Vitamins, VitA, and VitD

Question 1

What are vitamins?

Answer 1

Essential
Non caloric nutrients
Needed in tiny amounts

Question 2

What are the 2 classes of vitamins?

Answer 2

1. Fat soluble - Vit A,D,E,K
2. Water Soluble - Vit B,C

Question 3

Characteristics of the Fat Soluble Vitamins

Answer 3

1. Found in fats and oils
2. Requires bile for absorption
   travel on protein carriers
3. Can reach toxic levels because they are stored in fatty tissues
4. If someone has a low level of fat, they will consequently have a deficiency of the fat soluble vitamins.

Question 4

Diseases caused by a deficiency of the fat soluble vitamins.

Answer 4

Examples are:

Chron’s
Pancreatitis
Short Bowel Syndrome

Question 4

Characteristics of the Water Soluble Vitamins

Answer 4

1. Travel freely in the bloodstream
2. Absorbed directly into the bloodstream
3. Not stored together with fat so there is no excess
4. When cooked, it can leech out into the water.

Question 5

What is the precursor to Vitamin A and where is it found?

Answer 5

Beta Carotene

Found in plant pigmented products

Question 5

What are the 3 active forms of Vitamin A?
Where are they found

Answer 5

1. Retinol
2. Retinal
3. Retinoic Acid

Found in animal products

Question 6

What are the roles of Vitamin A?

Answer 6

1. Vision - plays a role in light perception
2. Gene Expression - Retinoic acid can activate or deactivate genes.
3. Skin/body/lining

Question 7

VitA and Toxicity

Answer 7

The UL is 3,000 mcg per day

VitA only causes toxicity through supplements or heavily fortified foods or liver.
So you’re not going to get toxicity
from the from the Beta Carotene foods.

aka - only the overuse of supplements and medications containing VitA will cause VitA toxicity.

Pregnant women taking VitA have to be careful

Question 8

Sources of VitA

Answer 8

Animal foods

Question 9

Too much Beta Carotene

Answer 9

causes discoloration - turns orange

Question 10

Too little Beta Carotene

Answer 10

Can develop Macular Degeneration - eye disease that causes vision loss

Question 11

What is VitD - Active forms

Answer 11

Sunshine Vitamin. UV rays from sun triggers synthesis of Vit D

Darker skin doesn’t absorb as well

Only vitamin with dual role of Vitamin and Hormone

Bone health vitamin

Question 12

Roles of VitD

Answer 12

1. Regulates blood Calcium and Phosphorus levels
2. Hormone
3. Cancer prevention (colon , lung and breast)

Question 13

What will a defficiensy of VitD cause?

Answer 13

Kids – Rickets - soft bones fractures/bow leggedness

Adults – Osteomalacia - softening of bones; pain/aching

If you don’t have enough Vit D body takes it from your bones

Question 14

VitD and Toxicity

Answer 14

Most toxic of all vitamins and likely from supplements

Can cause kidney problems

Question 15

Sources of VitD

Answer 15

Sunlight (nonfood source vit)

Food Sources – fortified milk, OJ, soy milk, salmon and sardines