Water-Soluble Vitamins Flashcards
overview
organic/natural
no energy content
essential in small amounts
required for biological processes
deficiency is reversible
bioavailability
rate and extent to which a nutrient is absorbed and used
what effects bioavailability?
digestion efficiency
current vitamin status and stores
other foods eaten at the same time
preparation
natural vs. synthetic
do we store excess water-soluble vitamins?
no, they go into the blood where the kidneys excrete excess in urine
higher risk of deficiency because not stored in body
precursors
compounds that can be converted into active vitamins
B vitamins
8 that are water-soluble
all part of an enzyme helper
coenzyme
small molecule that works with an enzyme to promote the enzyme’s activity
function of B vitamins
release energy from glucose, amino acids, or fats
thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, biotin, pantothenic acid
B6 function
assists enzymes that metabolize amino acids
cell synthesis
vitamin B deficiencies
usually deficient in more than just 1 B vitamin except:
thiamin: beriberi
niacin: pellegra
deficiency is unlikely, except with elderly, poor, illness, alcoholics
refined grain
only endosperm used
B vitamin enriched
fortification
addition of nutrients to a food that was not originally present or in low amounts
used to correct or prevent widespread nutrient deficiency, balance total nutrient profile of a food, or restore nutrients lost in processing
enrichment
addition of nutrients to a food to meet a standard
for bread or cereal: 5 nutrients are added thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, iron
iron deficiency anemia
1 deficiency in the world and USA
beriberi
thiamin deficiency disease
loss of sensation in the hands and feet, muscular weakness, advancing paralysis, and abnormal heart action
