Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
I. Vitamin A
Two general sources in human diet:
preformed vitamin A (A1 & A2) &
precursor carotene (provitamin A)
preformed vitamin A: animal
foods such as dairy foods
and fish liver oils
provitamin A: plant foods
that have deep yellow or
green pigment; betacarotene most important =
highest vitamin A activity &
is most plentiful
Retinol (vitamin A alcohol), retinoic
acid (vitamin A acid)
Sprue may induce a vit. A
deficiency
Liver stores reserves
Functions:
Formation of visual purple
for normal maintenance of
retina
Control of differentiation of
epithelium in mucussecreting structures
Promotion of bone
remodeling
Activation of cell membrane
systems
Promotion of health of oral
structures
Vitamin A deficiency
Bitot's spot, xeropthalmia,
keratomalacia, follicular
hyperkeratosis
Hyperkeratosis and
hyperplasia of gingival
tissue; retardation and
eventual stop of growth of
incisor teeth; crowding of
teeth, & stunting &
thickening of tooth roots,
reduction of salivary flow &
increase in caries
1 retinol equivalent (RE) = 1 g of
retinol/6 g of beta-carotene; 1 IU
= 0.3 g of retinol/0.6 g of betacarotene
RDA: 1000 RE or 5000 IU (M); 800
RE or 4000 IU (F)
Preformed vitamin A: liver, kidney,
cream, butter, egg yolk
Provitamin A: carrots, sweet
potatoes, squash, apricots,
II. Vitamin D
Vitamin D2 (Ergocalciferol)
derived from ergosterol,
found in fungi & yeasts
1 mg = 40,000 IU
Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol)
produced in the skin
present in small amounts in
egg yolk, liver & fish
(salmon, herring, tuna)
Both equally potent as dietary
supplements
Functions both as a vitamin &
hormone
Principal action: Promote intestinal
calcium and phosphate absorption
Necessary for formation of normal
bone & calcification or repair of
diseased bone
RDA: Daily intake of 400 IU (10 ug)
from birth-22 y/o
Pregnant & lactating
women: around 500 IU/day;
19-22 y/o = 300 IU (7.5 g)
200 IU for adult men &
women
Sunlight major non-food source
amount depends on length
of intensity of exposure &
amount of pigment in skin
Fatty fish, eggs, liver & butter
(naturally occurring but in small
amounts); fish liver oil or fortified
milk
Vitamin D supplements for elderly
who are house-bound and
individuals who are lactose
intolerant
Rickets: Lack of orderly change
from cartilaginous material to
calcified bone during bone
development
III. Vitamin E
Includes tocopherols; alphatocopherol is most biologically
active form
Absorbed best in the presence of
fat; biliary tract diseases,
pancreatic insufficiency, excessive
mineral oil ingestion reduce
amount of vitamin E absorbed
Biological antioxidant to limit freeradical chain rxns, protect body
cells from lipid peroxidation &
ultimate destruction (cellular
membranes are major sites of
damage) = Make cell membranes
more stable & spare cell wall
constituents from damage
Prevents fats from becoming rancid
Vitamin E requirement is
proportional to amount & degree of
unsaturation of polyunsaturated
fatty acids (PUFA) in diet
less PU fats eaten, less
vitamin E required
Vitamin E deficiency rare in
humans; if present, is due to
congenital or malabsorption
diseases
impaired neuromuscular
function
Tx: 30-100 mg daily
People taking coagulants (ex.
Coumadin) should not take high
doses of vitamin E
headaches, fatigue,
weakness, blurred vision,
flatulence, diarrhea
Take caution when there is
consumption above 600 mg
1 IU = 1 mg dl-alpha tocopherol
(equivalent)
Infants: 3-4 ATE
Men & Pregnant women: 10
Women: 8
Lactacting women: 11
Seed oils, soybean, safflower,
cottonseed, corn, peanut oils
plants with dark, green
leaves; meat; milk; fish &
fish liver oils; eggs
IV. Vitamin K
Absorption requires bile &
pancreatic juice
Primary function: catalyze
synthesis of prothrombin by the
liver
also essential for other
clotting factors (VII, IX, X)
absence of these factors
leads to a development of
prothrombin deficiency &
blood clotting is greatly
prolonged
Formation of fibrin clot
precursor (vitamin K)
prothrombin +
thrompoplastin (calcium)
thrombin in liver
thrombin + fibrinogen
fibrin clot
Vitamin K deficiency: when there is
a conditioning factor (ex. biliary
disease, severe liver disease)
intestinal disease
associated with
malabsorption of fat (ex.
celiac disease), pancreatic
disease, hypermotility of
intestine
prolonged antibiotic therapy
& those who have poor diets