Vitamins Overview Quiz

Fat Soluble Vitamins

• Vitamin A is essential for vision, growth, reproduction, skin and hair health.
• Vitamin A deficiency can lead to night blindness, growth failure, reproductive issues, skin and mucus membrane problems, and dry eyes.
• Excessive Vitamin A intake can lead to headaches, drowsiness, nausea, skin and bone abnormalities, congenital malformations, dry itchy skin, and hair loss.

Water Soluble Vitamins

• Vitamin C is essential for collagen synthesis, absorption of iron, activation of folic acid, and acts as an antioxidant.
• Vitamin C deficiency can lead to scurvy, characterized by soft swollen gums, loose teeth, bleeding tendencies, swollen joints, muscle weakness, and delayed wound healing.
• Vitamin C also plays a role in iron absorption and iron deficiency anemia.

B- Vitamins

• B-complex vitamins include B1 (Thiamine), B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacin), B5 (Pantothenic acid), B6 (Pyridoxine), B7 (Biotin), B9 (Folic acid), and B12 (Cobalamine).

Thiamine (B1)

• Thiamine is essential for the production of ATP, and is present in the active form TPP.
• Thiamine deficiency (Beri-beri) can manifest in two forms:
  • Dry Beri-beri: neurological disorders
  • Wet Beri-beri: cardiovascular and gastrointestinal disorders

Riboflavin (B2)

• Riboflavin is present in two forms:
  • FMN
  • FAD
• FMN and FAD are hydrogen carriers involved in oxidation-reduction reactions.
• Deficiency can lead to:
  • Angular stomatitis
  • Glossitis
  • Photophobia

Niacin (B3)

• Niacin is present in three coenzyme forms:
  • NAD
  • NADP
  • NMN
• Deficiency can lead to Pellagra, characterized by:
  • Dermatitis
  • Diarrhea
  • Dementia

Pantothenic Acid (B5)

• Important for the formation of Co-ASH, a carrier in many metabolic reactions.

Pyridoxine (B6)

• Pyridoxine is present in the active form PLP, a coenzyme involved in amino acid metabolism, including:
  • Transamination
  • Deamination
  • Decarboxylation
• Deficiency can lead to:
  • Impaired growth
  • Iron deficiency anemia
  • Neurological disorders
  • Pellagra

Biotin (B7)

• Essential for many enzymatic reactions in metabolism.

Folic Acid (B9)

• The active form of folic acid is Tetrahydrofolate (THF), essential for erythropoiesis and DNA synthesis.
• Deficiency can lead to:
  • Impaired growth
  • Megaloblastic anemia

Cobalamin (B12)

• Not present in plants, only in animal products.
• Synthesiszed by intestinal bacteria.
• Absorption requires Intrinsic Factor (IF) secreted by the stomach.
• Functions:
  • Carrier of methyl groups (CH3)
  • Reduction of ribose to deoxyribose
  • Amino acid activation
  • Essential for erythropoiesis
  • Regeneration of peripheral nerves
• Deficiency can lead to Pernicious anemia, characterized by:
  • Megaloblastic anemia
  • Neurological manifestations

Minerals

• Minerals are divided into major elements (Macronutrients) and trace elements (Micronutrients).

Major Elements (Macronutrients)

• These are required in amounts > 100mg/day

Calcium

• Normal blood Calcium level: 9-11 mg/dl
• Functions:
  • Bone mineralization
  • Blood coagulation
  • Membrane permeability
  • Muscle and nerve excitability
  • Second messenger for hormones
  • For activity of many enzymes
• Factors affecting Calcium absorption:
  • Calcitriol
  • PTH
  • pH of intestinal contents
  • Dietary factors
• Disorders:
  • Hypocalcemia: blood levels < 8.8 mg/dl, can lead to tetany and bone deformities
  • Hypercalcemia: blood level > 11 mg/dl, can lead to calcification of soft tissue

Phosphorus

• Normal Blood level:
  • Children: 4-7 mg/dl
  • Adults: 3-4.5 mg/dl
• Function:
  • Bone and teeth mineralization
  • Phosphorus ester compounds for energy transfer and storage
  • Nucleic acid formation
  • Coenzymes
• Serum Calcium: Phosphorus ratio is important for ossification

Control of Blood Calcium and Phosphorus

• Regulated through the action of Calcitriol, PTH, and Calcitonin on the intestine, kidney, and bone:
  • Calcitriol: increases Calcium and Phosphorus levels
  • PTH: increases Calcium and Phosphorus levels
  • Calcitonin: decreases Calcium and Phosphorus levels

Sodium

• Major cation in extracellular fluid
• Normal blood level: 132-146 mEq/L
• Functions:
  • Regulating acid-base balance
  • Maintenance of osmotic pressure
  • Nerve impulse conduction
  • Maintain normal muscle irritability
  • Cell permeability
• Source: Table salt (NaCl)

Potassium

• Main intracellular fluid cation
• Plasma level: 3.5-5 mEq/L
• Functions:
  • Essential for metabolic processes, including protein synthesis, glycogensis, and glycogenolysis
  • Maintains normal cardiac muscle excitability
  • Acid-base balance, osmotic pressure, and water content

Magnesium

• 70% is found with calcium and phosphorus in bones
• 30% is in all tissues and body fluids
• Functions:
  • Acts as an activator for phosphate transferase enzymes
  • Co-factor in RNA and DNA synthesis
  • Nerve impulse conduction

Chloride

• Functions:
  • Regulates acid-base balance
  • Maintenance of osmotic pressure and water balance
  • Activates salivary amylase

Trace Elements (Micronutrients)

• Required in amounts < 100 mg/day

Iron

• Function:
  • Hemoglobin and myoglobin structure
  • Respiratory cytochromes
  • Cytochrome P450
  • Peroxidases and catalases
• Disorders:
  • Iron deficiency anemia: decrease serum iron
  • Haemosiderosis: increased serum iron
• Factors affecting iron absorption:

Zinc

• Essential for:
  • Reproduction, tissue repair, and wound healing
  • Insulin storage and release
• Deficiency can lead to:
  • Growth retardation
  • Delayed would healing
  • Impaired sexual development

Copper (Cu)

• Essential for:
  • Hemoglobin synthesis
  • Bone formation
  • Maintenance of myelin

Manganese (Mn)

• Essential for:
  • Normal bone structure
  • Central nervous system and spermatogenesis
  • Activates many enzymes

Iodine

• Formation of thyroid hormones
• Deficiency can lead to goiter

Fluoride

• Found in bones, teeth, and small amounts in soft tissue
• Functions:
  • Protects against dental caries
  • Protects against osteoporosis and osteomalacia

This quiz covers essential information about fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins, including Vitamin A and Vitamin C, along with the B-complex vitamins. Test your knowledge on their functions, deficiencies, and the effects of excessive intake. Ideal for students studying nutrition or health sciences.