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Vitamins 1 Flashcards

Intro and B vitamins (75 cards)

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1
Q

What is a vitamin?

A

Complex organic substance required in diet in small amounts compared to other dietary components

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2
Q

Where are “fat-soluble factors” found and what vitamins do they contain?

A

Butter and egg yolk

A D E

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3
Q

Where are “heat-labile factors” found and what vitamins do they contain?

A

Wheat germ

B C

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4
Q

Which vitamins are water-soluble?

A

B

C

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5
Q

Which vitamins are fat-soluble?

A

A

D

E

K

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6
Q

Describe the differences between fat- and water-soluble vitamins.

A

Fat - stored (not absorbed and excreted easily) and deficiency symptoms show after a year; may be toxic in excess

Water - not stored extensively (lost in urine) and deficiency symptoms show after three months; generally not toxic in excess

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7
Q

What type of vitamin must be taken frequently?

A

Water-soluble (B, C)

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8
Q

What is a primary deficiency?

A

Deficiency caused by not taking enough of the vitamin (eg. in diet)

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9
Q

What is a secondary deficiency?

A

Deficiency caused by another factor preventing the absorption/activation/functioning of a vitamin

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10
Q

What is the general role of the B vitamins?

A

Act as coenzymes in metabolic pathways

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11
Q

What is the name of vitamin B1?

A

Thiamin

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12
Q

Which vitamin is thiamin?

A

B1

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13
Q

In what type of diets is beri-beri especially found?

A

Mainly carbohydrates (polished white rice)

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14
Q

Why may alcoholics have vitamin deficiencies? (3)

A

“Empty calories” from alcohol give adequate energy intake so do not eat a variety of foods and may be anorexic

GI tract malfunctions common = malabsorption

Cirrhotic liver affects storage, transport and metabolism of many vitamins (esp. A)

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15
Q

Why is “Wernicke-Korsakoff” syndrome mainly associated with alcoholism?

A

Vitamin B1/thiamin defiency

Alcohol inhibits B1 absorption in small intestine and inhibits the enzyme which converts B1 to its active form

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16
Q

What is another term for cerebral beri-beri?

A

Wernicke’s encephalopathy

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17
Q

What are the symptoms of Wernicke’s encephalopathy? (4)

A

Confusion

Ataxia

Polyneuropathy

Disorientation in space and time

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18
Q

If untreated, what does cerebral beri-beri progress to?

A

Korsakoff’s psychosis

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19
Q

What is the main characteristic of Korsakoff’s psychosis?

A

Loss of memory of recent events

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20
Q

What is the difference between dry and wet beri-beri?

A

Dry = no oedema

Wet = oedema

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21
Q

What are the symptoms of wet beri-beri?

A

Oedema

Heart failure

Enlarged heart and liver

Engorged neck veins

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22
Q

What are the symptoms of dry beri-beri? (4)

A

Symmetrical ascending peripheral neuropathy

Weakness and numbness

Ataxic gait

Painful extremities

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23
Q

What are good sources of thiamin? (6)

A

Whole grain

Pork

Poultry

Fish

Vegetables

Dairy produce

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24
Q

What foods are deficient in thiamin? (4)

A

Polished rice

Sugar

Fat

Refined and processed foods

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25
What effect does eating raw fish have on thiamin?
Contains thiaminases Breaks down B1
26
Are coffee and tea good sources of thiamin and why?
No Contain anti-thiamin factors
27
Why is thiamin important?
Role as thiamin pyrophosphate in conversion of pyruvate to acetyl CoA Lack = build up of lactate and fatigue
28
Which vitamin is riboflavin?
B2
29
What is the name of vitamin B2?
Riboflavin
30
What colour is riboflavin?
Bright yellow
31
Where is B2 found? (2)
Mainly in milk Associated with protein
32
Why is riboflavin important?
Role as FAD and FMN in redox reactions
33
What population may have B2 deficiencies?
Alcoholics
34
Why should you keep riboflavin out of sunlight?
UV sensitive Keep out of sunlight for stability
35
Which vitamin is niacin?
B3
36
What is the name of B3?
Niacin/nicotinic acid
37
What are vitamers?
Different structural forms of a vitamin
38
What is the vitamer of B3?
Nicotinamide
39
What are good sources of niacin? (2)
High protein diets (formed from tryptophan) Present in cereals/maize in small amounts
40
Why is niacin important in the body?
Role as NAD and NADP in redox reactions Used to repair UV damage of DNA
41
What is the name of the B3 deficiency?
Pellagra
42
What is Pellagra?
Niacin/B3 deficiency
43
What are the characteristics of Pellagra?
DDD: - Dermatitis photosensitive (Casal's necklace) - Diarrhoea - Dementia
44
What vitamin deficiency is Casal's necklace associated with?
Niacin/B3 - Pellagra
45
What is the name of vitamin B6?
Pyridoxine
46
Which vitamin is pyridoxine?
B6
47
Why is B6 important in the body?
Role as pyridoxal phosphate which is essential for amino acid metabolism and haem synthesis
48
What is the common type of deficiency of pyridoxine?
Secondary/due to antagonists
49
Why are vitamin B6 supplements given when treating some tuberculosis patients?
Isoniazid used in treatment of tuberculosis combines with pyridoxal phosphate and renders it unavailable
50
What is a characteristic of pyridoxine deficiency?
Seizures
51
What is considered an overdose of pyridoxine and what are the complications?
Self medication for premenstrual tension syndrome of 500-5000mg/day Peripheral neuropathy within 1-3 years
52
What vitamin is often associated with folate?
B12/cobalamin
53
What is the name of vitamin B12?
Cobalamin
54
Which vitamin is cobalamin?
B12
55
What is the role of folate in the body?
Carrier of 1C groups as tetrahydrofolate
56
What is the role of cobalamin in the body?
Carrier of methyl groups in mammalian metabolism Allows THF to be freed from non-interconvertible methyl
57
What enzyme is important in the maintenance of THF?
Dihydrofolate reductase
58
What is the best source of folate and B12?
Liver
59
Where is folate found? (3)
Green vegetables Liver Whole grains
60
Where is cobalamin found?
Animal tissues only
61
What must be present for the absorption of cobalamin in the small intestine?
Intrinsic factor
62
How are folate and cobalamin used in the body?
Folate converted to tetrahydrofolate and enters pool of 1C-THF derivatives B12 takes methyl (from THF) to combine with homocysteine to form methionine with B12-dependent methionine synthetase 1C derivatives required in formation of nucleotides and amino acids
63
What is the "B12 trap" and its symptoms? (3)
Deficiency in B12 affects folate of normal levels in diet - functional THF deficiency resulting in large immature erythrocytes Megaloblastosis (giant germ cells) Haematopoietic cells die in bone marrow
64
What does methotrexate do and what is it used to treat?
Inhibits DHF reductase so no THF and no nucleotides formed = no cell division Treats tumours
65
How does a B12 deficiency affect the nervous system?
Causes inadequate myelin synthesis: - Numbness - Tingling hands and feet - Loss of position sense - Unsteadiness, ataxia, confusion, moodiness, depression - Spinal cord, brain and peripheral nerve lesions
66
How does a folate deficiency affect a foetus?
Neural tube defects - anencephaly, spinabifida, encephalocele
67
Which vitamin is pantothenic acid?
B5
68
What is the name of vitamin B5?
Pantothenic acid
69
Are pantothenic acid deficiencies common and why?
No Found in most foods
70
Why is vitamin B5 important?
Component of coenzyme A in metabolism and transfer of carbon
71
Which vitamin is biotin?
B7
72
What is the name of vitamin B7?
Biotin
73
Why is biotin important?
Prosthetic group for carboxylations (eg. pyruvate to oxaloacetate; acetyl CoA to malonyl CoA)
74
What is the main source of vitamin B7?
Intestinal bacteria synthesis
75
When do you get biotin deficiencies and why? (2)
Eating raw egg whites - contains substances which bind biotin Long-term antibiotic therapy (1+ years) - sterilisation of abdominal tract

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