Lecture 6 Flashcards
provitamins
transform chemically to one or more active vitamin forms
bioavailability
the rate and extent to which a nutrient is absorbed and used
malnutrition
excess or deficient food energy or nutrient intake
undernutrition
deficient in energy or nutrients
overnutrition
excess energy or nutrients
primary deficiency
nutrient deficiency caused by inadequate dietary intake of a nutrient
secondary deficiency
nutrient deficiency cause by something other than inadequate intake such as a disease condition or drug interaction that reduces absorption, accelerates use, hastens excretion or destroys nutrient
fat-soluble vitamins
A,D,E,K
where are fat-soluble vitamins absorbed
into the lymph
- require bile for absorption
fat-soluble vitamins characteristics
- travel in blood with protein carriers
- stores in tissues (liver and fat)
- may be toxic in excess
water-soluble vitamins
- B vitmins
- Vitamin C
where are water-soluble vitamins absorbed
directly into the bloodstream
water-soluble vitamins characteristics
- travel freely in bloodstream
- not stored mostly
- excess excreted in urine
- lower risk of toxicity than fat-soluble vitamins
which vitamins have higher risk of toxicity?
fat-soluble vitamins
where are fat-soluble vitamins found?
in fats and oils of foods
how long can the body survive without fat-soluble vitamins?
weeks
excess vitamin A and D from supplements
can easily reach toxic levels
fat-soluble vitamin deficiency
- if consistently low in fat-soluble vitamins
- fat malabsorption
- mineral oil laxatives can cause vitamin loss
- very low-fat diets interfere with absorption
3 active forms of vitamin A in the body
- retinol
- retinal
- retinoic acid
plant-derived precursor of vitamin A
beta-carotene
vitamin A roles
- vision
- gene expression
- maintenance of body linings and skin
- immunity
- growth of bones and body
- normal development of cells
- critical importance to reproduction
eyesight
- light passes through cornea before striking retina
- retina contains cells
eyesight and vitamin A
light bleaches the vitamin A-containing pigments RHODOPSIN
rhodopsin
- breaks of vitamin A, initiating an impulse to optic centre in brain
- vitamin reunited with pigment with little destruction of the vitamin
- vitamin A must regenerate the supply