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Questions and Answers
What is the primary form of vitamin E stored in the human body?
What is the primary form of vitamin E stored in the human body?
Which vitamin is synthesized by bacteria in the large intestine?
Which vitamin is synthesized by bacteria in the large intestine?
Which of the following foods is highest in vitamin K content?
Which of the following foods is highest in vitamin K content?
What is a potential consequence of vitamin K deficiency?
What is a potential consequence of vitamin K deficiency?
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Which oil is primarily a source of vitamin K?
Which oil is primarily a source of vitamin K?
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Which vitamin is important for preventing oxidation in lipid membranes?
Which vitamin is important for preventing oxidation in lipid membranes?
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Why is vitamin K often administered to newborns?
Why is vitamin K often administered to newborns?
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Which of the following describes a likely cause of vitamin E deficiency?
Which of the following describes a likely cause of vitamin E deficiency?
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What are the most important provitamin A carotenoids?
What are the most important provitamin A carotenoids?
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Which condition is a common result of severe vitamin A deficiency?
Which condition is a common result of severe vitamin A deficiency?
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Which food source is highest in vitamin A content?
Which food source is highest in vitamin A content?
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What effect does mild vitamin A deficiency have on children's health?
What effect does mild vitamin A deficiency have on children's health?
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Which of the following vitamins is classified as fat-soluble?
Which of the following vitamins is classified as fat-soluble?
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Which of the following is a primary function of carotenoids?
Which of the following is a primary function of carotenoids?
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Which vitamin deficiency was described in literature as early as 2600 B.C.?
Which vitamin deficiency was described in literature as early as 2600 B.C.?
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Which of the following vitamin deficiencies can lead to neural tube defects?
Which of the following vitamin deficiencies can lead to neural tube defects?
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The presence of Bitot's spots indicates which level of vitamin A deficiency?
The presence of Bitot's spots indicates which level of vitamin A deficiency?
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What dietary source is NOT typically associated with high levels of vitamin A?
What dietary source is NOT typically associated with high levels of vitamin A?
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What is the primary role of intrinsic factor (IF) in the absorption of vitamin B12?
What is the primary role of intrinsic factor (IF) in the absorption of vitamin B12?
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Which of the following is a significant risk associated with folate deficiency during pregnancy?
Which of the following is a significant risk associated with folate deficiency during pregnancy?
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What condition results from the mineralization failure of newly formed bone in children?
What condition results from the mineralization failure of newly formed bone in children?
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Which food source is most associated with providing vitamin D3?
Which food source is most associated with providing vitamin D3?
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Which of these vitamins can be synthesized in the skin upon UV irradiation?
Which of these vitamins can be synthesized in the skin upon UV irradiation?
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Which vitamin is critical for the synthesis of purines and pyrimidines in nucleic acid synthesis?
Which vitamin is critical for the synthesis of purines and pyrimidines in nucleic acid synthesis?
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What deficiency can lead to an inability to mature red blood cells, causing megaloblastic anemia?
What deficiency can lead to an inability to mature red blood cells, causing megaloblastic anemia?
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Which of the following is not a characteristic of osteoporosis?
Which of the following is not a characteristic of osteoporosis?
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Study Notes
Vitamins
- Vitamins are a collection of different molecules.
- They do not share common chemical characteristics.
- Fats, carbohydrates, and proteins do share a common chemical characteristic.
- Vitamins are classified based on their solubility in water or organic solvents.
Water-Soluble Vitamins
- Water-soluble vitamins (9 B vitamins and vitamin C) dissolve easily in water.
- They are readily excreted from the body through the kidneys.
- They are easily absorbed into the blood.
- The amount of urine produced is a good indicator of vitamin consumption.
- They are not stored in the body, so daily intake is crucial.
Fat-Soluble Vitamins
- Fat-soluble vitamins dissolve in organic solvents and are absorbed with lipids.
- They are more likely to accumulate in the body and cause hypervitaminosis.
- Excess fat-soluble vitamins accumulate in fatty tissues.
- They can be toxic.
- They are transported by lymphatic system,similar to fats.
- They are stored in fat cells
- If fat is lost, there's no place for these vitamins to go, affecting metabolism.
- Mothers who overdose can affect infant health.
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
- Protects cells from damage by free radicals.
- Converts free radicals into less damaging molecules.
- Affects iron absorption by reducing ferric iron to ferrous iron and binding it.
- Important for collagen synthesis.
Scurvy
- Scurvy results from inadequate vitamin C intake.
- It involves skin changes linked to collagen synthesis.
- Gum capillaries hemorrhage easily and wound healing is poor.
- Early symptoms include swelling of interdental papilla in gums, tendency to bleed, easy lesions in gums.
- In advanced cases, lesions have infection and require antibiotics alongside Vitamin C for healing.
- James Lind's 1747 experiment showed oranges/lemons cured scurvy on naval ships.
Vitamin B12
- Essential for metabolism.
- Deficiency leads to megaloblastic anemia (pernicious anemia) and spinal cord degeneration, peripheral neuropathy (damage to nerves).
- Crucial for creating the fatty myelin sheath that covers nerve fibers.
- Myelin is a fatty, protective coating around nerve axons essential for fast nerve impulse transmission.
- Myelin damage leads to visual, motor, sensory, coordination, and cognitive issues.
- Deficiency is often associated with poor absorption due to a lack of intrinsic factor (IF) in the stomach, common in the elderly.
- IF is a stomach protein aiding B12 absorption.
Vitamin B9 (Folate)
- A vital part of nucleic acid synthesis (purines and pyrimidines).
- Deficiency results in megaloblastic anaemia.
- Immature red blood cells in bone marrow due to failure in normal maturation process.
- Deficiency increases the risk of neural tube defects in offspring.
- The neural tube forms during embryonic development (3rd and 4th week after fertilization).
- Failure to close properly results in neural tube defects.
- Sources of folate include green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, legumes and fortified food products.
Vitamin D
- Synthesized in the skin following UV exposure from sunlight.
- Important for calcium balance management.
- Promotes calcium absorption, reduces excretion and mobilization of bone calcium.
- Cholecalciferol is the primary form.
- Cholecalciferol is the primary dietary component converted to 25-hydroxycholecalciferol in the liver and further converted into 1,25(OH)2D in the kidneys.
- Deficiency results in rickets (children), osteomalacia (adults) - poor mineralization of newly formed bone.
- Other resulting disorders include osteoporosis (age-related bone loss) and bone malformations like knock knees.
Vitamin E
- The term represents a family of 8 antioxidants.
- Alpha-tocopherol is actively maintained in the human body and found in high concentrations in blood tissues.
- Important for preventing cancer and cataracts.
- Crucial for preventing lipid oxidation in cell membranes and lipoproteins.
- Prevents platelet aggregation and helps maintain vascular smooth muscle proper functioning.
- Deficiency is rare, typically linked to severe malabsorption issues.
Vitamin K
- Derived from the German word "koagulation" (blood clotting).
- Necessary for various blood clotting proteins.
- Critical in blood clotting processes
- Newborns regularly receive prophylactic vitamin K.
- Vitamin K can be given orally or by injection.
- Caution is advised around vitamin K-rich foods for those on anticoagulants.
- Menaquinones, an active form of vitamin K, are synthesized by bacteria in the large intestine.
- Green leafy vegetables and some vegetable oils are significant dietary sources.
Vitamin A
- A generic term for various compounds, including retinol, retinaldehyde, retinoic acid and retinoids and carotenoids.
- Carotenoids, like beta-carotene, are precursors to vitamin A.
- Essential for vision, and antioxidant.
- Deficiency is a leading cause of preventable blindness, especially in developing nations.
- Symptoms include impaired night vision, Bitot's spots (conjunctival changes), and xerophthalmia (dry eye and corneal problems).
Deficiency of various vitamins
- Food sources for various vitamins (including example amounts) vary
- Various possible deficiency symptoms, including those affecting blood clotting, immune response, bone health
- Deficiency symptoms associated with particular diseases
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Description
Explore the fascinating world of vitamins with this quiz focusing on their classifications. Learn the differences between water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins, their absorption, storage, and importance in daily nutrition. Test your knowledge and understand why daily intake is crucial for your health.
