Vitamins, Minerals, Prebiotics, Probiotics Flashcards
What are vitamins?
- An essential non-caloric organic nutrient needed in small amounts to adequately supplement our diets
- Vitamins in a vacuum have calories, however our bodies do not produce the enzymes necessary to metabolize - energy is not released for our bodies to utilize.
- Help fight off infection, keep nerves healthy, and regulate blood function
Which are fat-soluble vitamins?
- A,D,E,K
- Absorbed with fats from food, stored in fatty tissue and liver
Which are water-soluble vitamins?
- B, C
- Absorbed directly into blood and are not stored in body, but tissues can be saturated
Descibe Vitamin A.
- Stored in the body as “retinol”; eye function, salivary glands.
- Egg yolk, milk, cheese, green leafy vegetables, carrots
Descibe Vitamin D.
- Two forms: D2 (ergocalciferol) and D3(cholecalciferol)
- Bone function, immune function, enhances calcium and phosphorus absorption
Describe Vitamin E.
- Acquired exclusively from diet (vegetable oils, whole grains)
- Antioxidant Activity
Describe Vitamin K.
- Two forms: K1 and K2
- K1 found in leafy greens, K2 synthesized by gut microflora
- Necessary to activate clotting factors in the liver for coagulation (VII, IX, X, Protein C and S)
What are the different aspects of Vitamin A?
Vitamin A
* Stored in the body as “retinol”; eye function, salivary glands,
* Egg yolk, milk, cheese, green leafy vegetables, carrots
Toxicities
* Most commonly the result of over-supplementation
* Headaches, seizures, arthralgias, skin peeling, and liver damage
Recommended Daily Intake
Men: 900 mcg
Women: 700 mcg
Common OTC Products
Gordons-Vite A
True Vitamin A
Vitamin A Fish
What are the different aspects of Vitamin D?
Vitamin D
* D2 (ergocalciferol): Synthetic
* D3 (cholecalciferol): Produced when the skin is exposed to the sun.
* Bone function, immune function, enhances calcium and phosphorus absorption
Toxicities
* Decreased appetite, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and constipation
Common Uses
* Osteoporosis prevention, Vitamin D deficiency
Recommended Daily Intake
Age 19-70 years: 15 mcg (600 IU)
Adults 71 years and older: 20 mcg (800 IU)
What are the different aspects of vitamin E?
Vitamin E
* Acquired exclusively from diet.
* Antioxidant Activity
Toxicities
* High doses have been shown to increase bleeding
Common Uses
* Heart Disease, Eye disorders, and cognitive decline
Recommended Intake
Men: 15 mg
Women: 15 mg
What are some characteristics of Vitamin K?
Vitamin K
* Two forms: K1 and K2
* K1 found in leafy greens, K2 synthesized by gut microflora
* Necessary to activate clotting factors in the liver for coagulation
* VII, IX, X, Protein C and S
Toxicities
* Anemia
* Liver Toxicity
Recommended Daily Intake
Men: 120 mcg
Women: 90 mcg
Drug Interactions
Warfarin
Counseling Points
Advise patients to maintain consistent intake of Vitamin K while on warfarin
Inconsistent intake leads to abnormal lab values and decreased efficacy of warfarin
What does water-soluble vitamin mean?
Absorbed directly into blood and are not stored in body, but tissues can be “saturated”
Vitamin B
B1 (Thiamine)
B2 (Riboflavin)
B3 (Niacin)
B5 (Pantothenic Acid)
B6 (Pyridoxine)
B7 (Biotin)
B9 (Folate)
B12 (Cobalamin)
Vitamin C
Ascorbic acid
What are some characteristics of Vitamin B?
B1 (Thiamine)
* Enhances energy production, nerve function, and cardiovascular health.
B2 (Riboflavin)
* Involved in making red blood cells and keeping the nervous system healthy
Toxicities
* B1: Flushing, nausea
* B2: Urine discoloration
Common Uses
B1: Thiamin deficiency:
Alcohol dependence
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
B2: People who follow a vegan diet
B3 (Niacin)
* Converted to NAD and NADP, used to catalyze reactions and produce energy
B5 (Pantothenic Acid)
* Plays a role in triglyceride and lipoprotein synthesis
Toxicities
B3: Flushing!
B5: No known toxicities
Common Uses
B3: Hyperlipidemia
B5: Hyperlipidemia
B6 (Pyridoxine)
* Enhances the body’s ability to form hemoglobin
B7 (Biotin/H)
* Involved in keeping hair, skin, and nails healthy
Toxicities
* B6: >200 mg/day results in increased the risk of peripheral neuropathy
Common Uses
* B6: Reducing cardiovascular disease, PMS symptoms, N/V in pregnancy, Tuberculosis regimens to prevent peripheral neuropathy
* B7: Hair, skin and nail health
B9 (Folate)
* Plays important role in DNA synthesis and metabolism of amino acids
B12 (Cobalamin)
* Involved in making red blood cells and keeping the nervous system healthy
Toxicities
* B9: Bitter taste, loss of appetite, nausea
* B12: Neurological disorders, headache
Common Uses
* B9: Women of childbearing age, Pregnancy
* B12: Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia
Recommended Intake In Pregnancy
* B9 (Folate) 600 mcg DFE (dietary folate equivalents)
What are common characteristics of vitamin C?
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
* Enhances immune function and possesses antioxidant activity
Toxicities
* >1000 mg/day results in increased risk of stomach pain, flatulence, and diarrhea
Common Uses
* Common cold, reduction in cardiovascular disease, and some data to support use in Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Cataracts
What is St. John’s Worts?
St. John’s Wort: Used in management of depression, OCD, and ADHD
* Interacts with MANY drugs due to CYP enzyme interactions
* Inducer: decreases drug levels due to increased metabolism, decreasing efficacy