Fat soluble vitamins (FP&N/Medication questions)

• What are the four fat soluble vitamins?

  Vitamin A, D, E, K
• Vitamin A


  A fat-soluble vitamin that plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy vision, immune function, and skin health
• Vitamin A Deficiency Symptoms

  • Night blindness • Corneal ulcers • Conjunctivitis • Increased risk of eye infections • Blindness
• Causes of Vitamin A Deficiency


  • Inadequate diet • Malabsorption • Increased demand • Increased loss • Breastfeeding • Molecular defects
• Treatments for Vitamin A Deficiency

  • Mild: diet modification, nutritional supplements, oral vitamin A therapy • Moderate: parenteral vitamin A therapy (IV) • Severe: hospitalization, IV vitamin A therapy • Xerophthalmia: vitamin A supplements, fortified foods, IV vitamin A therapy
• Foods Rich in Vitamin A


  Sweet potatoes, Dark leafy greens (spinach, kale, collard greens), Carrots, Oranges, Liver, Fish (salmon, mackerel, herring), Egg yolks, Mangoes, Papaya, Apricots, Butternuts
• Vitamin D


  A fat-soluble vitamin crucial for calcium absorption and bone health, immune system function, and cell growth and differentiation
• Vitamin D Deficiency


  Insufficient levels of vitamin D in the blood, caused by lack of sunlight, poor diet, malabsorption, or medications, characterized by fatigue, weakness, bone pain, and osteoporosis as calcium is also affected by vitamin D intake , rickets
• Recommended Vitamin D Levels

  The normal range is 30-74 ng/mL (75-85 nmol/L), with marginal deficiency at 20-29 ng/mL (50-74 nmol/L), and deficiency at <20 ng/mL (<50 nmol/L)
• How is vitamin D deficiency treated?

  Vitamin D supplements, lifestyle changes such as spending more time in the sun, eating foods high in vitamin D such as oily fish, which includes salmon, mackerel, sardines. Other sources include egg yolks, red meat and liver.
• Vitamin E


  A fat-soluble vitamin that serves as an antioxidant, protects cells from damage, and maintains skin, eye, and eye health.
• Vitamin E's antioxidant function


  Protects cells by neutralizing free radicals, preserving DNA, maintaining cell membranes, and regulating cell signaling pathways.
• Vitamin E Deficiency


  Characterized by dry skin, muscle weakness, impaired immune function, and increased risk of chronic diseases.
• Vitamin E-Rich Foods


  Foods high in vitamin E include nuts & seeds, vegetable oils, leafy greens, and fatty fish. Example foods & their vitamin E content.
• Recommended Daily Intake of Vitamin E

  The recommended daily intake of vitamin E is 15 mg for adult men and women, and 15-16 mg for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
• Vitamin E Intoxication


  Vitamin E toxicity symptoms include gastrointestinal upset, fatigue, bleeding risk, and medication interactions at doses above 2,000 mg/day.
• Vitamin E-Medication Interactions


  Vitamin E may interact with blood thinners, thyroid medications, blood pressure medications, cholesterol-lowering medications, anticoagulant medications, anticonvulsant medications, and oral antidiabetics.
• Potential Effects of Vitamin E-Medication Interactions


  Interactions between vitamin E and medications can increase bleeding risk, thyroid dysfunction, blood pressure fluctuations, cholesterol imbalance, anticonvulsant toxicity, oral antidiabetic failure, and increased bleeding risk.
• Vitamin K: Functions and Food Sources

  Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting and bone health. Food sources include leafy greens, vegetables, fatty fish, and dairy products.
• Calcium absorption


  Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, a mineral essential for building and maintaining strong bones
• Immunomodulatory effects


  Vitamin D has immunomodulatory effects, regulating the immune system's response to pathogens and activating antimicrobial peptides
• Cell growth and differentiation

  Vitamin D regulates cell growth and differentiation, the process by which immature cells mature into specialized cells