Vitamins & Micronutrients

Water-soluble Vitamins

Vitamins that dissolve in water, including Vitamin C, Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine), Vitamin B7 (Biotin), Vitamin B9 (Folic acid), Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin).

Fat-soluble Vitamins

Vitamins that are soluble in fats and oils, including Vitamins A, D, E, and K.

Active forms of Vitamin A

Retinol and Retinoic Acid.

What receptor do the two active Vitamin A forms bind to?

Receptor: Retinoic acid binds to the retinoic acid receptor (RAR), and retinol binds to cellular retinol-binding proteins (CRBP).

Main functions of Vitamin A

Vision, immune function, cellular differentiation, and epithelial health.

Hypervitaminosis A symptoms

Headache, dizziness, nausea, bone pain, liver damage, dry skin, and intracranial hypertension.

Conversion of cholecalciferol

Cholecalciferol is hydroxylated in the liver to form calcidiol, then further hydroxylated in the kidneys to form calcitriol.

Main role of Vitamin D

Regulates calcium and phosphorus levels for bone health.

Clinical manifestations of Vitamin D deficiency

Rickets in children, osteomalacia in adults, and hypocalcemia-related muscle weakness.

True or False: Tocopherols are more potent than tocotrienols

True.

Vitamin K enzyme

γ-glutamyl carboxylase.

Clotting factors activated by Vitamin K

II (Prothrombin), VII, IX, and X.

Vitamin K use in medication

Reverses the effects of Warfarin during an acute bleed.

Health functions of Vitamin C

Collagen synthesis, antioxidant activity, iron absorption, and immune support.

Condition due to Vitamin C deficiency

Scurvy.

Symptoms of Scurvy

Bleeding gums, petechiae, joint pain, anemia, and impaired wound healing.

B vitamins as coenzymes

The B vitamins are a collection of water-soluble coenzymes used in metabolic pathways.

Thiamine pyrophosphate roles

Coenzyme in carbohydrate metabolism and transketolase activity.

Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome symptoms

Confusion, lack of coordination, and memory impairment.

Beriberi Syndrome effects

Peripheral neuropathy, muscle weakness, and edema due to cardiac dysfunction.

Active forms of Vitamin B2

Flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and Flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD).

Roles of Vitamin B2

Energy production in redox reactions and metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins.

Vitamin B3 deficiency

Pellagra.

Symptoms of Pellagra

Dermatitis, Diarrhea, Dementia (the 4 D's) and death.

Coenzyme A relation to Pantothenic acid

Pantothenic acid is a precursor for coenzyme A, essential in metabolism.

Drug inducing Vitamin B6 deficiency

Isoniazid.

Biochemical role of Vitamin B7

Acts as a coenzyme in carboxylation reactions.

Manifestations of folic acid deficiency

Megaloblastic anemia, fatigue, glossitis, neural tube defects.

Active form of folic acid

Tetrahydrofolate (THF).

Groups involved in carbon transfer in amino acid synthesis

Methyl, methylene, and formyl groups.

Biochemical role of Cobalamin

Coenzyme in DNA synthesis and methylation reactions.

Cobalamin deficiency effects

Megaloblastic anemia, peripheral neuropathy, and spinal cord degeneration.

Sodium imbalance effects

Hyponatremia causes confusion; hypernatremia causes dehydration.

Potassium imbalance effects

Hypokalemia causes arrhythmias; hyperkalemia causes cardiac arrest risk.

Magnesium imbalance effects

Hypomagnesemia causes tremors; hypermagnesemia causes hypotension.

Calcium imbalance effects

Hypocalcemia causes tetany; hypercalcemia causes bone pain.

Phosphate imbalance effects

Hypophosphatemia causes weakness; hyperphosphatemia causes calcification.

Iodine deficiency effects

Causes goiter and hypothyroidism.