VITAMINS Dr. Grosz
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I – General Characteristics:
II – Grouping (Categorizing):
a. Water Soluble Fat Soluble
C A
B1 (Thiamin) D
B2 (Riboflavin) E
B6 (Pyridoxine) K
B3 (Niacin)
B12 (Cyanocobalamin)
Folic Acid
B 5 (Pantothenic acid)
B9 (Biotin)
b. Non-essential Essential
Body can produce Body cannot produce
D – in skin all other vitamins
A – in intestinal wall
Niacin – in liver
K
c. Require activation Do not require activation
D – activated in liver All other vitamins
and kidney
Folic acid – activated
In cells
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III. – Pathways To Vitamin Deficiencies:
General: a. inadequate intake
b. malabsorption
c. excess excretion
d. unusually increased needs
IV – Review of Individual Vitamins:
1) Vit. C ( Ascorbic acid) - absorbed in small intestine
- not readily stored
unstable
Functions: 1. Aids in absorption of Fe & Ca
2. Aids in neurotransmitter production
3. Activates Folic acid
4. Aids in collagen production
5. Converts into Hyaluronic acid
6. Antioxidant
RDA: 35 – 60 mg
Deficiency: Scurvey
Sources: Citrus
Tomatos
Green, leafy vegetables (broccoli)
Adversities: - Can become conditioned to mega dose
- C converted to oxalic acid
- may produce abnormally acidic urine
- in pregnancy may create to high a need in infant
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2) Vit B1 (Thiamine) - water soluble
- unstable in air
- absorbed in small intestine
Functions: 1. Useful in carbohydrate metabolism
2. Essential in Krebs
3. Aids in ribose conversion
RDA: 0.5 – 1.5 mg
(usually correlated to amount of carbohydrate)
Deficiency: Beriberi (2 Types):
Wet (edematous)
Dry (wasting)
Frequently seen with alcoholics
Damaging to CVS, NS, DS
Depression
Sources: Grains
Pork
Sunflower seeds
Brown rice
Liver
Milk
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3) Vit. B2 (Riboflavin) - Water soluble
- stable in air & heat
- unstable in light
- absorbed in small intestine
Functions: 1. Krebs cycle
2. Activation of Folic acid
3. Beta-oxidation
4. Glycogenesis
RDA: 0.4 – 1.7 mg
Deficiency: Cheilosis
Glossitis
Sources: Colonic bacteria (some)
Meats
Milk
Eggs
Green leaf veggies
Mushrooms
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4) Vit. B6 (Pyridoxine) - water soluble
- unstable in air & light
Functions: 1. Transamination
2. Production of Serotonin
3. Production of selected antibodies
4. Hb production
RDA: 0.3 – 2.2 mg
Deficiency: Depression
Slight anemia
Protein metabolism
Dry skin
Sources: Banana
Vegetables
Meat
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5) Vit. B3 (Niacin) - stable, water soluble
- easily absorbed
- body can synthesize
Functions: 1. Krebs cycle
2. Reduce serum Cholesterol & Triglycerides
RDA: 6 – 20 mg
Deficiency: Pellagra
Skin lesions
Sources: Most animal products
Wheat
Beans
Peanuts
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6) Folic Acid (Folate) - heat labile
- easily absorbed
Functions: 1. Synthesis of purines
2. RBC production
RDA: 30 – 400 ug
Deficiency: Meglablastosis
Sources: Green leaf veggies
Wheat germ
Fast/lightly cooked fresh fruits
Beef
Whole grain
Nuts
Beans
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7) Vit B 12 (Cyanocobalamin) - water soluble
- IF required for absorption in
Small Intestine
Functions: 1. RBC production
2. DNA production
RDA: 0.5 – 3.0 ug
Deficiency: Megaloblastic (Macrocytic) anemia
Pernicious anemia
Sources: Chicken
Pork
Milk
Eggs
Shrimp
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8) Vit. B 5 (Pantothenic Acid) - water soluble
- heat stable
Functions: 1. Krebs cycle
2. Hb
3. Acetylcholine production
4. Intestinal absorption of glucose
5. Production of selected antibodies
RDA: 5 – 10 mg
Deficiency: Fatigue
Intestinal disturbances
Infection vulnerability
Sources: Liver
Fish
Fresh veggies
Wheat bran
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9) Biotin - Intestinally synthesized
by bacteria
Functions: 1. Synthesis of fatty acids
2. Selected deamination
3. Phosphorylation
4. Tryptophan conversion to Niacin
5. Krebs cycle
RDA: 100 – 300 ug
Deficiency: Loss of appetite and depression
Dermatitis
Nausea
Sources: Any source of B vitamins
Liver
Egg yolk
Milk
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10) Vit A - Fat soluble
- Sensitive of UV
- Destroyed by oxidation
at high temperature
Animal Vit A – 3 forms = Retinol
Retinal
Retinoic acid
Plant Vit A - Carotenes (precursors or Provitamin A)
Liver stores as much as 500,000 IU’s
Functions: 1. Rhodopsin
2. Cell membrane metabolism
3. Antioxidant (beta-carotene)
RDA: 1300 – 3000 IU
Deficiency: Night blindness
Xerophthalmia
Keratosis
Sources: Leafy veggies & fruits
Carrots (yellow pigmented veggies)
Liver
Eggs
Meat
Enriched milk
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11) Vit D - Fat soluble
- Very stable
Animal = Vit D3 – Cholecalciferol
Plant = Vit D2 - Ergosterol
Functions: 1. Aids in calcium absorption
2. Aids in calcium deposition
RDA: 250 – 400IU (women over 35 now taking up to 1000)
Deficiency: Rickets (in infants can also be caused by Ca deficiency)
Rickets (in adults usually referred to as Osteomalacia)
Osteoporosis (brittle bones)
Hypocalcemia
Sources: Milk
Eggs
Cod liver oil
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12) Vit E (Tocopherol) - Fat soluble
- stored in liver, adipose cells,
some muscle
- absorbed best in presence
of fats
Functions: 1. Aids in storage / functioning of Vit A
2. Antioxidant
3. Cell respiration
4. RBC membrane production
RDA: 8 – 10 mg
Deficiency: Anemia (hemolysis – destruction of fragile RBC’s)
Influence Vit A function
Sources: Vegetable oils (especially wheat germ)
Reinforced cereals
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13) Vit. K - Fat soluble
- Heat stable
Functions: 1. Promote blood clotting
RDA: 1 ug / kg weight
Deficiency: Bleeding
Sources: Colonic bacteria
Green plants (especially alfalfa)
Synthetic
Adversities: Hemolytic anemia
Hyperbilirubinemia