Vitamins & Minerals

Vitamins
Vitamin A
Preformed Vitamin A =

Retinol

Vitamin A precursors =
Beta-Carotene
Not absorbed as well and arent completely converted to

Vit A
Retinol Activity Equivalents (RAEs)
Used to express the amount of usable Vitamin A in foods

Vitamins
Vitamin D
Body can make Vitamin D

Metabolism and absorption of calcium and

phosphorus
Works with Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) to signal

bones to release calcium and stimulate kidneys to

increase Vit D production

Vitamins
Vitamin D
Rickets (children)

Osteomalacia (adults)

Vitamins
Niacin
Expressed as Niacin Equivalents (NEs) because the

body can synthesize from Tryptophan if available in

ample amounts

Pellagra
Early symptoms: fatigue, decreased appetite,

indigestion

Vitamins
Folate
Synthetic form (folic acid) more easily absorbed

than natural form

Macrocytic/Megaloblastic anemia

Relationship with B12

Folate
Neural Tube Defects
Nutrient needs
increase during
pregnancy
Neural tube develops
into brain and spinal
cord
Weak muscles of the
lower body, brain
malformation, death

Vitamins
Vitamin B12
Intrinsic Factor (IF)

Deficiency (nerve damage and macrocytic anemia)

Deficiency prevents folate from being converted to active

form
Degeneration of myelin also occurs leading to numbness,

tingling, and eventually paralysis/death

High homocysteine levels lead to CVD risk

Pernicious anemia

Vitamins
Vitamin C
Absorption decreases and consumed in excess

No research that proves it prevents the common

cold
Scurvy
Swollen gums, loosening teeth, skin spotting, poor

wound healing

Minerals
Calcium (Ca)

Most plentiful mineral in the body

Hormones to maintain calcium homeostasis

Falling blood calcium levels:

High blood calcium levels:

Minerals
Calcium (Ca)
Osteoporosis low bone mass and reduced bone

structure

Risk factors:

Post-menopausal women
Weight-bearing exercise

Hypercalcemia

Minerals
Sodium (Na)
Hypertension persistent elevated blood pressure
Silent Killer

No outward symptoms until organs and blood

vessels are damaged
Normal =
Prehypertension =
Hypertension =

Minerals
Risk Factors for HTN

Minerals
The DASH Diet
Emphasizes the consumption of fruits, vegetables,

low-fat/nonfat dairy

Recommends
Weight loss

Minerals
Iron (Fe)
Hemoglobin:

Myoglobin:
Dietary Sources

Heme iron
Non-heme iron

Minerals
Iron (Fe)
Iron-deficiency Anemia
Signs/symptoms:

Pale skin
Fatigue and weakness
Irritability
Shortness of breath
Pica
Headache

Minerals
Iodine
Necessary for thyroid function
Deficiency: