BIOD 121 (portage) Module 4: Vitamins
and Minerals
Vitamins - ANS-organic compounds that the body needs in small amounts, almost
exclusively obtained through the diet.
Function of vitamines? - ANS-help regulate and support a variety of processes related
to digestion, absorption, metabolism, and body regulations.
Yield no energy: - ANS-vitamines
Vitamins are important for: - ANS-growth and maintenance of our bodies
How many essential vitamins are there? - ANS-13 known
Essential Vitamins: - ANS-found in both plant and animal sources, and the majority
cannot be synthesized by the human body.
Exceptions to vitamins that do not have to be consumed by in the diet: - ANS-Vitamin K
and biotin (produced from gut flora in the GI tract), and vitamin D which is synthesized
in the skin through sunlight
Two vitamins can be produced through precursors: - ANS-Vitamin A can be produced
after we consume food containing beta carotene, and niacin can be produced when we
consume foods containing the amino acid tryptophan.
Organic compounds must meet 2 criteria in order to be considered a vitamin: - ANS-1)
enough of the compound must be consumed in the diet to maintain health 2)
symptoms of deficiency occur in the absence of the compound, resulting in declining
health, but is restored when the deficiency is corrected.
Why do we fortify and enrich our foods? - ANS-During manufacturing of food, some
nutrients are lost.
Enrichment: - ANS-the process of taking nutrients that were lost in the milling or
processing of the food and adding them back to the final product
, Fortification - ANS-process of supplementing a product with additional vitamins that
would not normally be in that product (i.e. putting vitamin D in orange juice or adding
vitamins to cereal)
Vitamins can be classified as: - ANS-fat soluble or water soluble
Fat-soluble vitamins: - ANS-dependent on dietary fat for absorption. Once absorbed
they are stored in adipose tissue and liver.
Vitamins A, D, E, and K are: - ANS-fat soluble
Since fat-soluble vitamins are not easily excreted from the body, excess consumption
over time could lead to: - ANS-toxic levels in the body
Two forms of Vitamin A: - ANS-Preformed (Retinol, Retinal) and Provitamin
(carotenoids)
Functions of Preformed vitamin A - ANS-vision, immunity, growth development, disease
prevention
Functions of Provitamin A - ANS-precursors, antioxidants
Deficiencies of Preformed Vitamin A - ANS-night blindness, Xeropthalmia
Xeropthalmia: - ANS-occurs when mucus isn't developing and blindness sets in
Deficiencies of Provitamin A - ANS-Macular Degeneration
Sources of Preformed Vitamin A - ANS-Animal sources
Sources of Provitamin A - ANS-Plant sources: yellow, orange, red, green leafy
vegetables
Which for of vitamin A can become toxic in high levels? - ANS-preformed vitamin A
Retinal: - ANS-helps the eyes adjust from bright to dim light
Antioxidant: - ANS-stop the reactive substances (oxidants) from potentially causing
damage to cells
and Minerals
Vitamins - ANS-organic compounds that the body needs in small amounts, almost
exclusively obtained through the diet.
Function of vitamines? - ANS-help regulate and support a variety of processes related
to digestion, absorption, metabolism, and body regulations.
Yield no energy: - ANS-vitamines
Vitamins are important for: - ANS-growth and maintenance of our bodies
How many essential vitamins are there? - ANS-13 known
Essential Vitamins: - ANS-found in both plant and animal sources, and the majority
cannot be synthesized by the human body.
Exceptions to vitamins that do not have to be consumed by in the diet: - ANS-Vitamin K
and biotin (produced from gut flora in the GI tract), and vitamin D which is synthesized
in the skin through sunlight
Two vitamins can be produced through precursors: - ANS-Vitamin A can be produced
after we consume food containing beta carotene, and niacin can be produced when we
consume foods containing the amino acid tryptophan.
Organic compounds must meet 2 criteria in order to be considered a vitamin: - ANS-1)
enough of the compound must be consumed in the diet to maintain health 2)
symptoms of deficiency occur in the absence of the compound, resulting in declining
health, but is restored when the deficiency is corrected.
Why do we fortify and enrich our foods? - ANS-During manufacturing of food, some
nutrients are lost.
Enrichment: - ANS-the process of taking nutrients that were lost in the milling or
processing of the food and adding them back to the final product
, Fortification - ANS-process of supplementing a product with additional vitamins that
would not normally be in that product (i.e. putting vitamin D in orange juice or adding
vitamins to cereal)
Vitamins can be classified as: - ANS-fat soluble or water soluble
Fat-soluble vitamins: - ANS-dependent on dietary fat for absorption. Once absorbed
they are stored in adipose tissue and liver.
Vitamins A, D, E, and K are: - ANS-fat soluble
Since fat-soluble vitamins are not easily excreted from the body, excess consumption
over time could lead to: - ANS-toxic levels in the body
Two forms of Vitamin A: - ANS-Preformed (Retinol, Retinal) and Provitamin
(carotenoids)
Functions of Preformed vitamin A - ANS-vision, immunity, growth development, disease
prevention
Functions of Provitamin A - ANS-precursors, antioxidants
Deficiencies of Preformed Vitamin A - ANS-night blindness, Xeropthalmia
Xeropthalmia: - ANS-occurs when mucus isn't developing and blindness sets in
Deficiencies of Provitamin A - ANS-Macular Degeneration
Sources of Preformed Vitamin A - ANS-Animal sources
Sources of Provitamin A - ANS-Plant sources: yellow, orange, red, green leafy
vegetables
Which for of vitamin A can become toxic in high levels? - ANS-preformed vitamin A
Retinal: - ANS-helps the eyes adjust from bright to dim light
Antioxidant: - ANS-stop the reactive substances (oxidants) from potentially causing
damage to cells
