Vitamins and Minerals Flashcards
Vitamin A
Retinol
Uses: immune, dermatology, eye
Toxicity: vomiting, weight loss, joint pain
Food: fish liver, dairy
Dose: over 10,000 IU can be taratogenic, liver damage possible, do not exceed 50,000 IU long-term
Labs: liver biopsy (gold standard) , serum retinol
Beta-Carotene
Not for smokers (can increase risk of cancer)!
Uses: alcoholism, CVD, others possible
Biomarker for fruit and veg consumption
Food: fruits, vegs
Biotin
Uses: diabetes, neuropathy, seborrheic dermatitis
CI: psoriasis (can worsen)
mcg doses
Thiamin
B1 (mg)
Uses: alcoholism, neurologic, fibrocystic breast
Riboflavin
B2 (mg)
Uses: eyes (cataract, mac degen), migraine, muscle cramps
Niacin/Nicotinamide
B3 (mg)
Uses: hyperlipidemia, diabetes, migraines, schizophrenia, etc.
Warning: flushing (no matter what type)
Note:
- “-amide” = pysch use
- niacin or nicotinic acid = lipid use (BEST at increasing HDL)
Pantothenic Acid
B5 (5 mg)
Uses: adrenals, allergic rhinitis
Pyridoxine
B6, P5P, pyridoxal (mg)
Uses: MANY THINGS, pain, nausea, PMS, depression, diabetes, asthma, etc.
Warning: >500mg/d can cause periph neuropathy
Cobalamin (mcg)
B12 (mcg/mg)
Uses: megaloblastic anemia, fatigue, depression, memory loss, periph neuropathy, etc.
1000mcg, up to 5000mcg+
Saturates at 1000, but no harming in going higher to super-saturate
Warning: always give with folate! Choose this option if provided on NPLEX
Folic Acid/Folate
B9, 400mcg
Uses: anemia, cervical dysplasia, cancer, neurological, oral disease
Food: liver, greens (asparagus, broccoli), beets
Ascorbic Acid
Vitamin C (mg)
Uses: cancer, immune, colds, CVD, asthma, allergies, iron deficiency anemia (to increase iron abs.)
Toxicity: dialysis, diarrhea, iron overload (CI hemochromatosis).
Dosing:
- Cancer: IV and high does (25-75g)
- Colds: 1g, not a very large clinical effect on an individual level, but across a population is useful.
- Asthma + allergies: to bowel tolerance (TBT)
Calciferol / ergocalciferol / cholecalciferol
Vitamin D (1000 iu, 400 iu kids)
Uses: osteoporosis, bone, hypoparathyroidism, cancer, etc.
Toxicity: for NPLEX purposes, might want to consider high-dose (>10k) long-term as unsafe
Dosing:
- 5000iu per day in oncology.
- 2000iu or higher in N climates
- Some evidence for higher doses in MS.
Tocopherols, tocotrienols
Vitamin E (mg)
Uses: BRAIN issues, alzheimer, parkinson, memory, cognition, atherosclesoris, PMS, cancer, etc.
Toxicity: synthetic forms may cause cancer, therefore choose d-alpha form (dl-alpha forms are synth) or tocotrienols.
Vitamin K
K1, K2, K3 (mcg or mg)
Uses: klotting d/t deficiency, osteoporosis
Food: dark leafy greens
Labs:
- Prothrombin Time (PT)—extrinsic
- Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT)—intrinsic
- International Normalized Ratio (INR)—extrinsic
“Play tennis (PT) outside internationally, play table tennis (PTT) inside”
Boron
mcg
Uses: osteoporosis
Calcium
Uses: bone (osteoporosis), muscle (tetany, spasms), allergies
1000mg, age depends
Magnesium (citrate, carbonate, bisglycinate, malate)
Uses: hypertension (including pre-eclampsia), restless leg syndrome, migaines, asthma, constipation, arrhythmia
Forms:
- Citrate—better absorbed
- Carbonate—not well absorbed -> better laxative
- Bisglycinate—muscle pain/spasm
- Malate—CFS, fibro (energy production)
Chromium
mcg
Uses: blood sugar regulation (hypo or hyperglycemia)
Copper
mcg
Uses: immune concerns, bone, anemia possibly
Warning: depleted by zinc, zinc:copper ratio should be approx. 20:1
Fluoride
mg
Uses: teeth, dental caries
Toxic: CNS damage, blocks thyroid
Iodine
mcg
Internal Uses: thyroid issues, CF, sinusitis, fibrocystic breast, COPD
Topical Uses: disinfection, vaginities
Toxicity: hypothyroidism goiter -> suppressive
Def: also hypothyroidism goiter
Manganese
mg
Uses: diabetes, immune issues, arthritis
Molybdenum
mcg
Uses: asthma
Potassium
mg, 4700mg per day adults
Uses: athletes, Crohn’s (absorption issues), meds that deplete (diuretics, birth control), eating disorders, smokers, alcohol/drug users
Foods: banana, avocado, nuts, citrus fruit, greens
Risks: drug intx, kidney, diabetes, heart disease – more risky
Overdose: confusion, low blood pressure, irreg heart beat
Selenium
Dose: 200mcg per day
Uses: atherosclerosis, cancer, eyes, immune, thyroid (conversion of T4 to T3), decrease of thyroid autoantibodies
ANTI-OXIDANT
Toxicity: narrow margin of safety, especially when over 600mcg daily
Silicon
mg
Uses: osteoporosis
Sodium
mg
Uses: hypotension, dehydration (IV)
Vanadium
mcg
Uses: diabetes
Zinc
mg
Uses: skin, immune, prostate health
Toxicity: large doses may cause copper deficiency (thus balance out if given the option)
Don’t use doses higher than 25-50mg long term
