Vitamins, minerals and trace elements

By: Cristhian Camilo Lozano Fernández

Introducción Abstract

Vitamins and oligoelements (also known as trace elements), are organic and inorganic
compound that are present in many biochemical reactions that occur in man. This compound,
throughout the time, has been studied and classified according different criteria, according its
chemical composition and according its function in the human organism. For this abstract I am
going to present the general classification of vitamins, it is, water-soluble or fat-soluble and a
brief description of its functions, related diseases, as well as the sources or most common food
sources, in the same way I will present a brief description of trace elements.

Vitamins

Vitamins are organic compound that are necessary for the diverse biochemical reactions that
occur in the body, they are involved in a number of processes, such as: Formation of prosthetic
groups of enzymes or acts as their co-factors, carbohydrate, fats and proteins metabolism (in
other words, they are part in the metabolism for energy synthesis). Some vitamins acts as
hormones, they are part in the cellular proliferation and differentiation. As said before,
vitamins are classified according its hydrophobic or hydrophilic character because according
their composition they will have water or fat affinity.

Fat-soluble vitamins

Fat-soluble vitamins are associated with body fat and are often stored in tissues, so circulating
concentrations remain relatively constant. For example, vitamin A is stored in the liver and is
transported in the plasma by specific binding proteins. These vitamins are not absorbed or
extracted from the diet as easily as the water-soluble vitamins, but rather significant amounts
are stored in the tissues. With the exception of vitamin K, they do not act as coenzymes.
Vitamins A and D behave more like hormones and can be toxic in excessive amounts (not
vitamins E and K).

The following table lists the vitamins corresponding to the fat-soluble group, as well as their
main functions, diseases associated with vitamin deficiency, additionally the sources or source
foods are listed, which I consider are important to mention.

Problems associated
Vitamin Sources Function
with deficiency
Yellow and orange
fruits and Night blindness,
A: retinal or β- vegetables, dark Eye and bone development, epithelial changes,
carotene green leafy immune function immune system
vegetables, eggs, deficiency
milk, liver
Rickets, bone pain,
Dairy products, egg muscle weakness,
yolks; also increased risk of death
Aids in calcium absorption,
D: cholecalciferol synthesized in the from cardiovascular
promoting bone growth
skin from exposure disease, cognitive
to sunlight impairment, asthma in
children, cancer
 Seeds, nuts,
vegetable oils,
E: tocopherols Antioxidant Anemia
avocados, wheat
germ
Dark green leafy
Hemorrhagic disease of
vegetables,
K: phylloquinone Blood clotting, bone health newborn in infants;
broccoli, Brussels
uncommon in adults
sprouts, cabbage

Water-soluble vitamins

Water-soluble vitamins, including the eight B vitamins and vitamin C, are absorbed with
water in the gastrointestinal tract. These vitamins move easily through bodily fluids,
which are water based, so they are not stored in the body. Excess water-soluble
vitamins are excreted in the urine. Therefore, hypervitaminosis of water-soluble
vitamins rarely occurs, except with an excess of vitamin supplements.

Problems associated
Vitamin Sources Function
with deficiency
Whole grains,
Beriberi, Wernicke-
B1: thiamine enriched bread and Carbohydrate metabolism
Korsikoff syndrome
cereals, milk, meat
Brewer’s yeast,
Fatigue, slowed growth,
almonds, milk, organ
digestive problems, light
meats, legumes, Synthesis of FAD for metabolism,
B2: riboflavin sensitivity, epithelial
enriched breads and production of red blood cells
problems like cracks in the
cereals, broccoli,
corners of the mouth
asparagus
Meat, fish, poultry, Cracked, scaly skin;
Synthesis of NAD, nerve function,
B3: niacin enriched breads and dementia; diarrhea; also
cholesterol production
cereals, peanuts known as pellagra
Meat, poultry,
Rare: symptoms may
B5: pantothenic potatoes, oats, Synthesis of coenzyme A in fatty acid
include fatigue, insomnia,
acid enriched breads and metabolism
depression, irritability
cereals, tomatoes
Potatoes, bananas,
beans, seeds, nuts,
Sodium and potassium balance, red Confusion, irritability,
meat, poultry, fish,
B6: pyridoxine blood cell synthesis, protein depression, mouth and
eggs, dark green
metabolism tongue sores
leafy vegetables,
soy, organ meats
Rare in developed
countries; symptoms
Cell growth, metabolism of fatty acids,
B7: biotin Liver, fruits, meats include dermatitis, hair
production of blood cells
loss, loss of muscular
coordination
B9: folic acid Liver, legumes, dark DNA/protein synthesis Poor growth, gingivitis,
green leafy appetite loss, shortness of
vegetables, enriched breath, gastrointestinal
 breads and cereals,
problems, mental deficits
citrus fruits
Pernicious anemia,
B12: Fish, meat, poultry, Fatty acid oxidation, nerve cell
leading to nerve cell
cyanocobalamin dairy products, eggs function, red blood cell production
damage
Dry hair, gingivitis,
Citrus fruits, red
bleeding gums, dry and
berries, peppers, Necessary to produce collagen for
scaly skin, slow wound
C: ascorbic acid tomatoes, broccoli, formation of connective tissue and
healing, easy bruising,
dark green leafy teeth, and for wound healing
compromised immunity;
vegetables
can lead to scurvy

Minerals and trace elements

Daily mineral requirements range from grams (sodium, calcium, chlorine, phosphorus) and
milligrams (iron, iodine, magnesium, manganese and molybdenum) down to micrograms (zinc,
copper, selenium, and other trace elements). Many of them are essential to the normal
biological function.

Problems associated
Mineral Sources Function
with deficiency
Hypokalemia: weakness,
Meats, some fish, fatigue, muscle
fruits, vegetables, Nerve and muscle function; acts as an cramping,
Potassium
legumes, dairy electrolyte gastrointestinal
products problems, cardiac
problems
Table salt, milk,
Blood pressure, blood volume, muscle
Sodium beets, celery, Rare
and nerve function
processed foods
Dairy products, dark
green leafy
vegetables, Bone structure and health; nerve and
Slow growth, weak and
Calcium blackstrap muscle functions, especially cardiac
brittle bones
molasses, nuts, function
brewer’s yeast,
some fish
Bone formation, metabolism, ATP
Phosphorous Meat, milk Rare
production
Agitation, anxiety, sleep
problems, nausea and
Whole grains, nuts,
Enzyme activation, production of vomiting, abnormal heart
Magnesium leafy green
energy, regulation of other nutrients rhythms, low blood
vegetables
pressure, muscular
problems
Most foods, salt,
vegetables,
Loss of appetite, muscle
Chloride especially seaweed, Balance of body fluids, digestion
cramps
tomatoes, lettuce,
celery, olives
 Problems associated
Mineral Sources Function
with deficiency
Meat, poultry, fish,
shellfish, legumes,
Transport of oxygen in blood, Anemia, weakness,
Iron nuts, seeds, whole
production of ATP fatigue
grains, dark leafy
green vegetables
Loss of appetite, poor
Immunity, reproduction, growth, growth, weight loss,
Meat, fish, poultry,
Zinc blood clotting, insulin and thyroid skin problems, hair
cheese, shellfish
function loss, vision problems,
lack of taste or smell
Seafood, organ
Anemia, low body
meats, nuts,
temperature, bone
legumes, Red blood cell production, nerve
fractures, low white
chocolate, and immune system function,
Copper blood cell
enriched breads collagen formation, acts as an
concentration, irregular
and cereals, some antioxidant
heartbeat, thyroid
fruits and
problems
vegetables
Fish, shellfish,
garlic, lima beans, Hypothyroidism:
sesame seeds, fatigue, weight gain,
Iodine Thyroid function
soybeans, dark dry skin, temperature
leafy green sensitivity
vegetables
Eggs, meat,
Sulfur poultry, fish, Component of amino acids Protein deficiency
legumes
Maintenance of bone and tooth Increased cavities,
Fluoride Fluoridated water
structure weak bones and teeth
Formation of connective tissue and
Nuts, seeds, Infertility, bone
bones, blood clotting, sex hormone
Manganese whole grains, malformation,
development, metabolism, brain
legumes weakness, seizures
and nerve function
Fish, nuts, leafy
Cobalt green vegetables, Component of B12 None
whole grains
Brewer’s yeast,
wheat germ, liver,
Antioxidant, thyroid function,
Selenium butter, fish, Muscle pain
immune system function
shellfish, whole
grains
Whole grains, lean
meats, cheese, High blood sugar,
Chromium black pepper, Insulin function triglyceride, and
thyme, brewer’s cholesterol levels
yeast
Legumes, whole
Molybdenum Cofactor for enzymes Rare
grains, nuts
Bibliography

1. Baynes W. John, Medical Biochemistry, United Kingdom, Elsevier, 2014.

2. Devlin Thomas, Biochemistry, United States, Wiley-Liss Publications, 1997.