Chapter 7 Vitamins

Chapter 7 VITAMINS
Definition and Classification
 Non-caloric organic nutrients

 Needed in very small amounts
 Facilitators – help body processes
proceed; digestion, absorption,
metabolism, growth etc.
 Some appear in food as precursors or
provitamins
 2 classes, Table 7.1

 Fat soluble:
 Water soluble:
 Fat soluble vitamins

 Found in the fats and oils of food.
 Absorbed into the lymph and carried in
blood with protein transporters =
chylomicrons.
 *Stored in liver and body fat and can
become toxic if large amounts are
consumed.
 Water soluble vitamins

 Found in vegetables, fruit and grains, meat.
 Absorbed directly into the blood stream
 Not stored in the body and toxicity is rare.

Alcohol can increase elimination, smoking,
etc. cause decreased absorption.
Fat Soluble Vitamins
 Vitamin A (precursor – beta carotene)
 3 forms: retinol (stored in liver), retinal, retinoic acid
 Roles in body:
 Regulation of gene expression
 Part of the visual pigment rhodopsin, maintains clarity of
cornea (yes eating carrots is good for your eyesight)
 Required for cell growth and division - epithelial cells,
bones and teeth
 Promotes development of immune cells, especially
“Natural Killer Cells”
 Antioxidant
 Vitamin A
 Deficiencies cause:
 Night blindness, xerophthalmia (keratin deposits
in cornea), macular degeneration.
 Skin and mucous membrane dryness and
infection, keratin deposits.

 Anemia
 Developmental defects – bones, teeth, immune
system, vision
 Vitamin A
 Toxicities (RetinA/Accutaine, single large
doses of supplements, eating excessive
amounts of liver) cause:
 Fragile RBCs, hemorrhage
 Bone pain, fractures
 Abdominal pain and diarrhea
 Blurred vision
 Dry skin, hair loss
 Liver enlargement
 Vitamin A
 DRI: 700(women)-900(men)
micrograms/day, UL 3000 micrograms
 Sources, see snapshot 7.1
Snapshot 7-1, p, 219
 Vitamin D – precursor is cholesterol,

converted by UV from sunlight exposure,
therefore is a “non-essential” vitamin.
 Roles:
 Increases calcium absorption in bone, intestines,
kidney. Promotes bone growth and
maintenance.
 Stimulates maturation of cells – heart, brain,
immune system, etc.

 Vitamin D
 Deficiencies: rickets (children),
osteomalacia (adults). What are some of
the causes of deficiencies?
 Toxicities (5X DRI)
 Loss of calcium from bone and deposition in soft
tissues.
 Loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting,
psychological depression.
Bowed legs –
Characteristic
of rickets
Fig. 7-5a, p. 222

Beaded ribs –
Characteristic
of rickets
Fig. 7-5b, p. 222

 Vitamin D
 DRI – 5 micrograms/day for ages 19-50, 10
for ages 51-70, 15 for ages >70.
 Vitamin E – tocopherol, *alpha-, beta -,

gamma-, and delta-
 Roles:
 Antioxidant (protects polyunsaturated fats)
 Prevention of damage to lungs, RBCs, WBCs
(immunity), heart
 Necessary for normal nerve development
 Vitamin E
 Deficiencies (decreased absorption of fats-
liver disease, low fat diets)
 Premature babies – fragile RBCs (hemolysis)
 Loss of muscle coordination, vision, immune
functions
 Toxicities (more than 1000 milligrams/day)
 Increases the effects of anticoagulants
(Coumadin, Warfarin)
 Vitamin E
 DRI 15 milligrams/day (alpha-tocopherol)
 Vitamin K – produced by bacteria in large
intestine
 Roles
 Promotes synthesis of blood clotting proteins (**Interferes
with Coumadin)
 Bone formation
 Deficiencies are rare but seen in infants, after
prolonged antibiotic therapy, and in patients with
decreased bile production.
 Toxicities (>1000 mg/day): rupture of RBCs and
jaundice
 Vitamin K
 DRI: 90(women) – 120(men)
micrograms/day
Water Soluble Vitamins
 8 B vitamins – Tender Romance Never

Fails with 6 to 12 Beautiful Pearls
(Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Folate, B6,
B12, Biotin, and Pantothenic acid)
 Aid in metabolism of and energy release
from carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids.
 Mode of action – coenzymes or parts of
coenzymes that are necessary for the
proper activity of enzymes, fig 7.9
Compounds
Without the coenzyme, compounds A and A

B don’t respond to the enzyme. B
Active site
Enzyme
With the coenzyme in place, compounds B Vitamin

A
A and B are attracted to the active site
on the enzyme, and they react. Coenzyme
Enzyme
The reaction is completed with the

A B
formation of a new product. In this case,
the product is AB. Enzyme
The product AB is released. A B New product
Enzyme Fig. 7-9a, p. 233

Brain and other
tissues
metabolize
carbohydrates.
Muscles and
other tissues Bone tissues
metabolize make new
protein. blood cells.
Liver and other Digestive

tissues tract lining
metabolize fat. replaces
its cells.
Fig. 7-10, p. 234

 Thiamin and Riboflavin
 Roles – energy metabolism in cells, part of nerve
cell membranes.
 Deficiencies
 Beri beri, edema &/or muscle weakness
 Alcohol abuse – Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
 DRI thiamin:1.1(women) – 1.2(men) mg/day;
riboflavin 1.1(women) – 1.3(men) mg/day
 Sources: All food groups except fats and oils
 Niacin – can be produced from the

amino acid tryptophan.
 Roles: energy metabolism
 Deficiencies: Pellagra – dermatitis,
diarrhea, dementia, death
 Toxicities (2 - 3X DRI): *prevents blood
clotting, causes liver damage, enhances
action of Coumadin
 Niacin
 DRI 14(women) -16(men) mg/day
 Sources, snapshot 7.8
 Meats
 Some vegetables and grains
 Folate
 Role: required for synthesis of DNA -
***pregnancy
 Deficiencies (drug interactions, smoking)
 Anemia
 Decreased immunity
 Decreased digestive and cardiovascular function
 Colon and cervical cancers
 *Neural tube defects, ?other birth defects

 Folate
 Toxicities (>1000 mg/day): rare, interferes
with anticancer drugs.
 DRI 400 milligrams/day
 Sources, snapshot 7.8

 Vitamin B12 (requires intrinsic factor for

absorption)
 Roles: works with folate, part of insulating
sheath around nerves.
 Deficiencies:
 Pernicious anemia
 Paralysis
 Nerve damage in fetus

 Vitamin B12
 DRI 2.3 micrograms/day
 Meat and dairy
 Implications for vegans??
 Vitamin B6
 Roles:
 Conversion of amino acids to other amino acids
 Ex.: Tryptophan to niacin
 Synthesis of hemoglobin and neurotransmitters
 Release of glucose from glycogen
 Immune function
 Promotes steroid hormone activity
 Development of nervous system

 Vitamin B6
 Deficiencies
 Anemia
 Dermatitis
 Muscle weakness
 Behavioral problems
 ?Heart disease
 Toxicities (>100 mg/day) – muscle

weakness, nerve damage
 Vitamin B6
 DRI 1.3 milligrams/day
 Meat and dairy
 Vegetables and fruits
 Biotin and Pantothenic acid

 Roles:
 Metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins
 Synthesis of lipids, neurotransmitters, steroid
hormones, hemoglobin.
 “Non-B vitamins”: choline, carnitine,
inositol, lipoic acid, etc. No beneficial
effects proven!!
 Vitamin C, ascorbic acid – history of

controversy
 Roles:
 Connective tissue development, collagen
 Antioxidant
 Promotes iron absorption, immunity?
 Protects vitamin E
 Vitamin C
 Deficiency – Scurvy (skin and mucous membrane
damage), anemia.
 Toxicity (> 2grams/day) – pro-oxidant, activates
oxidizing agents.
 DRI – 75(w) – (90(m) milligrams/day. Increased for
smokers.
 Notes: can interfere with diagnostic tests for
diabetes, and blood clotting
 ??Prevents colds
Vitamin/Mineral Supplements
 Who needs them?

 Who does not need them?
 Oyo read - Controversy, pp257-263

Chapter 7 Vitamins

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Chapter 7 Vitamins

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Chapter 7 VITAMINS

Definition and Classification

 Non-caloric organic nutrients

 2 classes, Table 7.1

 Fat soluble vitamins

 Water soluble vitamins

 Not stored in the body and toxicity is rare.

infection, keratin deposits.

 Developmental defects – bones, teeth, immune

 Vitamin D – precursor is cholesterol,

immune system, etc.

Fig. 7-5a, p. 222

Fig. 7-5b, p. 222

 Vitamin E – tocopherol, *alpha-, beta -,

 8 B vitamins – Tender Romance Never

Without the coenzyme, compounds A and A

With the coenzyme in place, compounds B Vitamin

The reaction is completed with the

The product AB is released. A B New product

Enzyme Fig. 7-9a, p. 233

Liver and other Digestive

Fig. 7-10, p. 234

 Niacin – can be produced from the

 Decreased digestive and cardiovascular function

 Colon and cervical cancers

 *Neural tube defects, ?other birth defects

 Sources, snapshot 7.8

 Vitamin B12 (requires intrinsic factor for

 Nerve damage in fetus

 Promotes steroid hormone activity

 Development of nervous system

 Toxicities (>100 mg/day) – muscle

 Biotin and Pantothenic acid

 Vitamin C, ascorbic acid – history of

 Promotes iron absorption, immunity?

 Who needs them?

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