Vitamins table.docx

Nutrient Functions Effects of Deficiency and Toxicity       Folate (folic acid) Maturation of red blood cells Deficiency: Megaloblastic anemia, neural tube birth defects, confusion         Synthesis of purines, pyrimidines, and methionine           Development of fetal nervous syste...

Nutrient Functions Effects of Deficiency and Toxicity       Folate (folic acid) Maturation of red blood cells Deficiency: Megaloblastic anemia, neural tube birth defects, confusion         Synthesis of purines, pyrimidines, and methionine           Development of fetal nervous system         Niacin (nicotinic acid, nicotinamide) Oxidation-reduction reactions Deficiency: Pellagra (dermatitis, glossitis, gastrointestinal and central nervous system dysfunction)         Carbohydrate and cell metabolism Toxicity: Flushing       Riboflavin (vitamin B2) Many aspects of carbohydrate and protein metabolism Deficiency: Cheilosis, angular stomatitis, corneal vascularization         Integrity of mucous membranes         Thiamin (vitamin B1) Carbohydrate, fat, amino acid, glucose, and alcohol metabolism Deficiency: Beriberi (peripheral neuropathy, heart failure), Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome         Central and peripheral nerve cell function           Myocardial function         Vitamin A (retinol) Formation of rhodopsin (a photoreceptor pigment in the retina) Deficiency: Night blindness, perifollicular hyperkeratosis, xerophthalmia, keratomalacia, increased morbidity and mortality in young children         Integrity of epithelia Toxicity: Headache, peeling of skin, hepatosplenomegaly, bone thickening, intracranial hypertension, papilledema, hypercalcemia         Lysosome stability           Glycoprotein synthesis         Vitamin B6 group (pyridoxine, pyridoxal, pyridoxamine) Many aspects of nitrogen metabolism (eg, transaminations, porphyrin and heme synthesis, tryptophan conversion to niacin) Deficiency: Seizures, anemia, neuropathies, seborrheic dermatitis         Nucleic acid biosynthesis Toxicity: Peripheral neuropathy         Fatty acid, lipid, and amino acid metabolism   Vitamin B12 (cobalamins) Maturation of red blood cells, neural function, DNA synthesis, myelin synthesis and repair Deficiency: Megaloblastic anemia, neurologic deficits (confusion, paresthesias, ataxia)       Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) Collagen formation Deficiency: Scurvy (hemorrhages, loose teeth, gingivitis, bone defects)         Bone and blood vessel health           Carnitine, hormone, and amino acid formation           Wound healing         Vitamin D (cholecalciferol, ergocalciferol) Calcium and phosphate absorption Deficiency: Rickets (sometimes with tetany), osteomalacia         Mineralization and repair of bone Toxicity: Hypercalcemia, anorexia, renal failure, metastatic calcifications         Tubular reabsorption of calcium           Insulin and thyroid function, improvement of immune function, reduced risk of autoimmune disease         Vitamin E group (alpha-tocopherol, other tocopherols) Intracellular antioxidant Deficiency: Red blood cell hemolysis, neurologic deficits         Scavenger of free radicals in biologic membranes Toxicity: Tendency to bleed       Vitamin K group (phylloquinone, menaquinones) Formation of prothrombin, other coagulation factors, and bone proteins Deficiency: Bleeding due to deficiency of prothrombin and other factors, osteopenia   Formation of prothrombin, other coagulation factors, and bone proteins