Fat Soluble Vitamins

Question 1

Vitamins

Answer 1

-an organic compound required as a nutrient in tiny amounts by an organism

Question 2

Vitamins cannot be synthesized in sufficient quantities by an organism, and

Answer 2

must be obtained from the diet

Question 3

Name 4 functions of vitamins

Answer 3

• hormone like functions as regulators of mineral metabolism (vit.D)
• regulators of cell and tissue growth and differentiation (some forms of vit. A)
• antioxidants (vit. E, C)
• enzyme cofactors (tightly bound to enzyme as a part of prosthetic group, coenzymes)

Question 4

How are vitamins classified?

Answer 4

fat soluble and water soluble

Question 5

What are fat-soluble vitamins?

Answer 5

hydrophobic compounds, absorbed efficiently with lipids

Question 6

Fat-soluble vitamins function

Answer 6

transport in the blood in lipoproteins more likely to accumulate in the body

Question 7

Examples of fat soluble vitamins

Answer 7

A, D, E, and K

Question 8

Where are fat soluble vitamins stored? How long are they stored for?

Answer 8

• stored in the liver and adipose tissues

- fat soluble vitamins except for vitamin K, are stored for long periods of time

Question 9

Toxic levels of fat soluble vitamins lead to

Answer 9

hypervitaminosis

Question 10

Water soluble vitamins are

Answer 10

8 B vitamins and vitamin C

Question 11

Water soluble vitamins

function

Answer 11

function as enzyme cofactors

Question 12

Hydrophilic compounds dissolve …………….

Answer 12

easily in water

Question 13

Water soluble vitamins are:

Answer 13

• not readily stored, excreted from the body

- their consistent daily intake is important

Question 14

Many types of water-soluble vitamins are synthesized by

Answer 14

bacteria

Question 15

Vitamin A is also called

Biologically active forms are:

Answer 15

retinol

retinoids: retinol, retinal, retinoic acid

Question 16

Major vitamin A precursors (provitamins) are

Answer 16

plants carotenoids

Question 17

Food originating from animals contain vitamin A in the form of

Answer 17

esters-retinol and long fatty acid

Question 18

Vitamin A in foods:

Answer 18

retinyl esters (in animal food)
beta-carotene (in plant food)

Question 19

Vitamin A in the body

Answer 19

retinol (supports reproduction)
retinal (participates in vision)
retinoic acid (regulates growth)

Question 20

Functions of vitamin A include

Answer 20

• vision
• immune function
• bone metabolism
• haematopoieis
• skin health

Question 21

Vitamin A can be found from certain foods such as

Answer 21

egg yolk
whole milk
butter
carrots
squash
meat
fish

Question 22

Vitamin A deficiency and toxicity

Answer 22

night blindness
blindness
hypovitaminoisis A

Question 23

Vitamin D is also known as

Answer 23

calciferol, 1,25-dihydroxy
vitamin D3 or cholecalciferol (in animals)
vitamin D2 or ergocalciferol (in plants)

Question 24

Vitamin D is a nonessential nutrient that acts

Answer 24

like a hormone in the body

Question 25

The body can make vitamin D with help from _________, once vitamins enter the body, it must become _____

Answer 25

sunlight

activated (in the liver and kidneys)

Question 26

Functions of vitamin D

Answer 26

• transported in the blood on a carrier (VDBP, vitamin D binding protein)
• 1,25(OH)2D binds to intracellular receptors (intestine, bone, kidney)
• the main function is to maintain plasma levels of calcium and phosphate levels

Question 27

Vitamin D deficiency and toxicity

Answer 27

rickets (softening and/or weakening of bones in children)
osteomalacia (in adults)
toxicity disease is called hypervitaminosis D

Question 28

What is a symptom of vitamin D toxicity?

Answer 28

elevated blood calcium

Question 29

Sources of vitamin D are

Answer 29

• sun-soaked mushrooms
• eggs
• oily fish
• fortified milk
• sunshine

Question 30

Vitamin E is a family of

Answer 30

a-, B-, y-, S- tocopherols

Question 31

Only the alpha-tocopherol has vitamin E activity in

Answer 31

human beings

Question 32

Function of vitamin E

Answer 32

is an antioxidant (compounds that inhibit oxidation)

Question 33

Good sources of vitamin E are

Answer 33

nuts & seeds - almonds 
wheat germ 
dark green-leafy vegetables like asparagus & spinach
sunflower seeds
groundnut oil

Question 34

Vitamin E deficiency is

Answer 34

rare

Question 35

Vitamin E deficiency and toxicity

Provide symptoms as well

Answer 35

erythrocyte hemolysis 
symptoms include
-loss of muscle reflexes
-impaired vision and speech
-nerve damage 
toxicity is relatively small

Question 36

Vitamin K is

Answer 36

a group of lipophilic, hydrophobic vitamins

Question 37

Vitamin K is met through

Answer 37

the action of intestinal bacteria

Question 38

Vitamin K is essential in

Answer 38

blood clotting

Question 39

Vitamin K deficiencies can occur

Answer 39

in newborn infants

Question 40

Sources of vitamin K include

Answer 40

spinach
asparagus
broccoli

Question 41

Functions of vitamin K include:

Answer 41

• synthesis of blood-clotting proteins and bone proteins

- important for healing

Question 42

Why is vitamin K given during surgery?

Answer 42

to reduce bleeding

Question 43

Vitamin K-deficiency

Answer 43

• caused by fat malabsorption
• blood clotting disorders
• osteoporosis
• there is no shortage, vitamin K is abundant in the diet

Question 44

Vitamin K sources include

Answer 44

• spinach
• asparagus
• broccoli
• beans
• soybeans
• eggs
• strawberries
• meat
• fish oils