NUTRITION AND DIETETICS

Topic

 Organ System and their Role in Nutrition and Fat Soluble

Vitamins Functions, source and Deficiency
Organ System and their Role in
Nutrition
 Digestive System
 The digestive system has broken down food to its nutrient components they are ready
to get absorbed.
 Absorption is the movement of the nutrient molecules from the digestive tract into
the blood or lymph.
 If the nutrient is fat soluble it will be packaged into a special transport package,
called a chylomicron, and absorbed into the lymph.
 The liver has the ability to store some nutrients, send some nutrients on to other
parts of the body and/or change some nutrients into other molecules the body needs.
 Fat soluble nutrients, because they are absorbed into the lymph and only later spill
into the blood, travel first to the heart but eventually they too will end up at the
liver.
Circulatory System (Cardiovascular
System)
 The circulatory system, which is part of the "cardiovascular" system, is one of the eleven organ
systems of the human body.
 The heart pumps the blood, and the blood is the transportation fluid.
 The transportation route to all tissues is a highly intricate blood-vessel network, comprised of
arteries, veins, and capillaries.
 Its main function is to transport nutrients to cells and wastes from cells
 Nutrients absorbed in the small intestine travel mainly to the liver through the hepatic portal
vein.
 From the liver, nutrients travel upward through the inferior vena cava blood vessel to the
heart.
 The heart forcefully pumps the nutrient-rich blood first to the lungs to pick up some oxygen and
then to all other cells in the body.
Central Nervous System
 The human brain (which weighs only about 3 pounds, or 1,300 kilograms) is estimated to contain
over one hundred billion neurons. Neurons form the core of the central nervous system, which
consists of the brain, spinal cord, and other nerve bundles in the body.
 The main function of the central nervous system is to sense changes in the external environment
and create a reaction to them.
 All nerve impulses travel by the movement of charged sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride
atoms.
 Eating adequate protein from a variety of sources will ensure the body gets all of the different
amino acids that are so important for central nervous system function.
Muscular System
 The muscular system allows the body to move voluntarily, but it also controls involuntary
movements of other organ systems such as heartbeat in the circulatory system and peristaltic
waves in the digestive system.
 Muscle contraction relies on energy delivery to the muscle.
 Each movement uses up cellular energy and without an adequate energy supply muscle function
suffers.
 Muscle, like the liver, can store the energy from glucose in the large polymeric molecule
glycogen.
Endocrine System

 The functions of the endocrine system are intricately connected to the body’s nutrition.
 This organ system is responsible for regulating appetite, nutrient absorption, nutrient storage,
and nutrient usage, in addition to other functions, such as reproduction.
 The glands in the endocrine system are the pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenals, thymus,
pineal, pancreas, ovaries, and testes.
 The glands secrete hormones, which are biological molecules that regulate cellular processes in
other target tissues, so they require transportation by the circulatory system.
 Adequate nutrition is critical for the functioning of all the glands in the endocrine system. A
protein deficiency impairs gonadal-hormone release, preventing reproduction.
Immune System

 The immune system is comprised of several types of white blood cells that
circulate in the blood and lymph.
 Their jobs are to seek, recruit, attack, and destroy foreign invaders, such as
bacteria and viruses.
 Immune system functions are completely dependent on dietary nutrients. In
fact, malnutrition is the leading cause of immune-system deficiency
worldwide.
 When immune system functions are inadequate there is a marked increase in
the chance of getting an infection.
Fat Soluble Vitamins Function, Source
and Deficiency
 Fat-soluble vitamins are vitamins A, D, E, and K. They are present in foods
containing fats. The body absorbs these vitamins as it does dietary fats. They
do not dissolve in water.
 Vitamins help the body function effectively. There are two types: water-
soluble and fat-soluble vitamins. The water-soluble vitamins are vitamins B
and C.
 Most vitamins come from food, but sunshine contributes to vitamin D. Some
people need or choose to take supplements that provide extra vitamins.
 The body absorbs fat-soluble vitamins best when a person eats them with
higher-fat foods.
Vitamin A

 Vitamin A helps maintainTrusted Source healthy vision. Without vitamin A, a

person could experience vision problems and possibly vision loss.
 Function
 Vitamin A supports several functions throughout the body, including:
 vision
 the immune system
Dietary sources
 fish liver oil
 beef liver
 cheese, milk, and other dairy products
 Sources of beta carotene include:
 sweet potato
 kale, spinach, and other green, leafy vegetables
 carrots
 cantaloupe
 black-eyed peas
 fortified breakfast cereals

Deficiency
 Vitamin A deficiency is rare in the United States, but it can affect a person who:
 follows a plant-based diet
 has cystic fibrosis
 A long-term deficiency can lead to a loss of night vision and possibly a total loss of vision.
Vitamin D

 People obtain vitamin D Trusted Source:

 naturally through exposure to sunlight or in the diet
 through fortified foods
 as supplements
 The body obtains the compounds it needs to make vitamin D from food. It also produces vitamin D
when ultraviolet (UV) light meets the skin.

 Function
 Vitamin D has two main roles in the body:
 It maintains bone health.
 It supports the immune system.
Dietary sources

 oily fish and fish oils

 fortified dairy products, plant-based milks, and cereals
 beef liver
 Eggs

 Deficiency
 The main effects of vitamin D deficiency include:
 osteoporosis, or loss of bone mass
 osteomalacia, when bones become soft
 rickets, when a child’s bones do not develop as they should
 increased risk of infection and autoimmunity
Vitamin E
 Vitamin E is an antioxidant that can help the body destroy free radicals. Free radicals
are unstable atoms that can cause oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can lead to cell
damage, and this can result in cancer and other diseases. Vitamin E may help protect
the body from a range of health issues.

 Function
 Some reasons why the body needs vitamin E are:
 as an antioxidant
 to boost the immune system
 to dilate blood vessels and help prevent clotting
Dietary sources
 Good sources of vitamin E include:
 wheat germ oil
 sunflower seeds and oil
 almonds, hazelnuts, and peanuts
 spinach and broccoli
 kiwi fruit and mango

 Deficiency
 Vitamin E deficiency is rare, but it can affect people with Crohn’s disease or cystic fibrosis.
These conditions affect the liver’s ability to absorb vitamin E.
 A deficiency can result in:
 nerve and muscle damage that affects movement and coordination
 vision problems
 a weakened immune system
Vitamin K

 Vitamin K helps the body form blood clots. Blood clotting is essential to prevent excessive
bleeding.

 Function
 Apart from blood clotting, vitamin K may also:
 lower the risk of heart disease
 enhance bone health
 reduce the buildup of calcium in the blood
Dietary sources
 Food sources of vitamin K-1 and K-2 include:
 kale
 liver
 spinach
 parsley
 butter
 egg yolks

 Deficiency
 The body is not able to store as much vitamin K as it does vitamin A or D. This means
a person needs a regular intake of vitamin K, and there is a higher chance of a
deficiency.
 A vitamin K deficiency may result in:
 excess bleeding
 lower bone density, in the long term
Thank you