Answer the Nutrition of Vitamins Flashcards

A, D, E, and K.

Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the liver and adipose tissue. It takes longer to deplete stores of fat-soluble vitamins, which makes them accumulate and increasing risk for toxicity.

Retinoids (retinal, retinol, and retinoic acid): The chemical forms of preformed vitamin A. They assist in vision, growth, reproduction, immunity, and upkeep of epithelial tissue. This form is found in animal foods (liver, eggs, fish oil, dairy). Carotenoids: They’re precursors of vitamin A and are converted to retinoids by the body. They act as antioxidants (Anti-aging/cancer/atherosclerosis). Beta-carotenes in foods neutralize free radicals that can damage DNA. There are 50+, the strongest is beta-carotene. They give fruits and vegetables yellow, red, and orange color and are also found in green leafy veggies. Some food sources are apricots, sweet potato, carrots and spinach. Carotenoids are not toxic.

Vitamin A is involved in perception of light in the eye: retinal+opsin=rhodopsin. Rhodospin transfers light energy to the brain visual centers. Vitamin A deficiency thus results in night blindness and also prevents proper growth. Xerophthalmia: An irreversible blindness due to hardening of the cornea and drying of the mucous membranes of the eye. Deficiency of Vitamin A leads to deterioration of epithelial tissue such as the lining of the eye or skin. If not treated permanent blindness occurs.Hyperkeratosis: A condtion which makes the skin rough and bumpy, prevents proper sweating, and causes skin to be dry and thick. It can be reversed with vitamin A supplementation.

Acute toxicity occurs when a large amount of vitamin A is consumed, resulting in coma and death. Chronic toxicity occurs over a long period of time and cause liver damage, eye, skin, and bone problems. It can also cause birth defects or spontaneous abortion.

High consumption of carotenoids results in the yellow or orange tinging of skin. It can be reversed with lessened intake.

Retin A is an anti-wrinkle drug. Acutane is an anti-acne drug. Both can produce borderline vitamin A toxicity. Symptoms include dry mouth and eyes, changes in liver function, and greater blood lipid levels. Neither should be used before pregnancy in fear of causing birth defects.

Vitamin D is like a hormone because it's made by the skin (w/sun) and so isn’t essential in the diet and it’s made in one organ but acts on and affects others. Vitamin D is also like a vitamin because if there’s not enough sun the skin can’t produce enough/any and thus it must be consumed instead.

Vitamin D2 and D3. D2 is found only in plant foods. D3 is found in animal foods and is produced in our skin when ultraviolet light reacts with 7 dehydrocholesterol.

It facilitates the absorption of calcium and phosphorus and maintenance of bone. It also helps with cell differentiation.

A vitamin D deficiency disease in children. Symptoms include deformities of the skeleton (bowed legs and knocked knees).

A vitamin D deficiency disease in adults in which the bones become weak and prone to fractures.

Vitamin D is most toxic of all vitamins (4-5XRDA=toxicity). Symptoms include hypercalcemia, calcium deposits in soft tissues, growth retardation, and kidney/cardiovascular damage.

Tocopherols are the active form in our body. The most active natural form is d-alpha tocopherol. It's found in nuts, plant/seed oil, leafy green veggies, avocados, and broccoli.

It's an antioxidant that protects unsaturated fats in cell membranes from damage by free radicals. It protects white blood cells, improves immune function, and increases absorption of vitamin A. It destroys free radicals when they first attack cells. It maintains red blood cells, nervous tissue cells, and immune system cells.