Vitamins (Exam 1) Flashcards
Are vitamins found in nature?
yes
Are vitamins essential or nonessential?
essential!!!!
Do vitamins yield energy?
no but they do help reactions that do yield energy
The discovery of ___________ gave birth to the field of nutrition
vitamins
Are vitamins coenzymes or cofactors?
coenzymes (cosubstrate or prosthetic group)
Are minerals coenzymes or cofactors?
cofactors
Can you have too many vitamins?
yes
Too much vitamin C may cause chronic ____________
diarrhea
Too much vitamin B6 leads to irreversible _______ damage
nerve
Vitamers are the multiple forms of vitamins. Different vitamers have different bioavailability. In general, vitamers of synthetic forms of vitamins have less bioavailability than nature vitamer forms. What is the exception?
folate (vitamin B9) has higher bioavailability in synthetic form
this is not a good thing bc it can change uracil to thymine and fuel tumors if folate is overactive in the body
What are the fat soluble vitamins?
KADE
Vit K, A, D, and E
Fat soluble vitamins dissolves in fats and usually are found in fats and _______ of food
oil
(so eating a fat free diet or taking meds that strip the fat soluble vitamins makes you deficient in KADE vitamins)
Fat soluble vitamin absorption is increased with what?
dietary lipids (so best to take fat soluble vitamins after you eat)
How are fat soluble vitamins transported in the body?
like fat in chylomicrons, VLDL, LDL or binding proteins
Can fat soluble vitamins be stored in the body?
yes, it tends to be found in lipid portions of a cell but if theres too much it may cause toxicities
Fat soluble vitamins leave the body through?
feces
If fat soluble vitamin absorption mechanism is defective, then deficiency is likely. What are some causes of defective fat soluble absorption?
-fat malabsorption
-drug or alcohol abuse
-intestinal diseases like Crohn’s disease
What are the water soluble vitamins?
all the vitamin B vits + C
1) vit C
2) thiamin (vit B1)
3) riboflavin (vit B2)
4) niacin (vit B3)
5) pantothenic acid (vit B5)
6) pyridoxine (vit B6)
7) biotin (vit B7)
8) folate/ folic acid (vit B9)
9) cobalamin (vit B12)
What is the other name for thiamin?
vit B1
What is the other name for riboflavin?
vit B2
What is the other name for niacin?
vit B3
What is the other name for pantothenic acid?
vit B5
What is the other name for pyridoxine?
vit B6
What is the other name for biotin?
vit B7
What is the other name for folate?
folic acid or vit B9
What is the other name for cobalamin?
vit B12
Which vitamin synthesizes hydroxyproline?
vit C
Which vitamin is involved in decarboxylation reactions?
thiamin/ vit B1
Which vit makes FAD?
riboflavin/ vit B2
Which vit makes NAD (oxidation rxns) and NADPH ((reduction rxns)?
niacin/ vit B3
CoA requires which vit?
vit B5/ pantothenic acid
Which enzyme converts OAA to citrate in TCA?
citrate synthase (this enzyme requires vit B5/ pantothenic acid)
Which vitamin is required for transamination reactions with ALT and AST (aminotransferases)?
Pyridoxine/ vitamin B6
Which vitamins are needed to increase homocysteine (can change back to AAs in the body)?
1) pyridoxine (vit B6)
2) folate (folic acid, vit B9)
3) cobalamin (vit B12)
Which vitamin is required for carboxylation reactions?
Biotin/vit B7
Which vitamin is a carbon donor?
Folate/folic acid/vit B9
Which vitamin is used in RNA and DNA biosynthesis?
Folate/folic acid/ vit B9
Which vitamin is required for odd chain catabolism?
Cobalamin/vit B12
Are water soluble vitamins coenzymes or cosubstrates?
Coenzymes
Are water soluble vitamins absorbed passively, actively, or both?
Both
Are water soluble vitamins transported freely, by carriers, or both?
Both
Most water soluble vitamins can be stored with an adequate amount. What are the exceptions?
Vit B9 and 12
Water soluble vitamins usually don’t have toxicity. What are the exceptions?
Vit B1, B3, B6, B9, and C
How are excess water soluble vitamins removed from the body?
Excreted in urine
Substantial amounts of vitamins are lost by the time a fruit or vegetable is picked, transported, stored, prepared, and cooked. The water soluble vitamins especially ___________________ can be destroyed with improper storage and excessive cooking
thiamine, vit C, and folate
How should you store fruits and veggies with thiamine, vit C, and folate in them?
In a dark cold place
Heat, light, exposure to air, and cooking are all factors that can destroy vitamins, especially vit….
B2
How should you prepare fruits with vit B2?
Wash them and then cut them
What is the best method to preserve vitamins if foods are not eaten freshly picked?
Freezing
Performed vitamin A is the active form. What are the names for active vit A?
Retinoids (retinal, retinol, retinoic acid)
Which vit A important for vision?
Retinal
Which vitamin A are the lipid hormones?
Retinol and retinoic acid
Active vit A is found in what products?
Animal products only
What is the proformed (inactive form or precursor form) of vit A?
Carotenoids (beta or alpha carotene)
Which carotenoids do NOT have vit A activity?
Lutein and lycopene
Spinach is rich in what carotenoid and is known to improve or prevent age related chronic eye diseases?
Lutein
Proformed vit A (carotinoids) must be converted to what form?
Preformed vit A (retinoid form)
What cells in the body can split carotene (inactive form) into two molecules of retinoids (active form of vit A)?
Intestinal cells
Proformed vit A/ carotenoids are found in what products?
Plant products
The enzymes that converts 1 beta carotene into 2 molecules of retinal is found where?
Small intestine or liver cells
Which vitamin A is the storage form?
Retinol
What is the major preformed/active vit A in the food?
esterified retinol (retinyl-ester)
Hydrolyzing retinyl-ester from FAs creates….
vit A
Hydrolyzing retinyl-ester from FAs creates vit A. What is required from the body here?
-bile
-digestive enzymes
-micelles
(dependent on the fat in diet)
What percentage of retinoids can be absorbed into the body?
90%
Intestinal cells can convert carotenoids to retinoids which are then absorbed and transported via ______________ to the __________
chylomicrons, liver
Which organ stores 50-80% of vit A in the body?
test q
liver
(storage in liver should last several months)
How is retinol transported out of the liver to target tissue?
retinol-binding protein
Carotenoids can be transported via ___________ to target tissue
VLDLs
Retinol can be esterified for storage or….
oxidized into retinal and then into retinoic acid
Which vitamin is found structurally in the visual pigments rods and cones?
retinal
Rhodopsin has a protein called __________ attached to 11-cis retinal, which binds to light to absorb protein
opsin
Rods and cones are found in what part of the eye?
retina
Which visual pigment is responsible for vision under bright lights and translates objects to color vision?
cones
Which visual pigment is responsible for vision in dim lights and translates objects to black and white vision?
rods
What is the 1st sign of vit A deficiency?
night blindness
In the visual cycle, rhodopsin absorbs the photon of light and cis-retinal isomerize to trans-retinal. Trans-retinal separates from opsin. Opsin triggers a reaction cascade message and is sent to brain and a cessation of dark current. In the dark, trans-retinal enzymatically converts back to cis-retinal. Opsin and cis-retinal enzymatically combine to regenerate ____________
rhodospin
Retinoic acids and retinol act like a hormone to affect….
gene expression
Retinoic acids and retinol can travel to the nucleus of cells and bind to _____________ receptors on the gene and allow stimulation or inhibition of the gene
retinoic
Retinoic acids and retinol are involved in ______________ synthesis and are necessary for cell aggregation and cell recognition
glycoprotein
note: this can prevent cancer
Which vit A is essential for normal reproduction?
retinol
(if theres not enough then there will be impaired embryonic development and can lead to spontaneous abortion)
Which vit A is critical for bone development and function bc it stimulates the synthesis of osteocalcin in osteoblast cells?
retinoic acids (note: vit A, K, and D are all important for this)
What 3 vitamins are important for bone development?
vit A, K, and D
Which vit A is important for immune function (mucus formation) and is known as an anti infection vit bc of its role in mucus formation?
retinoic acids and retinol
Which vitamins have antioxidant activity?
vit A, C, E, and s (selenium)
Retinoids have a role in cell development and immune system. Increased retinoids would lower the risk of epithelial type cancers, especially…
breast, lung, and prostate cancer
Are megadoses of vit A recommended?
NO it can be extremely harmful especially to smokers it can increase chances of lung cancer, but eating foods with vit A and phytochemicals will help as opposed to supplement)
What are the food sources for preformed/active vit A?
-liver
-fish oils
-milk
-eggs
(contributes to half of all the vit A intake)
What are the food sources for proformed vit A/carotenoids?
-dark leafy greens
-yellow-orange vegetables and fruits
Are vitamin A supplements necessary?
no
What is the fancy word for night blindness?
nyctalopia
Which vitamin is required for the visual process?
vit A
Deficiency of what vitamin leads to the inability to regenerate visual pigments?
vit A
What is xerophthalmia?
-pathological dryness of the conjunctiva and cornea
-if left untreated then it can lead to irreversible blindness
-decreased mucus production leads to bacterial invasion in the eye
-providing a megadose of vit A to an “at-risk” patient population can prevent blindness caused by xerophthalmia
What is follicular hyperkeratosis?
-keratin protects the inner layers of the skin and maintains moisture
-keratinized cells replace the normal epithelial cells in the underlying skin layers
-hair follicles become plugged, leading to bumpy, rough, and dry skin
-basically matures cells and overproduces keratin
-result of vit A deficiency
Follicular hyperkeratosis is the result of which vitamin deficiency?
vit A
Eating a whole polar bear liver can give you a toxic amount of which vitamin?
vit A
What is the acute form of vit A toxicity?
-usually eating too many animal products
-ingestion of LARGE doses of vit A within a short period
-ex: a whole polar bear liver (bc polar bears eat a lotttttttt of fish)
-will result in intestinal upset, headache, blurred vision, and muscular incoordination
-will also form pseudo tumor cerebri which is a fake tumor in the brain and increases pressure in the skull
Which vit A toxicity causes pseudo tumor cerebri?
acute toxicity (animal form)
What is the chronic form of vit A toxicity?
-caused by large intake of synthetic form of vit A over a long period of time
-bone and muscle pain
-loss of appetite
-skin disorders
-headache
-dry skin
-hair loss
-increased liver size
-vomiting
-increased risk of hip fractures
-discontinue supplement is recommended
-possible permanent damage to the liver
Which vitamin can cause this toxicity?
-teratogenic
-excessive vit usage can produce physical defects in fetus development
-spontaneous abortions or birth defects
-this vit is used to treat severe acne so a pregnancy test must be taken before, during and after treatment
vit A
What is hypercarotenemia?
-high amounts of carotenoids in the bloodstream
-excessive consumption of carrots/squash/beta-carotene foods turn the skin a yellow orange color
-this is not harmful bc carotenoids are the inactive form of vit A
Which vitamin is recommended to take in a supplement for everyone because 75% of the American population is deficient, especially people with darker skin color?
vit D
Which vitamin is known for strong bones while also preventing DM and cancers?
vit D
Early in the 20th century, it was shown that a fat soluble factor could prevent rickets in the diet or body exposure to UV light. The emphasis was placed on the dietary factor; therefore, any compound with a curative action on rickets was designated as vit _____
D
Vit D is an essential hormone needed for normal ______________ homeostasis. Through the years, it has been associated with skeletal growth and strong bones
calcium/phosphate
Vitamin D is a steroid hormone derived from….
cholesterol
Vitamin D comes from 2 sources. What are they?
endogenous (cholesterol through skin during sun exposure) and exogenous (through diet)
Which UV can penetrate glass?
UVA (UVB cannot)
To get vit D through the skin, what UV do you need- UVA or UVB?
UVB
Skin has to be exposed to sunlight (ideally in 60 degrees F or more) directly to make vit D, but UVB also causes sunburn so its best to go outside in the morning. What is the difference between light and dark skin tones here?
light skin people need 15ish min to make vit D
dark skin people need 40+ min to make vit D
What molecule is synthesized by the action of UVB light on cholesterol in the sebaceous glands of the skin?
7-dehydrocholesterol
7-dehydrocholesterol is synthesized by the action of UVB light on cholesterol in the sebaceous glands of the skin. Most of it is isomerized within 2-3 days into vit _____ also known as cholecalciferol
D3
note: D3 is hydrophobic bc its derived from a lipid molecule
Cholecalciferol diffuses from the skin into the capillaries and is transported via _________________ to peripheral tissues (liver)
vit D binding protein (DBP)
What are the 2 types of dietary vit D?
ergocalciferol/ D2 and cholecalciferol/D3
Which vit D is better for you because its plant based?
cholecalciferol/D3
50-80% of vit D consumed is incorporated into ___________ and is absorbed in the ____________
micelles, small intestine
Where is vit D absorption most rapid?
duodenum
Where is the majority of vit D absorbed (think specifics)?
distal ileum
Dietary vit D is transported via ________________ via the lymphatic system to the blood stream to the liver
chylomicrons
What are the food sources of vit D?
major forms:
-fatty fish (salmon, herring, mackerel)
-fish liver oils
-liver from animals
less major:
-fortified milk
-fortified margarines
-fortified cereal
-mushrooms
What foods are good for vit D3?
-fatty fish (salmon, herring, mackerel)
-fish liver oils
-liver from animals
What food is good for vit D2?
mushrooms
Cholecalciferol reaches the liver via ______________ (diet) or __________ (sun)
chylomicron remnants, DBP
Vit D2 gets converted to what when it reaches the liver?
vit D3
Vit D is activated by what organs?
liver and kidneys
Vit D3 is activated in the liver with 25 hydroxylase to make 25-OH-D3 also known as….
calcidiol
25 hydroxylase adds 1 OH to C25, so now calcidiol has 2 OHs
Vit D3 is activated in the kidneys with alpha 1 hydroxylase to make 1,25- (OH)2 D3 also known as…..
calcitriol (has 3 OHs)
What is the other name for 25 OH D3 and 25 hydroxycholecalciferol?
calcidiol
Where is calcidiol stored?
in adipose tissue (very little in the liver)
note: the storage form is created in the liver but most is stored in fat
What is the storage form of vit D3?
calcidiol
What is the active form of vit D3?
calcitriol
What is the other name for 1, 25- (OH)2 D3 and 1,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol?
calcitriol
Which hormone activates vit D when calcium is inadequate?
parathyroid hormone (PTH)
Excretion of vit D is mainly via….
bile
Can you get toxic effects from vit D naturally or through supplements?
no for both UNLESS you have kidney or liver issues
its not toxic bc vit D is inactive until it reaches liver or kidney
if theres liver or kidney issues then vit D cannot be activated and this will cause vit D deficiency which will make bones weak and this is called bone denomination bc of the fragility
vit D3 is also the precursor for prohormone so the other exception is that itll only be toxic if you take or consume excessive amounts of calcium or magnesium
One of the functions of vit D is to regulate blood calcium and phosphate levels. What are the 3 tissues involved?
bone, intestine, and kidney
One of the functions of vit D is to regulate blood calcium and phosphate levels. What are the 3 hormones involved?
1) parathyroid hormone (PTH)
2) calcitriol
3) calcitonin
blood calcium contributes to what?
blood clotting
Which hormone regulates calcium reabsorption and bone denomination?
parathyroid hormone (PTH)
Which hormone increases calcium and phosphate absorption and regulates bone denomination?
calcitriol
If you take vit D supplements, when is the best time to take it?
after eating, especially after eating foods rich in calcium and magnesium
tofu and eggs are rich in calcium
dark grean leaf veggies are rich in magnesium
Blood calcium levels drop during exercise. Is this an acute or chronic response?
acute
______________ creates a supersaturated calcium and phosphate solution. This causes calcium and phosphate to deposit in the bones and strengthen bones
Calcitriol
What disease is caused by low vit D in kids?
rickets (soft bones)
What disease is caused by low vit D in adults?
osteomalacia (soft bones, decreased bone density)
______________ can influence the differentiation and function of some cells by interacting with cell membrane receptors and nuclear vit D receptor proteins
Calcitriol
Adequate vit _____ status is linked to a reduction in breast, colon, and prostate cancer development
D
_______________ is a steroid hormone. So far, more than 50 genes are known to be regulated by it
Calcitriol
Which vitamin deficiency is most common?
vit D
What are the 6 risk factors for vit D deficiency?
1) inactive
2) slender (usually have smaller bones= less room for calcium and magnesium)
3) menopause
4) smoking
5) kidney/liver dysfunctions
6) fat free diet
Infants are born with enough vit D to last 4-6 months. After supplements are recommended for what benefits with baby?
increase brain function and calmness
Is breast milk a good source of vit D?
no
What is the tell-tale sign of rickets?
bowed legs
Only the active form of vit D can be toxic. The active form is calcitriol. What are the toxic effects here?
hypercalcemia (increased calcium in blood) and hypercalciuria (increased calcium in urine)
-kidney stones
-vomiting
-bone and muscle pain
-brain damage
-heart damage, irregular heart beat
-calcinosis (calcium deposit in soft tissues)
What is calcinosis?
calcium deposit in soft tissues (result of too much calcitriol)
Active forms of which vitamins in large amounts are lethal?
vit A and D
What is vit D resistance?
-lack of vit D synthesis in the kidneys or inability of vit D to bind to its nuclear receptors
-tx is to give a large dose of vit D but this will not help with the nuclear receptor problem
Which vit is the most important water soluble vit?
vit C
Vit ______ has 8 vitamers: 4 tocopherols (saturated side chains) and 4 tocotrienols (unsaturated side chains with double bonds)
E
The amount of vit E absorbed is dependent on…..
-fat intake/absorption
-bile and pancreatic enzyme activity
Which vitamer of vitamin E has the highest activity?
test q
alpha tocopherol
What is the most important fat soluble antioxidant?
test q
alpha tocopherol (a vitamer of vit E)
Which vitamin is a redox agent, meaning it can donate electrons to an oxidizing agent?
vit E
Which vitamin protects cells from attack of free radicals, prevents the alteration of the cell’s DNA and risk for cancer development, protects PUFAs within the cell membrane and plasma lipoproteins?
vit E
Vit E is incorporated into ________________ to the liver, then incorporated into ___________________
chylomicrons, lipoproteins
Which vitamin is found in cell membranes and all of the plasma lipoproteins?
test q
vit E