Vitamins and Minerals Quiz

Vitamin Deficiencies

• Vitamin B9 (folate) deficiency: caused by lack of folic acid, found in leafy green vegetables, orange juice, and avocado
• Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency: leads to pernicious anemia, found in salmon, yogurt, and milk

Minerals

• Potassium, sodium, and chloride: necessary for fluid balance and nerve conduction
• Calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium: necessary for muscle contraction and heartbeat regulation
• Phosphorus: necessary for kidney function and heartbeat regularity
• Magnesium: necessary for blood pressure and heartbeat regulation
• Iron, magnesium, copper, zinc, iodine, and fluoride: essential trace minerals

Metabolism

• Anabolism: build-up of simple materials to complex substances
• Catabolism: breakdown of complex substances into simple substances
• Basic metabolic rate (BMR): minimum energy required to maintain bodily functions at rest while awake
• Factors increasing BMR: growth, infections, fever, emotional tension, extreme environmental temperature
• Factors decreasing BMR: aging, prolonged fasting, sleep

Nutrition

• Absorption: movement of smaller elements through digestive tract walls into the blood
• Psychologic factors affecting food habits: stage of development, state of health, medications, psychosocial, and sociocultural factors
• Nutritional assessment: health history, dysphagia (aided by chin-on-chest position)

Malnutrition

• Imbalance in nutrient intake and body's needs
• Types: taking less than what the body needs (malnutrition), taking more than what the body needs (obesity)

Classes of Nutrients

• Macronutrients (energy-supplying): carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids
• Micronutrients (regulating body processes): vitamins and minerals

Carbohydrates

• 4 kcal/gram, 45-65% of total calories
• Classification: simple (broken down quickly) and complex (takes longer to break down)

Proteins

• 4 kcal/gram, 0.8g/kg recommended intake
• Composed of amino acids, complete or incomplete proteins
• Essential amino acids: cannot be produced by the body

Lipids

• 9 kcal/gram
• Classification: saturated (animal fats, raises cholesterol) and unsaturated (vegetables)

Vitamins

• Fat-soluble: A, D, E, and K, require fat for absorption
• Water-soluble: B complex and C, easily destroyed, must be ingested daily
• Deficiencies:
  • Vitamin A: Xerophthalmia, night blindness, and cornea drying
  • Vitamin D: Ricketts and Osteomalacia
  • Vitamin E: Peripheral Neuropathy, Ataxia, and Decreased Immune Function
  • Vitamin K: increased risk of bleeding
  • Vitamin C: scurvy
  • B Vitamins: various deficiencies, e.g., beriberi, Pellagra, anemia, and peripheral neuropathy