Vitamins and minerals

Thaimin chemical form

Vitamin B₁; Thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP)

Thiamin function

Coenzyme in energy yielding reactions such as Glycolysis (glucose metabolism)

Thiamin deficiency

Beriberi: edema, neurologic symptoms; Wernicke’s Encephalopathy

thiamin groups at risk for deficiency

Alcoholics, Bariatric Pts.

Thiamin special topics role in health

Banana Bag in ER

Thiamin - main food source

Pork, fortified cereals, grains

Niacin - chemical forms

Nicotinamide adenine(NAD and NADP+); Nicontinic acid

Niacin function/metabolism

Important for DNA synthesis, to make new cells and to repair damaged 

- Necessary as an electron carrier DNA REPAIR

Niacin - deficiency symptoms/ diseases

4 Ds - 1. Diarrhea,

 2. Dermatitis, 

3. Fatigue depression and dementia 

4. Death

Niacin - groups at risk for deficiency

Alcoholics, malnourished pts

Niacin - special tropics/ role in health

Can be synthesized from tryptophan

Niacin - main food sources

Meat, poultry, fish, enriched grains

Vitamin B12 - chemical forms

Cyanocobalmine; Methylcyanobalamin is biologically active form

Vitamin B12 - function

- Cell division (RBC)  - coenzyme  - homocysteine (causes damage to your nerves - metabolism  - myelin synthesis

Vitamin B12 deficiency

- cell division is impaired 

- too much homocysteine and methylmalonic acid which builds up and causes damage to the cell

Vitamin B12 - groups at risk for deficiency

• Gastric bypass patients because they don't have intrinsic factor 

- vegans 

- elderly

Vitamin B12

- Oral supplements don’t work because its missing the intrinsic factor

Vitamin B12 - main food sources

Meat, eggs and milk

- fortified cereals

Folate - chemical form

Methyltetrahydrofolate (bio active form)

Folate - function

- coenzyme 

- homocysteine (oxidant that can cause damage to your blood cells) 

- metabolism 

- DNA/RNA synthesis

Folate -deficiency symptoms and diseases

- impaired cell division 

- too much homocysteine 

- neural tube defects in fetuses 

• Symptoms Anemia and neural tube malformation

folate - groups at risk for deficiency

Very important for fetal development (anterior neuropore and posterior neuropore)

Folate - special topics

EXTRA: Folate passes CH2 to B-12 passes it to homocysteine which transforms into methionine (stable)

Folate - main food sources

Leafy greens, citrus fruits and grains and cereals

Vitamin C - chemical form

Ascorbic acid is the active form

Vitamin C - function

HELPS CONVERT fe to HEME IRON

- wound healing 

- supports immune system 

- collagen synthesis 

- iron metabolism 

- antioxidant

Vitamin C - deficiency diseases

- Scurvy - bleeding gums, petechiae, perifollicular, splinter haemorrhages, joint effusion and anemia

Vitamin C - groups at risk

Smokers, low fruit/vegetable intake

Vitamin C - special topics

immune support

Vitamin C - main food sources

Citrus, red peppers, things with phytochemicals

Vitamin A - chemical form

retinoic acid

Vitamin A function

- Vision and reproduction 

- cell differentiation

Vitamin A - deficiency diseases

- birth defects if excess vitamin A during 1st trimester 

- Xeropthalmia and Blindness

Vitamin A - groups at risk for deficiency

Third world countries

Vitamin A - special topics

#1 preventable cause of blindness in the world 

- golden rice can be used as a cure

Vitamin A - main food sources

Green leafy vegetables and fruits; anything orange or red

Vitamin D - chemical form

Active form - calcitriol 

Inactive form - ergocalciferol 

Food in food but also the sun

Vitamin D - functions

- bone mineralization 

- Vitamin D must become metabolically active; needed in liver and kidney 

- Increases renal tubular reabsorption of Ca2+

- increases intestinal absorption of Ca 2+ and PO4^-3

Vitamin D - deficiency

Rickets- soft bones in children 

Osteomalacia - vitamin D deficiency in the elderly

Vitamin D - groups risk for deficiency

Patients with vitamin D deficiency are at risk for femur fracture

Vitamin D - special topics

Given as a supplementation during pregnancy for preventative measures

Vitamin D - main food source

Dairy and Meat

Vitamin E - active form

Alpha - tocopherol

Vitamin E - function

- antioxidant that helps protect the cell membrane 

-lungs 

• DNA 

- Heart 

- other tissue

Vitamin E - deficiency disease

- Hemolytic Anemia - red blood cells have defected membranes

Vitamin E groups at risk for deficiency

Premature infants, fat malabsorption

Vitamin E - special topics

Oral use of vitamin E supplements might increase the risk of prostate cancer

Vitamin E - main food sources

plant oil and nuts

Vitamin K - chemical/active form

Phylloquinone

Vitamin K - functions

- regulates blood coagulation

Vitamin K - diseases

bruising

Vitamin K - groups at risk for deficiency

Vitamin K shot supplement given to newborns

Vitamin K - special topics

• given to newborns at birth

Vitamin K - main food source

Green leafy vegetables

- Stored in fat cells and synthesized by bacteria

Calcium - active form

Bioavailable - tricalcium phosphate

Calcium - functions

1. Bones and Teeth 

2. Blood clotting 

3. Second messenger 

4. Blood pressure regulation 

5. Muscle contractions

Calcium - deficiency

Osteoporosis - not enough calcium deposits in bones 

- childhood fractures - more likely to have broken bones and Osteoporosis

Calcium - groups at risk for deficiency

Postmenopausal women

Calcium - special topics role in health

Vitamin D - needed for absorption

Calcium - main food sources

Dairy, fortified foods, leafy greens

Potassium - functions

- Nerve transmissions 

- smooth and skeletal muscle contractility 

- electrolyte and pH balance

Potassium - deficiency

Hypokalemia - deficient in potassium 

Hyperkalemia - too much potassium

Potassium - groups for deficiency

Hyperkalemia  can cause worries for kidney patients

Potassium - special topics

Helps lower blood pressure

Potassium - main food sources

Dairy, fruits and vegetables

Sodium - functions

1. Nerve transmission 

2. Muscle contraction 

3. Glucose transport 

4. Fluid balance 

5. Blood pressure regulation

Sodium - diseases

Hyponatremia - low sodium in the blood can cause excessive vomiting, drinking too much water, excessive diarrhea and dehydration

Sodium - special topics

• Excess linked to hypertension

• oral rehydration therapy

Iron - active function

Heme iron is the bioavailable 

Ferric sulfate is the plant source non-heme 

Ferrous sulfate is the supplemental form 

Ferritin storage form 

Ferrous is the the heme form 

Ferric is the non- heme form.

Iron - function

1. Hemoglobin and myoglobin 

2. Cytochromes 

3. Enzymes 

4. Immune system

Iron - deficiency disease

Iron deficiency anemia 

• Most common worldwide

Iron - groups at risk for deficiency

-Vegetarians (non-heme iron is harder to absorb)

- pregnancy iron requirement increase for fetal development

Iron - special topics

-Ferritin - gold standard to access iron 

- clinical feature of pale conjunctiva and nail losing convexity

Iron - main food sources

grains and proteins

Copper - functions

Iron metabolism connective tissue formation

Copper - deficiency diseases

Anemia, impaired immunity - GI disorders

Copper - special topics

works closely with iron

Iron - main food source

Shellfish, nuts and seeds

Zinc - function

1. Antioxidant 

2. Collagen synthesis 

3. Growth and development 

4. Gene expression 

5. Cofactor (enzymes)

Zinc deficiency

- Impaired wound healing 

- dysgeusia (difficulty tasting) 

- male hypogonadism (zinc is important for testosterone 

Zinc - groups at risk

Vegetarians, GI disease

Zinc - special topics role in health

Important for taste/smell

Zinc - main food source

Meat, shellfish, legumes

Selenium - functions

antioxidant , thyroid function

Selenium - deficiency diseases

Cardiomyopathy, weakened immunity

Selenium - special topics

• vitamin E

Selenium - main food source

Brazil nuts, seafood

iodide - active form

Active thyroid hormone needs selenium and iodine

Iodide - function

Thyroid metabolism

Iodide - disease and deficiency

Goiter 

- cretinism = mental mal development

Iodide - groups at deficiency

Pregnant women, low seafood intake

Iodide - special topics

salt iodization

Iodide - main food source

Fish, eggs, yogurt, strawberries, milk, cheese, IODIZED SALT