Vitamins and Minerals

• Water-soluble Vitamins


  • Thiamin
  • Niacin
  • Vitamin B12
  • Folate
  • Vitamin C
• Thiamin-Chemical Form/Storage

  TPP
• Thiamin-Functions

  • Coenzyme in energy yielding reactions (glucose metabolism)
  • Energy metabolism
  • Nerve function
  • DNA/RNA synthesis
• Beri-beri: (1) cardiomegaly (2) pitting edema+
• Wernicke's encephalopathy: ophthalmoplegia (paralysis of the eye)
• Groups at risk for thiamin deficiency


  • Alcoholics (alcohol prevents conversion of thiamine into TPP)
  • Bariatric patients
• Banana bag


  Contains thiamine and is yellow due to riboflavin
• Main food sources for thiamin


  • Pork,ham
  • Fortified cereal
  • Grains (enriched)
• Niacin


  Nicotinic acid & nicotinamide → NAD+ (electron carrier)
• NiacinFunctions


  • Coenzyme
  • DNA repair (skin cells)
  • Protein synthesis
  • Energy metabolism
  • Brain functions (neurotransmitters)
• Pellagra → 4Ds
• Niacin can ↓ triglycerides and thus ↑ HDL
• Main food sources for niacin


  • Grains (enriched)
  • Meat, fish, poultry
• Vitamin B12


  Methylcobalamin, Cyanocobalamin (synthetic)
• Vitamin B12Functions


  • Coenzyme
  • Cell division (RBCs)
  • Homocysteine → methionine
  • Myelin synthesis
  • Energy metabolism
• Macrocytic anemia: large cell anemia
• Impaired neuron communication (scarred myelin)
• Pernicious anemia: decrease in RBCs b/c can't absorb vitamin
• Groups at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency


  • Vegetarians
  • Bariatric patients (lack of intrinsic factor)
• Bariatric patients need supplements in the form of injections
• Main food sources for vitamin B12


  • Grains
  • Protein (salmon, tuna)
  • Meat, fish, poultry
• FolateFunction 


  • Coenzyme
  • Homocysteine metabolism
  • DNA/RNA synthesis
• Spina bifida: neural tube doesn't close; 28 days gestation
• Macrocytic anemia
• Groups at risk for folate deficiency

  • Baby in womb
• All women must take 400 mg/d of folic acid
• Folate metabolism


  THF → CH3 → Vit B12 → CH3 → homocysteine → methionine (stable)
• Main food sources for folate


  • Green, leafy vegetables
  • Grains (fortified)
• Vitamin Cchemical form


  Ascorbic acid (antioxidant)
• Vitamin CFunctions


  • Supports immune system
  • Collagen synthesis
  • Iron metabolism
  • Antioxidant
• Scurvy: gum disease, poor wound healing, pin-point hemorrhages/petechiae (on skin)
• Groups at risk for vitamin C deficiency


  • Smokers (lung alveoli is damaged)
• Vitamin C is NOT β-carotene (inc. risk of cancer)
• Vitamin C increases absorption of non-heme iron (from plants)
• Vitamin C is involved in collagen: connective tissue
• Vitamin C donates electron to Vit E
• Main food sources for vitamin C


  • Red pepper
  • Fruits (orange, strawberries)
• Lipid-soluble Vitamins


  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin E
  • Vitamin K
• Vitamin A


  Retinoic acid (vision)
• Vitamin A Functions


  • Vision
  • Cell differentiation