Vitamins - Fat Soluble

Question 1

What are the 4 fat-soluble vitamins?

Answer 1

A, D, E & K

Question 2

What are the sources, a characteristic and where they are stored of fat soluble vitamins?

Answer 2

• Come from fats in foods such as dairy.
• Heat stable and not lost via cooking
• Stored in liver

Question 3

State the chemical name(s) for Vitamin A and its sources.

Answer 3

Retinol/ Beta Carotene
Source of retinol: animal sources (liver, oily fish, egg yolks, milk, cheese, butter/margarine)
Source of carotene: vegetable sources (red, green, orange veg & fruits)

Question 4

Describe the functions of Vitamin A

Answer 4

• Helps for sight (especially in the dark)
• Growth & development of immune system and skin (prevents infection)
• An antioxidant

Question 5

In detail, describe what an antioxidant does in the body.

Answer 5

• We eat saturated fatty acids. give us LDL (low-density lipoproteins)
• They are finished in a layer of protein so they are soluble and can be used in the body.
• If we smoke or drink (+ other factors), free radical concentration increases, they are looking for an electron of healthy cells in the body.
• Free radicals oxidise LDL’s depositing just fat in arteries.
• Vitamin A attacks the free radicals and stops them oxidising the LDL’s.

Question 6

What happens if a person has a deficiency in Vitamin A?

Answer 6

• Night vision impaired
• Susceptibility to infection increases
• Growth rates for kids decrease
• Liver and bone damage

Question 7

State the chemical name(s) for Vitamin D and its sources.

Answer 7

Cholicalciferol

Sources: sunlight exposure (15 minutes to face, palms and top of arm), oily fish (sardines, salmon), liver

Question 8

Describe the functions of Vitamin D.

Answer 8

• Vitamin D helps with absorption of calcium and phosphate ions back into the bone matrix.
• Helps strengthen teeth and bones
• Helps fight pathogens

Question 9

What happens if a person has a deficiency in Vitamin D?

Answer 9

• Bones weaken causing: Osteoporosis (calcium lacking); osteomalacia (Vit D lacking); dental decay; rickets (bone softening)
• This is because as you go past 30 your peak bone mass and density has been reached, if there isn’t enough calcium in the body it could be taken out of the bones weakening them

Question 10

State the chemical name(s) for Vitamin E and its sources.

Answer 10

Tocopherol

Sources: Veg oil, poultry, wheat gem, peanuts, grasses

Question 11

Describe the functions of Vitamin E.

Answer 11

• Antioxidant - same as Vitamin A

- Reduces risk of cancer, cataracts and heart diseases.

Question 12

What happens if a person has a deficiency in Vitamin E?

Answer 12

• Rare to have a deficiency

- Leads to weakened muscles and nerve membranes

Question 13

State the chemical name(s) for Vitamin K and its sources.

Answer 13

Nathoquinones

Sources: Spinach, cabbage, cauliflower, cheese (greener the veg, the more Vitamin K there is)

Question 14

Describe the functions of Vitamin K.

Answer 14

• Blood clotting
• Wound healing
• Maintain immune system

Question 15

What happens if a person has a deficiency in Vitamin K?

Answer 15

• Very rare to have a deficiency.

- Uncontrolled bleeding in new born babies.

Question 16

Recommended daily intake for Vitamins A, D, E & K?

Answer 16

A - M: 0.7mg F: 0.6mg
D - M + F: 0.01mg
E - M: 4mg F:3mg
K - M + F: 0.001mg per kg of body weight