Water Soluble Vitamins

Question 1

What is the name of Vitamin B1? What are some food sources?

Answer 1

Thiamin

• Meat (Pork)
• Fish (Salmon)
• Beans (Red Kidney)
• Nuts (Brazil)
• Fortified Foods

Question 2

What is the role of Thiamin and what are the symptoms of deficiency?

Answer 2

Coenzyme in Carbohydrate metabolism.

• Beri Beri - dry and wet:
• Wet Beri Beri - CVS - rapid heart rate and shortness of breath
• Dry Beri Ber - CNS - Muscle weakness, paralysis of lower limbs, numb hands and feet

Question 3

What vitamin is Riboflavin and what is its function?

Answer 3

Vitamin B2

Coenzyme in energy metabolism

Question 4

Give some sources of Vitamin B2.

Answer 4

• Meat (Liver)
• Fish (Smoked Mackerel)
• Milk
• Eggs
• Fortified foods

Question 5

What are the symptoms of Riboflavin deficiency?

Answer 5

• Cheilosis (cracked red lips, pain, bleeding)
• Dermatitis
• Conjunctivitis

Question 6

What is the name of Vitamin B3? What is its function?

Answer 6

Niacin

Needed for the coenzymes NAD and NADP thus for energy metabolism

Question 7

What are the symptoms of Niacin Deficiency?

Answer 7

• Pallegra (scaly skin sores, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, weakness)
• Photosensitive dermatitis
• Dementia

Question 8

What are some sources of Vitamin B3?

Answer 8

• Meat (Pork and Liver)
• Fish (smoked Mackerel)
• Nuts (peanuts)
• Fortified foods

Question 9

What is the name of Vitamin B6? Give some sources.

Answer 9

Pyridoxin

• Meat (liver and pork)
• Fish (smoked mackerel)
• Nuts (peanuts)
• Bananas

Question 10

What is the role of Pyridoxin?

Answer 10

Vitamin B6 is an important coenzyme in the metabolism of amino acids

Question 11

What happens if you have too much Vitamin B6?

Answer 11

Pyridoxin can be toxic to the nerves in high doses

Question 12

What is vitamin B9 and what is its function?

Answer 12

Folate (Folic acid is synthetic form)

Functions as a Coenzyme in single carbon transfers in the synthesis of DNA

Question 13

What are the symptoms of folate deficiency?

Answer 13

• Megaloblastic anaemia (fatigue, paleness, irritability, weakness)
• Neural Tube Defects in children e.g. spina bifida

Question 14

What are some sources of Folate?

Answer 14

• Meat (liver)
• Dark leafy greens
• Beans
• Milk
• Orange Juice
• Fortified foods

Question 15

What can happen if too much folate is consumed?

Answer 15

High intakes can mark vitamin B12 deficiency.

Question 16

Who is most at risk of Cobalamin deficiency and why?

Answer 16

Vegans - only found in animal sources (meat, fish, eggs, dairy) so they need fortified foods or a supplement.
The elderly - need intrinsic factor to absorb it, and gastric acid to make this function properly and as you age you lose the ability to produce sufficient gastric acid.

Question 17

What is the function of Vitamin B12?

Answer 17

• There are 3 B12 dependent enzymes including Methionine synthetase involved in the production of the essential amino acid methionine.
• Needed for healthy reed blood cell formation and DNA synthesis

Question 18

What are some sources of Cobalamin?

Answer 18

• Animal sources including Meat, fish, dairy, eggs

- Fortified foods

Question 19

What results due to B12 deficiency?

Answer 19

• Megaloblastic anaemia - fatigue, paleness, weakness, irritability
• If ignored this can cause degeneration of the spinal cord

Question 20

What are some sources of Ascorbic Acid?

Answer 20

• Vegetables (Red pepper)
• Citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruit)
• Blackcurrents
• Potatoes

Question 21

What is the function of Vitamin C and what results if you are deficient?

Answer 21

• antioxidant (protects cells against free radicals)
• coenzyme needed for the synthesis of collagen
• enhances absorption of iron
• Scurvy - receding gums, bleeding fingernails, poor wound healing, tiredness, weakness