Nutrition - Vitamins

Front 1

Describe why vitamins are vital to life and indispensable to body functions

Back 1

They are organic compounds, are non caloric, essential nutrients, and are only needed in minute amounts.

Front 2

What are the two classes of vitamins

Back 2

Fat-soluble and Water Soluble

Front 3

What are the fat-soluble vitamins?

Back 3

A,D,E,K

Front 4

Describe fat-soluble vitamins

Back 4

Fat soluble vitamins can be dissolved in the lipids and require bile for absorption. They are absorbed into the lymph and go through the blood carried by protein carriers. They can be stored in the liver or with other lipids in fatty acid tissue and can build up to toxic amounts.

Front 5

What are the 3 active forms of Vitamin A

Back 5

Retinol, which is stored in the liver and the body cell's convert the retinol to the other active forms

Retinal

Retinoic acid

Front 6

where is b-carotene found, and what does it do

Back 6

b-carotene is found in plant based food, and is a precursor to vitamin A (provitamin) because it converts to active vitamin A. It is an antioxidant

Front 7

how much b-carotene to get 1ug of vitamin A?

Back 7

12ug

Front 8

Functions of Vitamin A?

Back 8

Vitamin A has many roles, including gene expression, vision, cell differentiation, reproduction and growth, and immunity.

Front 9

How long does it take for vitamin A deficiency symptoms to appear?

Back 9

Since vitamin A can store approx. a year supply of vitamin A, symptoms of deficiency usually take a year to appear.

Front 10

What happens if you get vitamin A deficiency?

Back 10

Vitamin A deficiency is prevalent in developing countries, so it is the LEADING CAUSE of preventable blindness in children around the world.

Front 11

What is a common way to get Vitamin A toxicity?

Back 11

From vitamin A supplements and fortified foods.

Front 12

What happens with vitamin A toxicity

Back 12

Vitamin A can weak the bones and contribute to hip fractures.
Pregnant women should be cautious as vitamin A toxicity can lead to malformations in the fetus.
Children are at higher risk. Beta-carotene doesn't convert to vitamin A efficiently enough to cause toxicity.

Front 13

What is the chemical name for vitamin D

Back 13

cholecalciferol

Front 14

What's the pathophysiology behind getting vitamin D from the sun?

Back 14

UV light from the sun converts cholesterol compounds on the skin to vitamin D precursor. The vitamin D precursor is absorbed into the blood, and the liver and kidney finish converting the precursor to active vitamin D.

Front 15

What is the function of vitamin D?

Back 15

Vitamin D functions as a hormone, and plays a role in regulating blood calcium and phosphorus levels, thereby maintaining bone integrity.

Front 16

What problems is low vitamin D levels linked to?

Back 16

HTN, multiple sclerosis, IBD, some types of cancer, type 1 diabetes, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis.

But the well established problems CONCERN impairment in calcium balance and the bones.

Front 17

What are two disease that result from vitamin D deficiency?

Back 17

Rickets and osteomalacia.

Vitamin D-Deficiency symptoms - Bowed Legs and Beaded Ribs of Rickets

Front 18

What are risk factors for Vitamin D deficiency?

Back 18

Vitamin D deficiency increases with age to a # of factors:

lower intake, housebound (so less UV light), decreased ability to absorb vitamin D.

Also our need for vitamin D increases after the age of 50.

Front 19

What are the major dietary sources of vitamin D in Canada

Back 19

Milk, fortified soy beverage.

So therefore there's a risk of vitamin D deficiency when these are not taken.

Front 20

Of all vitamins, which is potentially the most toxic? And where is it usually from?

Back 20

Vitamin D , and toxicity is usually from vitamin D supplements. Not really from sunlight

Front 21

What are the factors that affect the conversion to active vitamin D from the sun?

Back 21

Skin tone, sunscreen use, pollution, clothing, geographic location, and time of year.

Front 22

What are the food sources for vitamin D?

Back 22

Fortified milk and margarine, eggs, butter, fortified soy beverages, fatty fish.

Front 23

Is breast milk a high or low source of vitamin D

Back 23

Breast milk is a low source of vitamin D

Front 24

Should supplementations be used for breast fed infants

Back 24

Yes, because vitamin D in breast milk isn't very high. So infant formula is fortified with vitamin D.

Front 25

What is the active form of vitamin E called?

Back 25

Tocopherol

Alpha is the gold standard, so alpha-tocopherol.

Front 26

What is vitamin E?

Back 26

Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant, so it is one of the body's main defenders against oxidative damage.

Front 27

Where is vitamin E's antioxidant effect especially important?

Back 27

It's especially important in the red blood cells and the lungs where the cells are exposed to high concentrations of oxygen.

Front 28

What does vitamin E protect?

Back 28

Vitamin E may protect low density lipoproteins from oxidation and reduce inflammation, thus protecting against heart disease.

Front 29

Do vitamin E supplements benefit?

Back 29

Vitamin E supplements do not benefit unless there's a deficiency, since high doses may cause harm.

Front 30

Why is vitamin E deficiency rare?

Back 30

Vitamin E is found in many foods.

The body stores vitamin E in the fatty tissue to last a long time

The cells recycle vitamin E.

Front 31

What is the classic example of where vitamin E deficiency may occur?

Back 31

In premature infants born BEFORE the transfer of vitamin E from the mother to baby.

Front 32

Is toxicity for vitamin E rare or common?

Back 32

Toxicity for vitamin E is RARE.

No adverse effects reported.

Toxicity is more likely to occur from supplements and fortified foods.

Front 33

Food sources for vitamin E

Back 33

Found in many foods, vegetables and fruits, foritifed cereals/grains, meat and alternatives.

Front 34

Heat processing and oxidation with vitamin E?

Back 34

Heat processing and oxidation destroy vitamin E, so things like fast food contain little vitamin E.

Front 35

What is the function of vitamin K

Back 35

Vitamin K is to help synthesize proteins that help clot the blood. It's also needed for the synthesis of key BONE proteins.

Front 36

What do anticoagulants do to vitamin K?

Back 36

Anticoagulant medications interfere with the action of vitamin K in promoting clotting.

Front 37

Vitamin K deficiency?

Back 37

Few north american adults experience vitamin D deficiency.
But new born infants are born with a sterile intestinal tract, so it takes a while for the vitamin K producing bacteria to establish themselves. So to prevent hemorrhage, the newborn is given a dose of vitamin K at birth.

Front 38

Vitamin K toxicity?

Back 38

Vitamin K toxicity is rare in health adults

Front 39

Vitamin K sources

Back 39

Like vitamin D, vitamin K can be derived from a nonfood source: our intestinal bacteria

Vitamin K's richest plant source include dark leafy green vegetables

Front 40

What are water soluble vitamins?

Back 40

These vitamins dissolve in water, so they are absorbed directly into the blood stream where they travel freely. Most are not stored in the tissue to any great extent and the excess are excreted in the urine, so there is less risk for toxicity.

Front 41

What are the water soluble vitamins?

Back 41

Vitamin B and C

The B vitamins are: Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid and Biotin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12

And the C vitamins are: Vitamin C

Front 42

The B vitamins

Back 42

B vitamins act as coenzymes, and some are involved in energy metabolism.

Front 43

Thiamin: Function

Back 43

Thiamin plays a critical role in the energy metabolism of all cells

Thiamin occupies a site on the nerve cell membranes. So nerve processes and muscles depend heavily on thiamin.

Front 44

Thiamin: Food sources

Back 44

Legumes, enriched/whole grain cereals. sunflower seeds and pork.

Front 45

What is Thiamin Deficiency called?

Back 45

beriberi

Front 46

What is beriberi?

Back 46

Beriberi is thiamin deficiency and is characterized by loss of sensation in the hands and feet, muscular weakness, advancing paralysis and abnormal heart action.

Front 47

What is severe thiamin deficiency called? And where is it found?

Back 47

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, and it's found in people who abuse alcohol. Alcohol impairs the absorption of thiamin and speeds the excretion in the urine.

Front 48

Thiamin Toxicity?

Back 48

No reported symptoms of thiamin toxicity.

Front 49

Riboflavin: Function

Back 49

Riboflavin plays a role in the energy metabolism of all cells. It also helps to support vision and skin health.

Front 50

Riboflavin: Food sources

Back 50

Milk products, and enriched grain products

Front 51

Riboflavin Deficiency

Back 51

Ariboflavinosis is the deficiency disease of riboflavin. When the diet is deficient in thiamin, it may also be deficient in riboflavin.

However the symptoms of riboflavin may go undetected because the symptoms of thiamin are more severe.

Front 52

Riboflavin Toxicity

Back 52

No reported symptoms of riboflavin toxicity.

Front 53

Niacin: Function

Back 53

Also participates in the energy metabolism of all cells.

Front 54

What amino acid (which can be found in almost all proteins) can be converted to Niacin?

Back 54

Tryptophan

Front 55

What are Niacin equivalents?

Back 55

Niacin equivalents are the amount of niacin present in food and taking into account the niacin that can be created from tryptophan present in food.

Front 56

Food sources of Niacin?

Back 56

Almost all protein containing foods have niacin and tryptophan. Only protein that is limited in tryptophan is corn.

Front 57

What is niacin deficiency called?

Back 57

pellagra

Front 58

Niacin Toxicity

Back 58

Niacin toxicity is typically linked to supplement intake, rather than food. Niacin toxicity can cause 'niacin flush'.

'Over time'. the body adapts and symptoms resolve, but it's important to check for liver damage.

Front 59

What does Niacin do as a medication?

Back 59

Lower blood pressure

Front 60

Pantothenic Acid and Biotin Function

Back 60

Role in energy metabolism

Front 61

Food sources for Pantothenic acid and biotin

Back 61

Found widespread throughout foods and deficiency is rare

Front 62

Vitamin B6 Function

Back 62

Participates in over 100 reactions in body tissues and plays a role in the metabolism of protein and amino acids.

Front 63

Food sources for Vitamin B6?

Back 63

Meat, fish, poultry

Front 64

Vitamin B6 deficiency?

Back 64

Some research suggests it leads to an increase incidence of heart disease

Front 65

Vitamin B6 Toxicity

Back 65

Large doses from supplements can be dangerous

Front 66

Folate (Folic Acid) Function

Back 66

Folate plays an important role in cell division. So cells that divide rapidly are most vulnerable to deficiency.

Front 67

Who is at risk for folate deficiency?

Back 67

Pregnant women,

elderly (many meds interfere with absorption of folate),

alcoholics (Decreased folate absorption),

smokers

Front 68

What is folate deficiency associated with?

Back 68

Neural tube defects (abnormalities in the brain and spinal cord)

Front 69

Folate Toxicity

Back 69

The concern is that folate can mask Vitamin B12 deficiency by resolving the macrocytic anemia since in both folate and vitamin B12 deficiency.

Front 70

Vitamin B12 Function

Back 70

Vitamin B12 and folate are closely related, as Vitamin B12 is needed to activate folate to allow it to play its role in cell division

Vitamin B12 helps to maintain the myelin sheath around the nerve fibres

It also acts as a coenzyme in energy and amino acid metabolism.

Front 71

Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Back 71

Vitamin B12 and folate are closely related, so if there's a deficiency in vitamin B12 then it causes an identical anemia to folate deficiency.

Vitamin B12 deficiency also causes neuromuscular dysfunction, such as creeping paralysis and general malfunctioning of nerves and muscles.

Front 72

What does vitamin B12 need to allow it to be absorbed?

Back 72

Intrinsic factor which is made by the stomach.

Front 73

Risk factors for vitamin B12 deficiency?

Back 73

As we age, we lose the ability to produce enough stomach acidity and intrinsic factor, which reduces our ability to absorb vitamin B12.

Some people have an inherited defect in the gene for IF, so there's vitamin B12 absorption abnormality.

Front 74

Food sources for vitamin B12

Back 74

ONLY FROM ANIMALS

Front 75

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) Functions

Back 75

VItamin C is best known for maintaining the connective tissues and as an antioxidant.

Front 76

Vitamin C deficiency?

Back 76

Symptoms of scurvy are caused by the breakdown of collagen.

Front 77

What does smoking do to vitamin C

Back 77

It introduces oxidants that deplete the vitamin C. SO therefore smokers need more vitamin C.

Front 78

What are phytochemicals?

Back 78

They are compounds derived from plants that have biological activity in the body and may support health beyond roles of traditional nutrients.

They also play a role in the sensory qualities of food (taste, colour, texture, etc)

Front 79

What are functional foods?

Back 79

They are whole or modified foods that demonstrate physiological benefits or have the ability to reduce chronic disease risk due to the phytochemicals they contain.

Ex) plant sterols, etc.