Water Soluble Vitamins (Vit. B and C) Flashcards
(124 cards)
Vitamins
Any of the various organic substances obtained from feedstuffs that are essential in small quantities for normal metabolism and health of most animals;
A common Vitamin C defeciency in british sailors?
What is the vitamin specifically called that helps treat/prevent it and what food source can it be found in?
Scurvy was common among sailors in 1500s
It could be treated/prevented by Ascorbic acid which is found in lemon juice. (this was discovered in the 1750’s)
Vitamin C structure?
Sensitive to?
Synthesize?
•Ascorbic acid
- Sensitive to destruction from light and heat;
- Most animals can synthesize vitamin C from glucose; in the liver
Where is Vitamin C synthesized?
in the liver (from glucose)
What are some animals that are unable to synthesize Vitamin C and must depend on dietary sources?
humans, most primates, guinea pigs, bats, capybaras, some birds and fish.
Sources of Vitamin C in foods?
Fruits and Vegetables
Sources of Vitamin C in supplements?
L-ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate.
Sources of Vitamin C Natural vs Synthetic (man made)
These two forms are chemically identical and there are no known differences in their biological activities or bioavailabilities.
One is not better for you then the other
Absorption of Vitamin C
Ascorbic acid is absorbed in the body by both active transport and simple diffusion.
*active transport is only used when consuming low amounts of Vitamoin C to prevent a deficiency
Vitamin C is NOT stored but it is concentrated in tissues, what tissues are they? (5 of them)
Biological tissues that accumulate over 100 times the level in blood plasma of vitamin C are the;
adrenal glands, pituitary, thymus, corpus luteum, and retina.
*its thought that Vitamin C is critical in these tissues
Functions of Vitamin C?
- Vit. C is one of the the several water-soluble antioxidants with in a cell (heps prevent free radicals)
- Can also regenerate vitamin E
- Cofactor needed for healthy collagen formation, a major type of connective tissue. (Cross-linkning?) < look up
Minor Funcitons of Vitamin C include
Vit. C also plays an important role in the synthesis of the neurotransmitter, norepinephrine.
Vit. C is required for the biosynthesis of carnitine, a small molecule that is essential for the transport of fat into mitochondria, where the fat is converted to energy. (if deffecient causes fatigue)
Vit. C is involved in the metabolism of cholesterol to bile acids, which may have implications for blood cholesterol levels, fat digestion and the incidence of gallstones.
Vitamin C - Deficiency Scurvy is characterized by what?
Scurvy is characterized by weakness, anemia, bruising, bleeding gums and loose teeth.
Vitamin C - Requirements
**No requirements for livestock animals; (they can synthesize it themselves)
Humans:
60-100 mg/day
Bioflavonoids association with Vitamin C?
Bioflavonoids are a class of water-soluble plant pigments that are often found in vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables, especially citrus fruits.
Vitamin C - Toxicity
- Little risk of toxicity
However, because oxalate is a metabolite of vitamin C, there is some evidence that high vitamin C intake can increase the risk of oxalate kidney stones.
Vitamin B was ince thought ti be a single vitamin when inturn they are?
they are chemically distinct vitamins that often coexist in the same foods.
Deficiencies, when present, usually occur for multiple B vitamins (clustered)
What does “vitamin B complex” reffer to?
Supplements with all eight B Vitamins
Vitamin B1
Thiamin/Thiamin
Vitamin B2
Riboflavin
Vitamin B3
niacin, nicotinic acid, & nicotinamide
Vitamin B5
pantothenic acid
Vitamin B6
pyridoxine, pyridoxal, & pyridoxamine
Vitamin B7
Biotin
*usually referred to as this