CHEM123LEC: BIOCHEMISTRY FOR MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE

WEEK 10: VITAMINS AND MINERALS

1st SEMESTER l S.Y. 2022-2023 TRANSCRIBE BY: WILLIE P. LARON JR.
LECTURER: MS. BERNARDITA GACUTAN

MAIN TOPIC
SUB-TOPIC
SUB-SUBTOPIC
Unit Expected Outcome
At the end of the session, the students are expected to:
1. Define accurately the terms associated with lipids
2. Discuss extensively the classifications of lipids and
related compounds and give examples of each.
3. Enumerate exactly the different functions of lipids
and other compounds related to it
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF VITAMINS
• A vitamin is an organic compound, essential in small
Vitamin B
amounts for the proper functioning of the human
body, that must be obtained from dietary sources • The preferred and alternative names for the B
because the body cannot synthesize it. vitamins:
o Organic compounds 1. Thiamin (vitamin B1)
o Must be obtained from dietary sources 2. Riboflavin (vitamin B2)
o Human body can’t synthesize in enough amounts 3. Niacin (nicotinic acid, nicotinamide, vitamin B3)
o Essential for proper functioning of the body 4. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine, pyridoxal, pyridoxamine)
o Needed in micro and milligram quantities 5. Folate (folic acid)
o 1 Gram of vitamin B is sufficient for 500,000 6. Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)
people 7. Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5)
o Enough vitamin can be obtained from balanced 8. Biotin
diet • Exhibit structural diversity
o Supplemental vitamins may be needed after • B vitamin structure is very diverse. The only common
illness thread among structures is that all structures, except
o Many enzymes contain vitamins as part of their that of pantothenic acid, involve heterocyclic
structures – conjugated enzymes nitrogen ring systems.
• Two Classes of Vitamins: • Major function: B Vitamins are components of
1. Water-Soluble Vitamins – (Vitamin C, B) coenzymes.
2. Fat Soluble Vitamins- (Vitamin A, D, E, K)
• Synthetic and natural vitamins are same and there
are 13 Known vitamins
WATER-SOLUBLE VITAMINS
Vitamin C
• Humans, monkeys, apes and guinea pigs need
dietary vitamins
• Co-substrate in the formation of structural protein
collagen
• Involved in metabolism of certain amino acids
• 100 mg/day saturates all body tissues - Excess
vitamin is excreted
• RDA (mg/day):
✓ Great Britain: 30
✓ United States and Canada: 60
✓ Germany: 75

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 FAT-SOLUBLE VITAMINS
• Involved in plasma membrane processes
• More hydrocarbon like with fewer functional groups
• Vitamins A, D, E, K
Vitamin A
• Has role in vision – only 1/1000 of vitamin A is in
retina
• 3 Forms of vitamin A are active in the body
• Derived from b-carotene
• Preformed vitamin A forms are called retinoids. The
retinoids include retinal, retinol, and retinoic acid.
❑ Functions of Vitamin A
✓ Vision: In the eye- vitamin A combines with opsin
protein to form the visual pigment rhodopsin which
further converts light energy into nerve impulses
that are sent to the brain.
✓ Regulating Cell Differentiation - process in which
immature cells change to specialized cells with
function. – Examples: Differentiation of bone
marrow cells white blood cells and red blood cells.
✓ Maintenance of the healthy of epithelial tissues via
epithelial tissue differentiation. – Lack of vitamin A
causes such surfaces to become drier and harder
than normal.
Vitamin D
• Two forms active in the body:
1. Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol)
- It is produced from the plant sterol
ergosterol through the action of light.
2. Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol)
- is produced in the skin of humans and
animals by the action of sunlight (ultraviolet
light) on its precursor molecule, the
cholesterol derivative 7-dehydrocholesterol
(a normal metabolite of cholesterol found in
the skin).
• Sunshine Vitamin: Synthesized by UV light from sun
• It controls correct ratio of Ca and P for bone
mineralization (hardening)
• As a hormone it promotes Ca and P absorption in
intestine.
Vitamin E
• Four forms of Vitamin Es:
1. Alpha
2. Beta
3. Delta
4. Gamma-tocopherol
• Alpha-tocopherol is the most active biological active
form of Vitamin E
• Peanut oils, green and leafy vegetables and whole
grain products are the sources of vitamin E
• Primary function: Antioxidant – protects against
oxidation of other compounds
Vitamin K
• Two major forms; K1 and K2
• K1 found in dark green, leafy vegetables
• K2 is synthesized by bacteria that grow in colon
• Dietary need supply: ~1/2 synthesized by bacteria
and ½ obtained from diet
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• Active in the formation of proteins involved in
regulating blood clotting
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MINERALS
• 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)
Classification of Minerals
Major Functions of Minerals
✓ Body building – teeth and bones
✓ Control of body processes, especially the nervous
system
✓ Essential part of body fluids and cells
✓ Form part of enzymes and other proteins necessary
for the release of energy
❑ IRON
o Functions: Production of hemoglobin in red
blood cells to carry oxygen in the blood
o Sources: Red meat, liver, eggs, bread, green
vegetables
o Deficiency: Anemia
❑ CALCIUM
o Functions: Teeth and bones, blood clotting,
nerve and muscle contraction, heart regulation
o Sources: Dairy products, fortified white bread,
green vegetables, nuts and seeds
o Deficiency: Stunted growth can cause rickets
and osteoporosis
❑ PHOSPHORUS
o Functions: Bones and teeth accompanied by
calcium, muscle contraction
o Sources: Dairy products, nuts, meat, fish, oats,
cocoa
o Deficiency: rarely deficient but could cause
tiredness and depression
❑ SODIUM
o Functions: Maintains water balance in the body
and controls body temperature, helps you sweat
when body temperature rises
o Sources: Cheese, smoked meats, fish, table
salt,
o Deficiency: deficiency is highly unlikely
❑ POTASSIUM
o Functions: Muscle contraction and in
maintaining body fluid. It is necessary for the
building of muscle and for normal body growth.
o Sources: Banana, celery, meat, fruits, milk,
grains, legumes, raisins, dates, figs
o Deficiency: dry skin, acne, muscle spasms or
weakness
❑ ZINC
o Functions: Aids the immune system. Cofactor in
enzymes. Needed for the senses of smell and
taste
o Sources: Meat esp. lamb meat, oats, eggs, nuts
o Deficiency: Retarded growth
o Excess: Enlarged liver
❑ IODINE
o Functions: Thyroid gland function (controls how
quickly the body uses energy) and body
metabolism
o Sources: Milk, eggs, yogurt, seafood, iodized
salt. Disease involved Goiter
❑ MAGNESIUM
o Functions: muscle contraction, DNA synthesis,
controls blood sugar and blood pressure,
cofactor of enzymes
o Sources: Cheeses, cocoa, chocolate, nuts,
beans
o Deficiency: hypocalcemia
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