Micronutrients and Vitamins Lecture Review

25 vocabulary flashcards generated from lecture notes on micronutrients, covering water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins, their actions, sources, and deficiency symptoms, along with related biological terms.

Micronutrients

Essential for proper body function but needed in smaller amounts; play a key role in metabolism and tissue maintenance; must be obtained through diet.

Vitamins

Organic substances classified as fat-soluble or water-soluble.

Water-Soluble Vitamins

Include B complex vitamins, Choline, and Vitamin C; require regular replenishment as they are eliminated through urine.

B Complex Vitamins

A group of B vitamins including Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin B6, Folate/Folic Acid, and Cobalamin B12.

Thiamin (B1)

Action: Muscle energy, energy metabolism (carbohydrates), appetite stabilization. Deficiency: Beriberi.

Riboflavin (B2)

Action: Energy production, cell respiration, vision, skin, nail, and hair maintenance, antibody and red blood cell formation.

Niacin (B3)

Action: Energy and protein metabolism, skin and tongue maintenance, improves circulation. Deficiency: Dementia, GI and CNS findings.

Biotin (B7)

Action: Metabolic processes, hair & nail growth. Deficiency: Rashes, hair loss, brittle nails, fatigue, insomnia.

Pantothenic Acid (B5)

Action: Helps metabolize macronutrients. Deficiency: Fatigue, insomnia, depression, numbness/burning of extremities.

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

Action: Red blood cell production, cellular function, neurotransmitter synthesis. Deficiency: Anemia, poor growth, insomnia.

Folate/Folic Acid (B9)

Action: Amino acid and hemoglobin synthesis, fetal neural tube formation. Deficiency: Anemia and CNS disturbance. Increased intake needed pre-pregnancy.

Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)

Action: Nerve function, red blood cell production, folate activation. Deficiency: Anemia, poor muscle coordination, paresthesia of hands and feet.

Choline

Not technically a vitamin. Action: Brain function (memory, mood, muscle control), helps liver use fatty acids. Deficiency: Fatigue, cognitive impairment, fatty liver disease.

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)

Action: Antioxidant, tissue building, iron absorption. Deficiency: Scurvy, decreased iron absorption, bleeding gums.

Fat-Soluble Vitamins

Include Vitamins A, D, E, and K. Stored in the body for longer periods, increasing the risk of toxicity with excess consumption; large amounts can be lethal.

Vitamin A

Action: Vision, tissue strength, growth, and immune system function. Deficiency: Reduced night vision, dry/thick corneas, mucosa changes.

Vitamin D

Action: Maintains serum calcium and phosphorus, aids in bone development. Deficiency: Low serum calcium, fragile bones, and rickets.

Vitamin E

Action: Protects vitamin A from oxidation. Deficiency: Anemia, edema, and skin lesions in infants.

Vitamin K

Action: Essential for prothrombin synthesis, aids in bone metabolism. Deficiency: Increased bleeding times.

Antioxidants

Molecules that neutralize free radicals in the body. Examples: Vitamin A, C, E, Beta-Carotene.

Free Radicals

Unstable atoms from internal body functions or external sources that cause cell damage linked to chronic disease and aging.

Metabolism

The chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life.

Prothrombin

A protein present in blood plasma that is converted into active thrombin during coagulation.

Beriberi

A disease caused by a deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1), characterized by inflammation of the nerves and heart failure.

Scurvy

A disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin C, characterized by swollen and bleeding gums and the opening of previously healed wounds.