Vitamin questions

Question 1

Who coined the term vitamines?

Answer 1

Casimir Funk. The name

Question 2

What did Casamir Funk discover?

Answer 2

Beriberi which causes mostly neurological symptoms due to Thiamine deficiency - mostly from a diet of white rice

Question 3

What are Vitamers?

Answer 3

Vitamers are similar in structure to each vitamins but have different chemical forms
e.g. vitamers of B3 (Niacin) are niacinamide or nicotinic acid

Question 4

How many vitamins are there

Answer 4

13: AC, D, E, K and the B vitamins B1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7/8, 9, 12)

Question 5

Name all the vitamins:

Answer 5

Fat soluble vitamins = A, D, E, K

Water soluble vitamins =
B1 (Thaimine)
B2 (Riboflavin)
B3 (Niacin)
B5 (Pantothenic Acid)
B6 (Pyridoxine)
B7/B8/H (Biotin)
B9 (Folate)
B12 Cobalamin)
C (Ascorbic Acid)

Question 6

What are the key functions of vitamins?

Answer 6

Supporting the immune system
Regulating gene expression
Supporting neurological activity
Facilitating ATP production
Manufacturing of blood cells
Regulation of hormones

Question 7

Where are vitamins absorbed

Answer 7

In the small intestine - therefore GIT health is important

Question 8

What are vitamins?

Answer 8

Vitamins are carbon containing compounds that are essential to the body in small amounts for normal growth and function

Question 9

Can the body produces vitamins?

Answer 9

No with the exception of vitamin D that can be synthesised in this skin

Question 10

Which vitamins are essential in the process of energy production?

Answer 10

B1, B2, B3, B5 - if deficient this can result in poor ATP production
* B5 is needed for the synthesis of coenzyme a

Question 11

How does the body use vitamins?

Answer 11

Vitamins cannot be directly converted into energy or tissues, like macronutrients can. Vitamins, as they occur in food, are relatively inert until the body activates them

Vitamins facilitate physiological functions in the body e.g. vitamins C facilitates collagen synthesis but is not it physical part of collagen

Vitamins do not occur in isolation in nature. Supplements do not offer the same therapeutic advantages as consuming a spectrum of nutrients by food

Question 12

What is a cofactor?

Answer 12

A cofactor is an essential component for enzyme activity

Question 13

How do vitamin dependent enzymes work?

Answer 13

Vitamins are required for the activation of vitamin dependent enzymes - they function as cofactors.

E.g. B vitamins are vital cofactors for the action of the CYP 450 enzyme system needed the phase 1 l liver detoxification he

Question 14

What other two types of vitamins?

Answer 14

Fat soluble vitamins and water-soluble vitamins

Fat soluble vitamins = A, D, E, K

Water soluble vitamins =
B1 (Thaimine)
B2 (Riboflavin)
B3 (Niacin)
B5 (Pantothenic Acid)
B6 (Pyridoxine)
B7/B8/H (Biotin)
B9 (Folate)
B12 Cobalamin)
C (Ascorbic Acid)

Question 15

How are fat soluble vitamins absorbed and stored?

Answer 15

Fat soluble vitamins are soluble in fats.
They are absorbed with fat in the small intestineinto the lymphatic capillaries and then into the blood.
They are readily stored.
There is a tighter range between efficacy and toxicity than water-soluble

Question 16

How are water soluble vitamins absorbed and stored?

Answer 16

Water soluble vitamins are soluble in water
They absorbed in a small intestine directly into the blood
Storage is minimal (except B12) and easily excreted, if in excess

Question 17

What is the progression of insufficiency to deficiency of vitamins (5 steps)?

Answer 17

1. Preliminary reduction of stores
2. Reduction in enzyme activity
3. Physiological impairment (early signs and symptoms)
4. Classical deficiency syndromes
5. Terminal tissue pathology

Question 18

What does insufficiency mean?

Answer 18

Subclinical deficiency, i.e. vague symptoms

Question 19

What does deficiency mean?

Answer 19

Clinical signs and symptoms of deficiency

Question 20

What are the active forms (vitamers) which you execute the functions of vitamin A?

Answer 20

Retinol
Retinal
Retinoic acid

Question 21

What happens to retinol?

Answer 21

Depending upon what the body requires retinol will be oxidised to the different forms - Retinol - Retinal - Retinoic acid.
If the body doesn’t need it, it will remain as retinol and be stored in the liver

Question 22

What is the retinol used for in the body?

Answer 22

Health of retina

Question 23

What is retinal used for in the body?

Answer 23

Visual pigments of rod and cone cells of retina

Question 24

What is retinoid acid used for in the body?

Answer 24

Growth and differentiation of epithelial cells

Question 25

Where is the word carotene from?

Answer 25

The Greek word Karoton means ‘carrot’ - Orange pigments

Question 26

What are the two forms of vitamin A?

Answer 26

Pro vitamin A
Pre-Formed vitamin A

Question 27

What is provitamin A and what foods is it found in?

Answer 27

Pro vitamin A is produced by plants, algae, fungi and bacteria. Carotenes (or carotenoids) are examples of provitamin A.

Provitamin A needs to be converted into the active form of vitamin A (retinol) in the small intestinal epithelium and liver

It is found in dark green, yellow/orange vegetables and fruits e.g. carrots, squash, mango, spinach, sweet potatoes

The most active provitamin carotenes are a- (alpha), B- (beta) and y- (gamma) carotenes and crytoxanthin

Question 28

What is pre-formed vitamin A and what foods is it found in?

Answer 28

Pre formed vitamin A is only found in animal foods.

It is active vitamin A the body can use as it is

It is found in liver, fish liver oils egg yolk, mackerel, salmon

Question 29

How are provitamin A’s absorbed?

Answer 29

The absorption of carotenoids in the small intestines varies between 5% and 60%

Dietary carotenes are converted to vitamin A only as needed, so do not have toxicity concerns

They are fat soluble so require adequate fat in the diet for optimal absorption

Lightlyy cooking increases the bio availability of carotenoids by liberating carotenoids from cells