Fat-soluble Vitamins

What are the fat-soluble vitamins?

Vitamins A,D, E, and K

Fat soluble Vitamin toxicity is possible through?

Supplements and are rarely from food consumption

What is the roles of vitamin A?

eyesight, gene regulation, epithelial tissue, cell differentiation, immune function, reproduction and growth

Beta-carotene

A common type of vitamin A, it serves as an antioxidant and helps maintain the integrity of cells sent free radicals. They are present in dark green and orange vegetables and fruits

Vitamin A deficiency can cause…?

Major changes in the eye and skin: Night blindness, conjunctival xerosis, bitot’s spots, keratomalacia, xerophthalmia, and follicular hyperkeratosis

Vitamin A Toxicity

UL is 3000μg/day of retinol with none for carotenoids - There are three kinds of acute, chronic, and teratogenic. This can change the skin pigment to a more orangey hue.

Hypervitaminosis A

Toxicity from long therm use of supplements use. It’s 5-10 times more use than the RDA for retinoids.

Acute Vitamin A toxicity symptoms

Upset GI, nausea, headaches, dizziness, muscle uncoordination 

Chronic Vitamin A toxicity symptoms

Liver damage, hair loss, muslce and bone pain, low appetite, dry skin, coma, fractures

Teratogenic Vitamin A toxicity symptoms

Fetal malformations and spontaneous abortion

Food with High Vitamin A

Kale, Carrots, Broccoli, Sweet potato, Beef Liver, Apricot, Cheddar cheese

What are the roles of vitamin D?

Increases the intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphorous when calcium levels are low and will release the calcium and phosphorous from bone to restore blood levels of these minerals

What is special about Vitamin D ?

Classified as a prohormone and can be synthesized by the body in the presence of UV light as D3

What can vitamin D regulate?

Immune function, secretion of hormones, cell cycle, Ca levels, and blood levels

What is a healthy level of vitamin D linked to preventing? (8 things)

Infections, Autoimmune diseases, Diabetes, Hypertension, Cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, Dementia, and Cancer

Food sources with Vitamin D

Fatty fish (eel), Cod Liver oil, fortified milk and cereals, supplements with ergocalciferol

What is the process of vitamin D3 formation in the skin from UV light to bioactive form?

hormone 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin is exposed to UV sunlight→ cholecalciferol →enters the blood stream→livers and kidneys→ bioscience form of D3 calcitriol

Sun exposure provides…% of vitamin D3 needs

80-100%

What are the AI values of vitamin D3?

1-70 years old → 15μg/day 

Over 70 years → 20μg/day

Breast fed babies → 10μg/day

What are diseases linked with vitamin D deficiency? (The two talked about in this lesson)

Rickets and Osteomalacia

Rickets (causes and signs)

Vitamin D3 deficiency that leads to abnormal mineralization of bones in children. Bones are weak causes by fat malabsorption, cystic fibrosis, dark skin, low milk intake, and low sun exposure. Signs are: enlarged head, joints, rib cage, deformed pelvis, bowed legs

Osteomalacia (causes)

Vitamin D3 deficiency that leads to the poor calcification of newly synthesized bones in adults. This is common in adults that have kidney or liver disease, impaired fat absorption, dark skin, obesity and low physical activity, low dairy product intake, and limited UV exposure

What is the UL for vitamin D and what does it prevent?

4,000IU/day to prevent excess blood Ca, deposits of calcium in hearts,kidneys, and lungs, anorexia, nausea, and bone demineralization

Vitamin E function

Functions as an antioxidant to regulate the free radicals present to insure they don’t cause damage. May link to preventing cancer or CVD. The are the most active form of alpha tocopherol.

Foods high in vitamin E

Weat germ, avocado, almonds, plant oils, sunflower seeds

Vitamin E deficiency

Characterized by demolition anemia which is a premature breakdown of RBC, impaired immune function, and neurological changes in spinal cord and peripheral nervous system. This is highly present in people that smoke, have fat malabsorption, and are preterm infants

Vitamin E Toxicity

high amounts present can interrupt vitamin K’s role in blood clotting which results in hemorrhage.

What is the UL for Vitamin E

1500 IU/day or 1000mg/day

Synthetic vitamin E → 1100 IU/day

Vitamin K functions and family

family includes phylloquinones (K1) and menaquinones (K2). These are necessary for blood clotting factors and converting preprothrombin to prothrombin. Also for bone metabolism

Phylloquinones

From plates and are the main dietary form that is biologically active

Menaquinones

From fish oils, fish meats, and bacteria in the large intestine (10%)

Foods with high vitamin K

Citadel sprouts, turnip greens, spinach, kale

Vitamin K deficiency

Leads to poor blood clotting and hemorrhaging. Common in newborns, people with impaired fat absorption, and long antibiotic use

Why can vitamin K deficiency occur in newborns?

Their stores are low and their bacterial biome is not developed in the colon just yet

Vitamin K toxicity

No upper limit is set and their storage is limited in the liver and bone BUT they are easier to excrete than other fat soluable vitamins

What are the DRI values for men and women for vitamin K

men → 120 micrograms per day

Women → 90 micrograms per day