Finals 4

• Vitamins


  Formerly known as accessory food factor, coined by Casimir Funk. Came from two root words: Vita - vital for life, Amines - antibody factors containing nitrogen. Organic compounds occurring in natural foods, must be obtained from dietary sources, human body can't synthesize in enough amounts, essential micronutrients for proper functioning of the body, needed in micro and milligram quantities
• Classifications of vitamins

  • Water-soluble
  • Fat-soluble
• Water-soluble vitamins

  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin B Complex
• Fat-soluble vitamins

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

  Also known as ascorbic acid, has the simplest structure among the 13 vitamins, exists in two active forms: oxidized form (dehydroascorbic acid) and reduced form (ascorbic acid), derived from glucose through the boronic acid pathway, involved in cholesterol metabolism and collagen formation, main sources are vegetables and fruits, deficiency leads to scurvy
• Vitamin B Complex


  • Thiamin (Vitamin B1)
  • Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
  • Niacin (Nicotinic Acid, Nicotinamide, Vitamin B3)
  • Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine, pyridoxal, pyridoxamine)
  • Folate (folic acid)
  • Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)
  • Pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5)
  • Biotin
• Vitamin B Complex


  • Exhibit structural diversity, major function is that they are components of coenzymes
• Vitamin A

  Has a role in vision, derived from b-carotine, functions include vision, regulating cell differentiation, maintenance of healthy epithelial tissues, reproduction and growth, another form is retinol or retinoids
• Vitamin D

  Two forms active in the body: Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3, synthesized by UV light from sun, controls correct ratio of Ca and P for bone mineralization, produces Ca and P absorption in intestine, deficiency leads to rickets and osteomalacia
• Vitamin E

  Four forms: a-, b-, g-, and d-Vitamin E, alpha-tocopherol is the most active biological form, primary function is antioxidant, deficiency can lead to heart diseases, defects in cell membrane, and cataracts formation
• Vitamin K

  Coagulation vitamin, two major forms: K1 (found in dark green, leafy vegetables) and K2 (synthesized by bacteria that grow in colon), active in the formation of proteins involved in regulating blood clotting
• Unlike vitamins which are organic substances, minerals are inorganic substances which is needed in small amounts that must be obtained from food
• Minerals


  • Can be divided into two groups - those needed in large quantities (Major Minerals) and those only required in tiny amounts (Trace Elements)
• Major functions of minerals

  • Body building - teeth and bones
  • Control of body processes - especially in the nervous system; Acid-base balances
  • Essential part of body fluids and cells
  • Form part of enzymes and other proteins - necessary for the release of energy
• Iron


  Functions: Production of hemoglobin in red blood cells to carry oxygen in the blood, sources: red meat, liver, eggs, bread, green vegetables, deficiency leads to anemia
• Calcium

  Functions: Teeth and bones, blood clotting, nerve and muscle contraction, heart regulation, sources: dairy products, fortified white bread, green vegetables, nuts and seeds, deficiency can cause stunted growth, rickets and osteoporosis, absorption requires Vitamin D
• Phosphorus


  Functions: Bones and teeth accompanied by calcium, muscle contraction, sources: dairy products, nuts, meat, fish, oats, cocoa, deficiency is rarely deficient but could cause tiredness and depression
• Sodium

  Functions: Maintains water balance in the body and controls body temperature, helps you sweat when body temperature rises, sources: cheese, smoked meats, fish, table salt, deficiency is highly unlikely (hyponatremia: low in natrium), hypernatremia is a common disease (high sodium in the blood)
• Potassium


  Functions: Muscle and nerve cell contraction and in maintaining body fluid, necessary for the building of muscle and for normal body growth, sources: banana, celery, meat, fruits, milk, grains, legumes, raisins, dates, figs, deficiency can lead to dry skin, acne, muscle spasms or weakness, hypokalemia is a disorder (low potassium in blood)
• Zinc

  Functions: Aids the immune system, cofactor in enzymes, wound healing, needed for the senses of smell and taste, sources: meat esp. lamb meat, oats, eggs, nuts, deficiency can lead to retarded growth, excess can cause enlarged liver
• Iodine


  Functions: Thyroid gland function (controls how quickly the body uses energy) and body metabolism, constituent of T3 and T4, sources: milk, eggs, yogurt, seafood, iodized salt, deficiency can lead to goiter (thyroid gland grows larger than normal)
• Magnesium


  Functions: Muscle contraction, DNA synthesis, controls blood sugar and blood pressure, cofactor of enzymes, sources: cheeses, cocoa, chocolate, nuts, beans, deficiency can lead to hypomagnesemia (low level of magnesium in blood), all enzymes that use ATP in metabolic pathways or cycles need magnesium