafy vegetables
SLIDE 17
The active forms of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin,
pantothenic acid and biotin participate in the
release of energy from carbohydrate, fat and
protein
* Vitamin B6 helps the body use amino acids to
make proteins
* Folate and vitamin B12 help cells to multiply,
important for cells that reproduce frequently
What is another name for vitamin B1?
Thiamine
What does vitamin B1 do?
Works with carbohydrate to produce energy
What is vitamin B1 needed for?
muscular, cardiovascular,
nervous and gastrointestinal systems It promotes proper nerve function (transmission of nerve impulse)
When is vitamin B1 particularly important?
during pregnancy,
breastfeeding and adolescence
What is Thiamine deficiency called?
beriberi
What happens during beriberi?
edema (fluid
accumulation) or muscle wasting, heart
problems, mental disorders and memory loss
Where is vitamin B1 found?
liver, pork, whole unrefined grains
and some fruits
True or false - vitamin B1 (thiamine) is easily destroyed in cooking
true
what is another name for vitamin B2?
riboflavin