what are vitamins?
Vitamins are micronutrients (organic compounds) required by the body to carry out a range of normal functions
what are factors that determine the amount of vitamin that are readily available?
– Source (animal vs. plant)
– Sunlight
– Moisture
– Growing conditions
– Plant’s maturity at harvest
– Packaging and storage
what are reasons why we wouldn’t get enough vitamins?
what is a provitamin?
a substance that may be converted within the body to a vitamin (is the inactive form)
what are the water-soluble and the fat-soluble vitamins?
differences in absorption of water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins.
fat:
- are solubilized by bile salts (make micelles)
- released at enterocyte brush border membrane
- incorporated into chylomicrons
- secretion into lymphatics and ultimate uptake by the liver (can accumulate in body)
water:
- can go through enterocytes
- go to blood vessels
- doesn’t stay long since it secreted in urine
what are the active and precursors of vitamin A?
vitamin A is important for:
how does vitamin A affect vision?
what are sources of vitamin A?
what are the effects of vitamin A deficiency?
what are the effects of vitamin A toxicity?
how is vitamin D activated?
by liver and kidney
what are the functions of vitamin D?
what are sources of vitamin D?
what happens with vitamin D deficiency and toxicity?
what are the different forms of vitamin E?
what are the functions of vitamin E?
what is the recommended daily intake of vitamin E?
what are food sources of vitamin E?
-nuts/seeds
- vegetable oil
- whole grain/wheat germ oil
- fruits and vegetables
- animal products
when does vitamin E deficiency occurs? what about toxicity?
what are the forms of vitamin K?
K1 and K2
what are the functions of vitamin K?
what are the dietary recommendations of vitamin K?