Week 6 - Vitamins and Minerals Flashcards
What is the function of vitamin K in the body?
haemostasis, helping the blood to clot, essential for synthesis of prothrombin
What foods are a source of vitamin K?
leafy green vegetables, vegetable oils, cereal grains
What is the function of magnesium in the body?
helps to make sure the parathyroid glands (produce hormones that are important for bone health) work normally
needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body
regulates blood glucose levels and aids in the production of energy and protein
What foods are a source of magnesium?
fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, peas and beans
What is the function of phosphorus in the diet?
build and repair bones and teeth
help nerves function and muscles contract (creatinine phosphokinase)
makes ATP
What foods are a source of phosphorus?
almost every food, therefore a deficiency is very rare
What is the consequence of having too much phosphorus in your diet?
weak bones
parathyroid hormone regulates the amount of calcium and phosphorus in your blood, too much phosphorus in the blood causes calcium to leave the bones to the blood to restore the balance
What is the function of iodine in the body?
normal thyroid functoin
production of thyroid hormones
metabolism of cells
What foods are a source of iodine?
seafood
iodised table salt
plants grown in iodine rich soil
What is the consequence of having too little iodine in the diet?
hypothyroidism
thyroid cells and thyroid gland become enlarged
What is the function of zinc in the body?
to maintain a fully functioning immune system
cell growth
cell division
wound healing
breakdown of carbohydrates
What foods are a good source of zinc?
beef, lamb, pork, dark chicken meat
nuts, legumes, whole grains
What are the consequences of having a zinc deficiency?
frequent infections, trouble seeing in the dark, skin sores, wounds that take a long time to heal, slow growth
What is the consequence of too much zinc in the diet?
high doses of zinc can reduce the amount of copper the body can absorb
this can lead to anaemia and weakening of bones
What is the function of copper in the body?
helps to produce red and white blood cells
triggers the release of iron to form haemoglobin
What foods are good sources of copper?
nuts, shellfish, offal
What foods are a good source of iron?
red meat, dried fruit, whole grains
What is the function of iron in the body?
required for synthesis of haemoglobin
Name the fat-soluble vitamins
A, D, E, K
they are digested in the same pathway as fat absorption
What vitamins are water-soluble?
B1 (thiamine) and Vit C
use diffusion or carrier mediated transport to enter body
What hormone is released when calcium levels fall below a set point?
parathyroid hormone
What hormone is released during hypercalcemia?
calcitonin from the thyroid
What is Vitamin A required for in the body?
the formation of rhodopsin
maintain epithelial tissue
maintain healthy immune system
What does a vitamin A deficiency cause?
night blindness
Why is Vitamin A toxic in excess?
can weaken bones if too much Vitamin A is consumed over a long period of time
don’t eat liver more than once a week
Vitamin A excess causes jaundice
What is the function of Vitamin E in the body?
antioxidant - protects body tissue from damage by free radicals
What is the function of Vitamin C in the body?
clotting cascade, connective tissue, metabolic processes
What does a B12 deficiency cause?
neuropathy
Vitamin E deficiency can also cause this
Which cell type releases a peptide that is necessary for Vitamin B12 absorption?
a) cheif cell
b) parietal cell
c) D-cell
d) I-cell
parietal cell releases intrinsic factor with binds to B12 to form a IF-B12 complex
What do chief cells produce?
pepsin
What is the structure of a hepatic lobule?
6 portal triads at the periphery with a hepatic vein in the middle
What is the alternative name for B12?
cobalamin
What factors
How is Vitamin b1 absorbed into the blood?
by Na+ dependant carriers
same as vitamin C
