A PRESENTATION FROM

GROUP 1
BNT 1.2

BIOCHEMISTRY COURSE
WORK
(18th/December/2022)

VITAMINS
 GROUP MEMBERS:
1. VU-BNT-2201-1674-WEE - SSEMATA FRED
2. VU-BNT-2201-1027-WEE - ATIM GILLIAN
3. VU-BNT-2201-0164-WEE - GYAGENDA SAMUEL
4. VU-BNT-2201-0793-WEE - TUMUSIIME EDWARD
5. VU-BNT-2201-0434 -WEE -WENWA VIVIAN
6. VU-BNT-2201-1474-WEE - EYOTU DEOGRATIAS
7. VU-BNT-2201-0351-WEE - PASIKA BABRAH
8. VU-BNT-2201-0196-WEE - EGER RICHARD
9. VU-BNT-2201-0207-WEE - AUCHO BRENDA
10. VU-BNT-2201-0782-WEE – AKULLO FIONA PRISKA
11. VU-BNT-2201-1539-WEE –WAISWA TADEO
12. VU-BNT-2201-0125-WEE – EYOTARU NANCY
13. VU-BNT-2201-0609-WEE - NAMUTEBI DAPHINE MARY
14. VU-BNT-2201-0765-WEE – KIJJE FAIZULI
15. VU-BNT-2201-1482-WEE
16. VU-BNT-2201-0784-WEE
17. VU-BNT-2201-1709-WEE
18. VU-BNT-2201-1648-WEE
QUESTION 1
Fat and water soluble vitamins
Instructions:
For each of the vitamins,
 Introduction
 Brief description of metabolic
role.
 Aetiology of the corresponding
deficiency disease
Introduction

Vitamins are chemically unrelated

organic compounds that cannot be
synthesized in adequate quantities by
humans.

Therefore, they must be supplied by

the diet
Nine vitamins:
1. Folic acid,
2. Cobalamin,
3. Ascorbic acid,
4. Pyridoxine, Thiamine,
5. Niacin,
6. Riboflavin,
7. Biotin, and
8. Pantothenic acid
Are classified as water-soluble
Four vitamins:
1. Vitamin A,
2. Vitamin D,
3. Vitamin K, and
4. Vitamin E
Are termed fat-soluble
vitamins
Vitamins are required to perform
specific cellular functions.

For example, many of the water-

soluble vitamins are precursors of
coenzymes for the enzymes of
intermediary metabolism
Only one fat soluble vitamin (vitamin
K) has a coenzyme function

These vitamins are released, absorbed,

and transported with the fat of the diet

They are not readily excreted in the

urine

Significant quantities are stored in the

liver and adipose tissue
Consumption of vitamins A and D in
excess of the recommended dietary
allowances can lead to accumulation
of toxic quantities of these
compounds
 VITAMINS
⚫Vitamins and minerals are needed
for normal body to functioning.
◦ 13 vitamins
◦ 22 minerals

⚫Two types of vitamins

◦ Water-soluble
◦ Fat-soluble
 Fat-Soluble vitamins
⚫Vitamin A, D, E and K

⚫Excess is stored in the

liver and in body fat
◦It is possible to build up
to a toxic level
Vitamin A (Retinol)
⚫ Beta-carotene is converted into
vitamin A

⚫ Vitamin A:
◦ Promotes good vision
◦ Promotes healthy skin
◦ Helps with growth and maintenance of
bones, teeth, and cell structure

⚫ RDA:
900 micrograms for males;
700 micrograms for females
Too much vitamin A
⚫May turn your skin orange
⚫May cause fatigue, weakness,
severe headache, blurred vision,
hair loss and joint pain.
⚫Toxicity:
◦ May cause severe liver or brain
damage
◦ Birth defects
Too little vitamin A
⚫May cause night blindness
⚫Lowered immune system
Foods rich in vitamin A
⚫Carotenoids
⚫Foods
◦ O range/Yellow
◦ Only animal fruits and
products vegetables
🞄 Cantaloupes,
🞄 Liver carrots, sweet
potatoes, winter
🞄 Eggs squash
🞄 Milk, ◦ Leafy green
butter and vegetables
🞄 Spinach,
cheese broccoli
Vitamin D – “The Sunshine Vitamin”
⚫Essential for building and
maintaining bones and teeth
⚫Responsible for absorption and
utilization of calcium
⚫Other health benefits:
◦ May boost immune system
◦ May also help decrease certain cancers
⚫RDA: 5 micrograms until age 50
🞄10 micrograms / day until 70; 15 mcg 70+
Too little vitamin D
⚫ Vitamin D deficiency has been in the
news a lot lately.
⚫ Deficiency may occur from:
◦ Inadequate diet
🞄 Vegetarianism, lactose intolerance, milk allergy
◦ Body unable to absorb needed vitamin D
◦ Limited exposure to sunlight
Vitamin D D eficiency
⚫May lead to osteomalacia
and/or osteoporosis
Getting vitamin D
⚫Sun exposure for 10 minutes a
day
⚫Foods:
◦ Fortified milk
◦ Tuna
◦ Salmon
◦ May need a supplement
🞄 Check with Physician first though
Vitamin E
⚫ Important to red blood cells, muscles
and other tissues
⚫ Deficiency is rare
⚫ Toxicity is rare
◦ But Vitamin E acts as a blood thinner
⚫ Foods:
◦ Vegetable oils, salad dressings, whole
grain cereals, green leafy vegetables,
nuts, seeds, peanut butter and wheat
germ.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is a fat soluble vitamin identified
for its role in the process of blood clot
formation.
Also has a role for bone health by taking
part in the carboxylation of many bone
related proteins, regulating genetic
transcription of osteoblastic markers and
bone reabsorption.
It is mostly made in the intestines.
Vitamin K contd..
Vitamin K is a group of compounds i.e
Vitamin K1(phylloquinone) and Vitamin
K2 (menaquinones).

Vitamin K1 is obtained from leafy

greens and some other vegetables
while vitamin K2 is obtained from
meat, cheeses, eggs and synthesized by
bacteria.
Vitamin K deficiency
Low levels of vitamin K can raise the risk
of uncontrolled bleeding hence a single
dose injection of vitamin K is
administered to new born babies.

Vitamin K is also used to counteract an

overdose of blood thinner warfarin.
Vitamin K deficiency contd..
Overtime Vitamin K deficiency results in
impaired blood clotting, symptoms may
include easy bruising and bleeding
manifested as epistaxis, bleeding gums,
hematuria and melena.

In infants deficiency may result in life

threatening intracranial hemorrhage.
Causes of Vitamin K deficiency

• Diseases that affects absorption in the

digestive tract such as Chrohn’s disease.
• Drugs that interfere with vitamin K
absorption such as antibiotics.
• Severe malnutrition.
WATER-SOLUBLE
VITAMINS
⚫Vitamins Bs and C
⚫Eight B vitamins:
◦ Thiamin (B-1)
◦ Riboflavin (B-2)
◦ Niacin (B-3)or nicotinic acids
◦ Pyridoxine (B-6)
◦ Cobalamin (B-12)
◦ Folic acid
◦ Pantothenic acid
◦ Biotin
Thiamin or B1
⚫ Thiamine has a central role in energy
yielding metabolism where
carbohydrates are converted into energy.
⚫ Also plays a role in muscle contraction
and conduction of nerve impulses.
⚫ Foods rich in thiamin include; Pork, beef,
liver, peas, seeds, legumes, whole- grain
products, and oatmeal
 Deficiency of Thiamin
• Mild deficiency leads to gastrointestinal
complaints, weakness.
• Moderate deficiency causes peripheral
neuropathy, mental abnormalities, ataxia.
• Full-blown deficiency causes beri-beri
characterised with severe muscle
weakness, muscles wasting and delirium,
paresis of the eye muscles, memory loss,
degeneration of the cardiovascular system.
Riboflavin or B-2
⚫Key to metabolism and red blood cells
⚫Foods:
◦ Milk, yogurt, cheese, whole-grain breads,
green leafy vegetables, meat, and eggs
⚫Deficiency:
◦ Dry, scaly skin
Niacin or B-3
⚫Also involved with energy production
⚫Also helps with skin, nerves and
digestive system
⚫Foods:
◦ Meat, poultry, liver, eggs, brown rice,
baked potatoes, fish, milk, and whole-
grain foods
⚫Deficiency:
◦ Rare but causes: diarrhea, dermatitis,
dementia and death
Pyridoxine or B-6
⚫ Involved in chemical reactions of
proteins and amino acids
⚫ Deficiency:
◦ Skin changes, dementia, nervous
system disorders and anemia

⚫ Foods:
◦ Lean meats, fish, legumes, green leafy
vegetables, raisins, corn, bananas,
mangos
Cobalamin or B-12
⚫Helps with nervous system, red
blood cells and D N A synthesis
⚫Foods:
⚫Only found in animal products
Meat, fish, poultry, eggs, milk
products and clams
⚫Deficiency:
◦ Nervous system disorders and
pernicious anemia
Folic acid (Folacin, Folate)
⚫ Key role in red blood cell formation
and cell division
⚫ Foods:
◦ Leafy, dark green vegetables
◦ Also found in liver, beans, peas,
asparagus, oranges, avocados
⚫ Deficiency:
◦ Anemia, digestive disorders
Pantothenic Acid and Biotin
⚫Help with metabolism and
formation of some hormones
⚫Foods:
◦ Almost any food, plant-based or
animal-based
⚫Deficiencies are rare
Vitamin C
⚫Important to bone health, blood
vessel health, cell structure and
absorption of iron
⚫Deficiency:
◦ Rare
⚫Too much vitamin C
⚫Foods:
◦ Melons, berries, tomatoes, potatoes,
broccoli, fortified juices, kiwi, mangos,
yellow peppers and citrus fruits
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
37