Lecture Notes on Vitamins and Minerals

Flashcards for vocabulary terms related to water-soluble vitamins, fat-soluble vitamins, and major minerals discussed in the lecture.

Fortification

The process of adding nutrients to foods; the added nutrients are generally not found in the food.

Enrichment

The process of adding nutrients back to foods that have lost nutrients due to processing.

Bioavailability

How much or how well a vitamin is absorbed and used by the body after it's consumed

Water-soluble vitamins

Easily excreted from the body via urination; must be consumed regularly.

Fat-soluble vitamins

Stored in the liver and fatty tissue; overdose can lead to liver disease.

Fat-soluble vitamin absorption

Transported with fats through the lymphatic system in chylomicrons before entering the blood.

Vitamin B12

The only water-soluble vitamin not easily excreted.

General function of vitamin Bs

Act as coenzymes; help enzymes generate ATP.

Coenzyme

Enzyme helpers, essential for energy metabolism

Thiamin

Vitamin B1, involved in glucose metabolism; assists in energy production, carbohydrate metabolism, the production of ribose and the health of the nervous system.

Beriberi

Disease associated with thiamin deficiency; means 'I can't, I can't'.

Pellagra

Disease associated with niacin deficiency; symptoms include the 3 Ds: dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia, and eventually the 4th D: death.

Forms of niacin

Nicotinic acid and nicotinamide

Active niacin coenzymes

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP)

Riboflavin

Vitamin B2, an important component in the citric acid cycle and for assisting the body with the absorption of other vitamins.

Coenzyme form of riboflavin

Flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and flavin mononucleotide

Pyridoxine

Vitamin B6, comprises a group of compounds including pyridoxal, pyridoxine, and pyridoxamine

Vitamin B6 functions

Red cell synthesis, transamination, deamination, homocysteine synthesis, neurotransmission synthesis, myelin synthesis, ATP synthesis

Converting homocysteine to methionine requires

Vitamin B12 & Folate

Converting homocysteine to cysteine requires

Vitamin B6

Homocysteine

High levels of this leads to heart disease

Vitamin B6, B12, and folate

Required for DNA synthesis

Vitamin B6, B12, and folate deficiency

Causes issues with hemoglobin synthesis, causes macrocytic anemia, unable to split DNA.

Why folate deficiency causes macrocytic anemia

Deficiency makes red blood cell precursors unable to divide, creating macrocyte.

Why supplemental folic acid is recommended for women of childbearing age

Low folate intake in early pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of neural tube defects

Foods that are good sources of vitamin B12

Pork, beef, trout(fish), chicken, milk, and cheese

Myelin formation requires

Vitamin B6

Steps involved in vitamin B12 absorption

Vitamin B12 from food is initially bound to protein. In the stomach, acid and enzymes release the B12, and cells produce intrinsic factor (IF), which later binds to B12 in the small intestine. This B12-IF complex is then absorbed in the ileum. Although some B12 is made in the colon, it cannot be absorbed there.

Causes of pernicious anemia

Type of macrocytic anemia caused by lack of intrinsic factors prevents the absorption of B12.

Functions of vitamin C

Works as an antioxidant in the body, maintains the immune system, plays a role in collagen production, and helps with iron absorption (increases by 6x).

Role of antioxidants

Fights free radicals, neutralizes them by donating electrons to the free radicals.

Free radicals

A molecule with an unpaired electron, attacks dna, proteins, carbs, ect in to steal electrons to stabilize itself. This starts a cascade of reactions throughout the body.

Dietary sources of vitamin A

Plants like carrots because the orange pigment comes from beta carotene (pro) and animal products (retinol)

Dietary sources of vitamin D

Salmon, eggs, milk

Dietary sources of vitamin E

Soybean oil, sunflower seeds, almonds, especially rich in germ part of grain

Dietary sources of vitamin K

Phylloquinone is vitamin K in plants and menaquinones is vitamin K found in fish oil and meats, and synthesized by bacteria

Retinoids

Preformed vitamin A compounds, can easily be converted to active form of vitamin A

Carotenoids

Plants contain precursors to vitamin A, (pro)

Functions of retinal

Helps eyes function, used in the visual cycle.

Functions of retinoic acid

Cell differentiation, cell cycle, regulates gene expression.

Starting material in the vitamin D synthesis pathway

7-dehydrocholesterol which is made from cholesterol in the body.

Where vitamin D is activated

The kidney

Inactive vs active forms of vitamin D

Vitamin D3 is inactive vitamin, 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 is active

Functions of vitamin D

Maintains blood calcium levels

How vitamin D helps to maintain normal levels of blood calcium

When blood calcium drops PTH is released, which activates vitamin d to 1 2 5 dihydroxy vitamin D3. This activated form increases calcium retention in kidneys and calcium absorption in the small intestine. If the body is in extreme need of calcium this will even start to dissolve bones.

Vitamin E

Alpha-tocopherol, works as an antioxidant, will sit in phospholipid bilayer and fight free radicals

Vitamin K

Koagulation, the protein prothrombin needs vitamin k for blood clotting

Diseases associated with vitamin D deficiency

Rickets in children, osteomalacia in adults

Diseases associated with vitamin E deficiency

Hemolytic anemia, in newborns

Low blood calcium

Causes the release of PTH from parathyroid gland

High blood calcium

Causes the release of calcitonin from the thyroid gland

Roles of vitamin D in bone formation

Facilitates calcium absorption

Roles of calcium in bone formation

Builds and maintains strong bones

Composition and structure of bone

Osteoblast builds bones, osteoclast dissolves bones

Osteoporosis

The loss of bone density, porous bones

Factors that could affect bone health

Gender, age, race, family history, body size, diet, smoking, alcohol abuse, and exercise.

Roles of calcium in the body

Provides structure to bones and teeth and has important regulatory roles, plays a role in nerve transmission, muscle contractions, blood pressure regulation and the release of hormones

How the blood calcium level is regulated

Parathyroid hormone (PTH)

Functions of phosphorus in the body

Maintains bone and tooth health, alongside balancing other vitamins and minerals

Thiamin (B1)

Helps in glucose metabolism

Riboflavin (B2)

Component in citric acid cycle

Pyridoxine (B6)

Helps in red cell synthesis

Folate

Helps in DNA synthesis

Vitamin D

Assist in calcium absorption

Vitamin K

Helps in blood clotting

Vitamin D

Helps in maintaining blood calcium level

Vitamin C

Helps in iron absorption

Retinal

Helps in vision

Stomach cells

Helps in the production of intrinsic factor

Calcium

Helps in nerve transmission

Calcium

Helps in muscle contraction

Calcium

Helps in hormone release

Phosphorus

Helps in balancing other minerals

Osteoporosis

Bones become porous and fragile

Vitamin D

Facilitates calcium absorption in the intestine

Vitamin E

Works as an antioxidant in the phospholipid bilayer

Bone Remodeling

The process of bone breakdown and formation

Menaquinones

Vitamin found in fish oil and meats

Phylloquinone

Vitamin found in plants

Riboflavin

Also known as Vitamin B2

Thiamin

Also known as Vitamin B1

Pyridoxine

Also known as Vitamin B6

Parathyroid Hormone

Released when blood calcium is low