VITAMINS

POTENT , ESSENTIAL , NON-CALORIC , ORGANIC

NUTRIENTS, NEEDED FROM FOOD IN TRACE AMOUNTS
TO PERFORM SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS , THAT PROMOTE
GROWTH,REPRODUCTION , MAINTENANCE OF
HEALTH AND LIFE.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS OF VITAMINS
1. DONOT YIELD ENERGY WHEN BROKEN DOWN BUT
ASSIST THE ENZYMES THAT RELEASE ENERGY FROM CPF.
2. NEEDED IN MUCH SMALLER AMOUNTS THAN THE
ENERGY NUTRIENTS.
3. DIETARY ESSENTIALS
FACTORS AFFECTING THE BIOAVAILABILITY OF
VITAMINS
1. The quantity provided by food.
2. The amount absorbed and used by the body.
3. A person’s previous nutrient intake and
nutritional status.
4. Other foods eaten at the same time.
5. The methods of food preparation
6. The source of nutrients
TERMS ASSOCIATED WITH VITAMINS
1. PRECURSOR OR PROVITAMINS
- these are compounds that can be changed
to the active vitamins , they are potential
vitamins.
eg. Carotene to the vitamin A in the SI
ergosterol to vitamin D with 7
dehydrocholesterol as precursor
2. PREFORMED VITAMINS
- these are naturally-occuring that in active
form and ready for its biological role.
3. AVITAMINOSIS
- a condition resulting from lack of a
vitamin in its later stage when more defined
signs and symptoms will occur.
eg. Xeropthalmia – vitamin A deficiency
4. HYPERVITAMINOSIS
- a vitamin toxicity or a condition is a
result of excessive accumulation of a vitamin
in the body.
eg. Teratogenic – toxicity of vitamin A
5.ANTIVITAMINS OR VITAMIN ANTAGONIST
- these are substances that interfere with the
normal functioning of a vitamin.
eg. Dicumarol against vitamin K
6. SYNTHETIC VITAMINS
- man-made or synthesized in the laboratory
- does not substitute for normal intakes of
vitamins from foods.
7. VITAMERS
- are multiple forms of a vitamin
eg. Vitamin B6 – pyridoxine , pyridoxal ,
pyridoxamine
CLASSIFICATIONS OF VITAMINS
1. FAT SOLUBLE VITAMINS
-ADEK
2. WATER SOLUBLE VITAMINS
- ASCORBIC ACID
- VITAMIN B COMPLEX
Water soluble vitamins
1. do not have precursors
2. found in watery compartments of
food
3. distributed into water-filled
compartments of the body
4.easily absorbed into the blood
stream
5. easily excreted if blood
concentration is high with the
urine
6. less likely to reach toxic
concentration
7.deficiency symptoms develop fast
8. easily destroyed by ordinary
cooking
Fat soluble vitamins
1. generally have precursor
2. stored in the liver and fatty
tissues
3. present in fats and oils of food
4. absorbed like lipids
5. not readily excreted
6. can build up toxic
concentrations
7. deficiencies are slow to
develop
8. generally stable
 MAJOR DEFICIENCY FOOD TOXICITY
FUNCTIONS SYMPTOMS SOURCES SYPTOMS

VITAMIN A 1.ROLE IN GENE NIGHT LIVER , FETAL

EXPRESSION BLINDNESS BUTTER, MALFORMA
2. ROLE IN VISION FORTIFIED TION , HAIR
3. ROLE IN CHON XEROPTHALMIA MILK AND LOSS , SKIN
SYNTHESIS AND MARGARI CHANGES ,
CELL POOR GROWTH NE PAIN BONES
DIFFERENTIATION IF BEYOND
4.ROLE IN DRY SKIN CARROTS , 3,000 RE
IMMUNITY GREEN PER DAY
5. ROLE IN BROCCOLI ,
REPRODUCTION, SWEET
GROWTH AND POTATO ,
DEVELOPMENT SPINACH ,
6. ROLE AS AN PAPAYA ,
ANTI OXIDANT APRICOTS
VITAMIN D 1. Facilitate Rickets Fortified – Growth
absorption milk and retardation
of Ca and Osteomal margarine , Kidney
P. acia fish oils , damage
2. Maintain sardines , Deposits in
optimal salmon soft tissues
calcificatio Toxic
n of bones beyond
2,000 IU/
day
VITAMIN E 1. Act as Hemolysis Vegetable Muscle
antioxidant of RBC oils , weakness
2. Prevent the Nerve some Headaches
breakdown of destructio green, Fatigue
vitamin A and K n some Blood clots
and unsaturated fruits, Toxic
fats. wheat beyond
3. Protects other germ , 1,200 IU /
substance from peanuts , day
oxidation. oils
4. Important
antioxidant
effect in the
lungs by
protecting the
lungs from air
pollutants.
VITAMIN K Help from Hemorrhage Green Anemia and
prothrombin vegetables jaundice
and other Non-fat milk
factors for Liver
blood clotting Broccoli
and bone eggs
formation
 WATER SOLUBLE VITAMINS
1. VITAMIN C OR ANTISCURVY VITAMIN
FUNCTIONS :
1. Conversion of folic acid to its active form.
2. Healing of wounds and bone fractures.
3. Prevention of megaloblastic anemia and
pinpoint hemorrhages.
4. Building of body resistance againts infection.
5. Production of steroid hormones , esp.
Adrenocortico-hormones under severe stress and
insulin synthesis.
6. Tyrosine and phenylalanine synthesis.
7. Iron utilization is improved by vitamin C ,
making iron more available for Hgb formation
and RBC maturation.
8. Involved in brain metabolism.
9. Antioxidant vitamin-protects normal cells from
the damage of free radicals.
10. Shown to help prevent cataract.
UTILIZATION
1. Almost completely absorbed in the small
intestine , except in cases of achlorhydria and
GIT disorders.
2. Adrenal glands , liver and other glandular
organs contain the highest amount of vitamin
C in the body.
3. Almost all plants and animals can synthesize
vitamin C except for human and other specific
animals.
MALNUTRITION
1. SIGNS OF EARLY DEFICIENCIES :
1. irritability
2.weakness
3. lack of appetite
4. pallor
5. lowered resistance to infection
2. SCURVY – severe type of vitamin C deficiency
1. Bleeding
2. Swollen tender joints
3. Loose teeth
5. Swollen gums
6. Capillary fragility
INFANTILE SCURVY – the infant flexes his legs for
comfort or the so called “frog’s position” of
the legs because the thighs are swollen and
the joints are painful. Skeletal growth and
dentetion are delayed.
FOOD SOURCES ( all in one
exchange )
1. Malunggay = 231 mg
2. Kasuy = 167 mg
3.Bayabas pula = 158 mg
4. Bayabas puti = 127 mg
5. Orange = 100 mg
6. Strawberry =97 mg
WATER SOLUBLE VITAMINS
1. Help to burn the fuel but do not serve as fuel .
2. 8 B vitamins are part of enzyme helper known as
CO-ENZYME – is a small molecule that combines
with an enzyme to make it active and attractive to
substance.
3. B1 , B2, B3 , PANTOTHENIC CID , Biotin – participate
in the release of energy from CHO , CHON and FATS.
4. Co-enzyme containing B6 – help enzyme to
metabolize AA
5. Co-enzyme containing folate – help in making new
cells but also depends on the co-enzyme containing
B12. ,
6. Major B vitamins deficiencies are only are:
BERI-BERI – resulted when bran in rice is removed to
make whiter rice.
PELLAGRA – resulted from LOW CHON diet and
more in corn which low in TRYTOPHAN.
7. Processes that protect people from deficiencies
of vitamins are:
FORTIFICATION - the addition to a food of
nutrients that were either not originally present
or lost during process.
ENRICHMENT – the addition to a food of nutrients to
meet a specified standard.
1. B1 OR THIAMIN
- help in normal functioning of the nerve cells
- WERNICKE-KORSOKOFF SYNDROME
-deficiency of thiamin due to alcohol abuse
* alcohol contributes energy but carries
almost no nutrients with it and often displaces
foods.
* alcohol impairs absorption of thiamin from
the digestive tract and hastens its excretion in
the urine.
1. B1 OR THIAMIN
2. B3 OR NIACIN
- can be made from CHON , an AA
tryptophan can be converted to niacin in the
body. 60mg of tryptophan = 1 mg of niacin.
- deficiency will result to dilation of the
capillaries of the skin with perceptive tingling
that if intense can be painful.
- can also be a pharmacological agent in a
form of drug as - nicotinic acid that is effective
in lowering blood cholesterol in the treatment
of atherosclerosis.
2. B3 OR NIACIN
3. PANTOTHENIC ACID
- involved in more than 100 steps in the synthesis of :
lipids , steroid hormones , hgb , neurotransmitter-
communication molecule of the brain.
- help in synthesis of lipids
- essential for CPF metabolism
- for normal growth , healthy skin and integrity of the CNS
4. BIOTIN - B 7
- plays an important role in metabolism as a
co-enzyme that carries CO2.
- AVIDIN is a CHON in raw eggwhite that contains
harmful substance, BIOTIN binds AVIDIN and
rendered it harmless.
- helps in the synthesis of of purines and FA
5. B6 OR PYRIDOXINE
- stored extremely in muscle tissue
- aids in the conversion of AA tryptophan to niacin.
- an anticonvulsants vitamin
- prevents nausea and vomiting in pregnancy
- catalyzes urea formation
- synthesis of EFA
6. FOLATE - B9
- important in synthesis of heme
- help in the treatment of SPRUE
SPRUE – a malabsorption disease
- essential in erythropoiesis
- deficiency will result to anemia and GIT
deterioration
- antagonist are : alcohol , aspirin , contaceptive
drugs , smoking and anticonvulsant drugs
- prevents NTD ( Neural Tube Defect ) –
malformation of the brain , spinal cord or both
during embyonic dev’t.
6. FOLATE
7. B12 or CYANOCOBALAMIN
- needs an INTRINSIC FACTOR (IF ) for
absorption from the intestinal tract to the
bloodstream.
- IF is a mucuprotein enzyme secreted in the
fundus of the stomach where it attaches to the
vitamin.
- IF maybe loss due to sprue
-tissues in the body that can contain highest
concentartion of B12 are kidneys , testes , brain ,
spleen , pancreas , bone marrow and muscles.
7. B 12
8. CHOLINE
- it mobilizes fats and prevents fatty liver
- needed for fat transport as a constituent of
phospholipids ( cephalin )
- integral component of acetylcholine – that
helps in the transmission of nerve impulses.
- deficiency may result to fatty liver
- highest food sources are : eggyolk , liver ,
brain , kidneys , heart and legumes
8. CHOLINE
9. TAURINE
- added to milk formula
to provide concentration
similar to breastmilk.
- component of bile acids
- regulator of heartbeat
-important for retinal
development and
functions.
best food sources are :
fish oils and meat
VITAMINS FUNCTIONS DEFICIENCY TOXICITY FOOD SOURCES
Niacin (Vitamin Part of Pellagra Niacin flush, Milk, eggs, meat,
B3) coenzymes used (diarrhea, liver damage, poultry , fish,
in energy dermatitis, and impaired whole-grain and
metabolism dementia) glucose enriched breads,
tolerance and cereals,
nuts, and all
protein-
containing foods
Biotin Part of a Skin rash, hair None Widespread in
coenzyme used loss, foods; GI
in energy neurological bacteria
metabolism disturbances synthesis
Pantothenic Part of a Digestive and None Widespread in
acid coenzyme used neurological foods
in energy disturbances
metabolism
VITAMINS FUNCTIONS DEFICIENCY TOXICITY FOOD SOURCES
Vitamin B6 Part of Scaly dermatitis, Nerve Meats, fish,
(Pyridoxine) coenzymes used depression, degeneration, poultry,
in amino acid confusion skin lesions potatoes,
and fatty acid convulsions, legumes,
metabolism anemia noncitrus fruits,
fortified cereals,
liver, soy
products
Folate (Folic Activates Anemia; smooth, Masks vitamin Fortified grains,
acid) vitamin B12; red tongue; B12 deficiency leafy green
helps synthesize mental vegetables,
DNA for new confusion, legumes, seeds,
cell growth elevated liver
homocysteine
Vitamin B12 Activates folate; Anemia; nerve None Foods derived
(Cobalamin) helps synthesize damage and from animals
DNA for new paralysis (meat, poultry,
cell growth; fish, shellfish,
protects nerve milk, cheese,
cells eggs), fortified
cereals
VITAMINS FUNCTIONS DEFICIENCY TOXICITY FOOD SOURCES
Vitamin C Synthesis of Scurvy (bleeding Diarrhea, GI Citrus fruits,
(Ascorbic Acid) collagen, gums, pinpoint distress cabbage-type
carnitine, hemorrhages, vegetables, dark
hormones, abnormal bone green
neurotransmitte growth, and vegetables (such
rs; antioxidant joint pain) as bell peppers
and broccoli),
cantaloupe;
strawberries,
lettuce,
tomatoes,
potatoes,
papayas,
mangoes