Plant & Animal Nutrition, Vitamins (Part 1)

Plant & Animal Nutrition, Vitamins (Part 1)

• Nutrients are components in food (carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, fats) essential for living organisms.
• Plants produce their own food, while animals and humans rely on plants and/or animals for food.

Types of Nutrients

• Proximate Principles of Food:
  • Energy formation: Carbohydrates, Fat
  • Body structure: Protein
• Protective Principles of Food: Vitamins, Minerals

Carbohydrates

• Carbohydrates have a C:H:O ratio of 1:2:1.
• The basic unit is a monosaccharide.
• Examples of carbohydrates include:
  • Glucose
  • Glycogen
  • Sucrose
  • Fructose (sweetest sugar)
  • Sucrose (cane sugar)
  • Lactose (milk sugar)
• Iodine test is used to identify carbohydrates

Proteins

• Proteins are formed by linking amino acids via peptide bonds.
• Examples of proteins include:
  • Keratin
  • Nucleo protein
  • Serum albumin
• Biuret test is used to identify proteins
• Protein deficiency can lead to Kwashiorkor/Marasmus
• Marasmus is a protein-calorie malnutrition

Fats

• Fats (lipids) are made up of fatty acids and glycerol.
• Examples of fats include:
  • Fatty acids
  • Steroids
  • Waxes
• Emulson test/Acrolein test are used to identify fats
• Cholesterol is important, with "bad" (LDL) and "good" (HDL) types.

Balanced Diet

• The ratio of carbohydrate:protein:fat in a balanced diet is approximately 4:1:1.
• A balanced diet provides all necessary nutrients for optimal body function. It's not just about calories.

Minerals

• Essential elements needed for nutrition are called essential elements/minerals.

• Examples of minerals include: (Image shows, but no specific detail about each)

  • Cr
  • Mg
  • Fe
  • Zn
  • Ca
  • Na
  • Se
  • Cu
  • F

• Macro elements:

  • C, H, O, N are framework elements in organisms.
  • Mg is essential for chlorophyll.
  • K helps in stomatal opening and closing.
  • Ca is crucial for bone and tooth formation

• Micro elements:

  • Required in minor quantities for plant nutrition.
  • Examples (Image shows, but no specific detail about each)
  • Fe in chlorophyll
  • B in carbohydrate transport
  • Mo in nitrogen fixation
  • Zn in Auxin biosynthesis
  • Co is a component of Vitamin B12 and deficiency can lead to pernicious anemia.
  • Iodine is critical for thyroid gland function.

• Plant examples: Magnesium is important for chlorophyll and deficiency in plants leads to chlorosis.

• Animal examples: Calcium and phosphorus are essential for bone health; deficiency can cause rickets in animals. Iron deficiency can lead to anemia in animals.

Explore the essential nutrients necessary for the survival of plants and animals in this quiz. Delve into the types of nutrients, including carbohydrates and proteins, and their significance. Test your knowledge on the methods used to identify these nutrients, such as the iodine and Biuret tests.