Nutrition: Niacin and Folate Quiz

Introduction to Vitamins

• Vitamins are organic compounds vital for various bodily processes, from growth and reproduction to maintaining health.
• They are needed in small amounts.
• They function as part of coenzymes.
• Vitamins are classified as water-soluble or fat-soluble.

Vitamins - General Information

• Casmir Funk (1911) identified substances in foods vital to life, naming them vitamins.
• The word "vita" means life, and "amine" refers to nitrogen-containing compounds.
  • Not all vitamins contain nitrogen, however
• Vitamins are often isolated and purified
• They might be added to a food (fortification/enrichment) or pills (supplements).
• Examples: naturally present in foods, added to foods, or consumed as natural health products are all part of the modern diet.
• Key function: promote and regulate growth, reproduction, and health maintenance.

Classification of Vitamins

• Water-soluble vitamins: dissolve in water

  • Examples: B vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, biotin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, Vitamin C)

• Fat-soluble vitamins: dissolve in fat

  • Examples: Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K

Thiamin (B1)

Thiamin (B1) - History

• Beri beri, a disease involving symptoms like weakness, fatigue, and depression, was found to be related to a deficiency.
  • Takaki (Japanese naval officer) observed that removing the outer husk from rice was a risk factor for this disease.
  • Eijkmman later found that chickens receiving a diet solely of refined rice developed Beri Beri, but adding rice husks to the diet resolved symptoms.
• The chemical structure was determined in 1936/37.
• Thiamin is important for energy release.

Thiamin (B1) - Chemistry and Properties

• Water-soluble; destroyed by heat and oxygen.
• Canadian regulations added Thiamin in some processed foods.

Thiamin (B1) - Function

• Thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP) is a coenzyme in energy-releasing reactions.
• It is needed in pyruvate-acetyl CoA and ketoglutarate-succinyl CoA reactions.
• TPP is a part of nerve cells.

Thiamin (B1) - Deficiency

• Symptoms of deficiency include beri beri (including 4 forms: infantile, wet, dry, and cerebral).
• Cerebral beri beri also known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is linked to alcohol consumption.

Thiamin (B1) - Food Sources

• Pork and whole grains are good sources of thiamin.

Riboflavin (B2) - History

• The second B vitamin discovered.
• Another name is Vitamin B2

Riboflavin (B2) - Chemistry and Properties

• Water-soluble
• Susceptible to light.
• Canadian regulations added Riboflavin in processed foods.

Riboflavin (B2) - Function

• Part of coenzymes FMN and FAD needed in energy-producing processes of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.

Riboflavin (B2) - Deficiency

• Deficiency disease is called Ariboflavinosis.
• Symptoms include cheilosis, glossitis, and ocular disorders (including eye inflammation, itching, and sensitivity to light)

Riboflavin (B2) - Food Sources

• Grains, milk and milk products, and meat are good sources of riboflavin.

Niacin (B3) - History

• The third B vitamin discovered.
• Another name is vitamin B3
• Major discovery was due to researching pellagra

Niacin (B3) - Chemistry and Properties

• Water-soluble
• Canadian regulations added Niacin in processed foods.

Niacin (B3) - Function

• Part of coenzymes NAD and NADP used in energy-releasing processes.
• Needed for tryptophan conversion into niacin

Niacin (B3) - Deficiency

• Deficiency causes pellagra
• Symptoms include dermatitis, diarrhea, and dementia

Niacin (B3) - Food Sources

• Protein rich foods are good sources.

Biotin (B7) -

Biotin - General Information

• Also called coenzyme R or vitamin H
• Water soluble.
• Found in most foods

Biotin - Function

• Serves as a coenzyme in metabolic processes.

Biotin - Deficiency

• Deficiency is rare.
• Raw egg whites contain avidin that binds to biotin inhibiting absorption, causing deficiency.

Biotin - Toxicity

• There is generally no toxicity known.

Biotin - Food Sources

• All foods

Pantothenic Acid (B5) -

Pantothenic Acid (B5) - General Information

• Also called vitamin B5
• Found in many foods

Pantothenic Acid (B5) - Biochemistry and Properties

• Often susceptible to damage by heat/acid

Pantothenic Acid (B5) - Function

• Part of CoA coenzyme used in energy extraction

Pantothenic Acid (B5) - Deficiency

• There is no known deficiency

Pantothenic Acid (B5) - Toxicity

• Potentially causes diarrhea in large doses

Pantothenic Acid (B5) - Food Sources

• All foods

Vitamin B6 :

Vitamin B6 - General Information

• A complex of three related compounds.
• Also referred to Pyridoxine , pyridoxal, and pyridoxamine.
• Water soluble.

Vitamin B6 - Function

• Part of co-enzymes needed for protein metabolism

Vitamin B6 - Deficiency

• Deficiency is rare, but can lead to anemia and other symptoms

Vitamin B6 - Food Sources

• Common in protein-rich foods

Folate -

Folate - General Information

• Also called folic acid or PGA
• Water-soluble

Folate - History

• Dr. Lucy Wills discovered that folate was necessary to prevent anemia during pregnancy.

Folate - Function

• Part of coenzyme THF vital in protein metabolism and DNA synthesis

Folate - Deficiency

• Deficiency causes anemia and neural tube defects like spina bifida.
• Particularly during pregnancy.

Folate - Toxicity

• Excessive intake (not common from diet alone)

Folate - Food Sources

• Common in green vegetables, legumes, and some fortified foods

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 - History

• Researchers observed pernicious anemia linked to low liver quantities of a substance named B12.
• Found that large quantities of liver cured anemia
• Its structure was later determined and named "cobalamin."

Vitamin B12 - Chemistry and Properties

• B12 is stored in the liver and its absorption requires intrinsic factor in the stomach.
• It's a relatively long-lasting nutrient in the body; therefore, less frequent consumption is required.

Vitamin B12 - Function

• A part of coenzymes important for cell growth and DNA production

Vitamin B12 - Deficiency

• Leads to pernicious anemia due to poor absorption linked to intrinsic factor.

Vitamin B12 - Food Sources

• Primarily found in animal products.

Choline -

Choline - General Information

• A water-soluble compound.
• Used by the body to make acetylcholine and phospholipids for cell structure, and is needed for muscle control.

Choline - Biochemistry

• The body can make sufficient choline amounts when processed by intestinal cells.
• Reconfigured into lecithin molecules.

Choline - Nutritional Considerations

• The body can synthesize sufficient amounts; nevertheless, research shows that choline-deficient diets can damage the liver.
• Classified as a conditionally essential nutrient.

Vitamin B Imposters -

• Compounds marketed as B vitamins that are not actual B vitamins include inositol and lipoic acid.
• They're made by the body and plentiful in foods, so they're considered non-essential.
• Other imposters include Vitamin P, Coenzyme Q10, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B15, Vitamin B17, Vitamin O, and Vitamin B4.

Important Metabolic Pathways

• Many metabolic pathways utilize these B vitamins in critical roles, like energy production from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.

Note:

• Information on toxicity, deficiency symptoms, and dietary sources needs to be further dissected across each vitamin.

Test your knowledge on niacin and folate, two essential nutrients. This quiz covers their functions, dietary sources, clinical symptoms of deficiencies, and more. Challenge yourself with questions about dietary recommendations and coenzymes related to these critical vitamins.