Food Nutrition and health

Third form

Topic: Nutrients

Sub-Topic: Micronutrients

1. What are Micronutrients? Micronutrients are nutrients that are required by the body in lesser
amounts for its growth and development/ It is any substance, such as vitamin, essential for
healthy development but required only in minute (very small) amounts.
2. Name the Nutrients that fall under the micronutrients group
Vitamins, Minerals and Water
3. What are fat soluble Vitamins? These vitamins do not dissolve in water. These are stored in
the liver and fatty tissues for future use. Vitamins A, D, E, and K are important fat-soluble
vitamins. They play a major role in the proper functioning of the immune system, proper
bone development, proper vision, and protection of cells from damage.
4. What are water soluble vitamins? Most of the vitamins can be dissolved in water. They are
difficult to store in the body and get flushed out in urine when consumed in large quantities.
They play an important role in producing energy. Since they are not stored in the body, it is
important to take enough from different food sources.
5. Name the Vitamins that fall under the fat-soluble and water-soluble Vitamin Categories.
Fat- soluble- Vitamins A, D, E & K
Water-soluble- Vitamins C & B complex

6. Construct a table with the summary of Vitamins using the following headings: Chemical Names,
Sources, Functions and Deficiencies.
Chemical Names Sources Functions Deficiencies

Vitamin A (retinol) Beef liver, sweet It’s necessary for Skin changes, night
potato, spinach, growth and blindness, loss of
carrots, milk, cheese, development of skeletal appetite, inhibited
margarine, butter, and soft tissues, because growth or protein
oranges, leafy dark of its ability to energy
green vegetables and synthesize protein and malnutrition.
broccoli bone cells.
It is needed for vision,
healthy skin and mucous
membranes, bone and
tooth growth, immune
system health

Vitamin D Egg yolks, liver, fatty Needed for proper Headache, nausea,
(calciferol) fish, fortified milk, absorption of calcium; osteoporosis,
fortified margarine. stored in bones rickets,
When exposed to osteomalacia.
sunlight, the skin can
make vitamin D.

Vitamin E Antioxidant; protects impaired reflexes

Polyunsaturated plant cell walls and coordination,
oils (soybean, corn, difficulty walking,
cottonseed, safflower); and weak muscles.
leafy green vegetables;
wheat germ; whole-
grain products; liver;
egg yolks; nuts and
seeds

Vitamin K Leafy green vegetables Needed for proper blood significant

such as kale, collard clotting bleeding, poor
greens, and spinach; bone development,
green vegetables such osteoporosis, and
as broccoli, Brussels increased risk of
sprouts, and asparagus; cardiovascular
also produced in disease.
intestinal tract by
bacteria