Vitamins and Minerals 1 The Nature of Vitamins

Vitamins and Minerals 1

The Nature of Vitamins l l l 2 Vitamins are organic (carbon) compounds needed for normal function, growth and maintenance. Vitamins are cofactors, they don’t do anything by themselves. They are not a source of calories.

Vitamin Requirements l Daily Values (DV): standard nutrient intake values developed by FDA – Disease prevention – Best met through a consumption of a wide variety of foods

Dietary Supplements $6 Billion Market l l They are classified as “Nutritional Supplements” They are not foods, and not drugs. * Supplements are “Product intended to supplement the diet and contains vitamins, minerals, botanicals, amino acids, and their extracts. ” NOT consumed as a food replacement Loosely regulated, “not evaluated by FDA” By definition a “drug” is used to “prevent, treat or cure” disease. These terms cannot be used with supplements. Use of some supplements is backed by scientific data.

Fat Soluble Vitamins 5 l A – orange, helps vision, antioxidant- used as color and antioxidant l D – we make it with sunlight, deficiency causes rickets, in milk, regulates Calcium: Potassium ratios l E – antioxidants, role in preventing stroke, cancer, heart disease- used as antioxidant l K – contributes to blood clotting factor

Vitamin A l l l 6 Antioxidant Stored in liver Important for sight – Deficiency causes ~500, 000 cases of “night blindness” worldwide Genetically engineered rice with high Vitamin A can prevent night blindness Carrotenosis: more vitamin A than needed, orange cast to skin

Vitamin D 7 l Also known as calciferol due to its role in calcium absorption l Main role is to maintain calcium and potassium levels l It is the only fat soluble vitamin that we can makein the presence of sunlight l Can be made from cholesterol

Vitamin D l l l 8 Elderly and shut ins are at risk- not enough sunlight We get vitamin D form fortified milk and cereal Toxicity is very dangerous – Occurs only from excess supplementation – Can lead to calcium deposits in kidneys, heart and blood vessels

Vitamin D Rickets can be caused by lack of sunlight, but also from insufficient calcium. Vitamin D linked to calcium absorption. (Rickets reported in NYC. ) 9

Vitamin E 10 l A family of eight naturally occurring compounds l Deficiencies are not well understood l Role is stroke, cancer, heart, and immune response l Americans spend $300 million per year on vitamin E supplements

Vitamin K 11 l Contributes to synthesis of seven blood clotting factors l Can be reactivated to continue biological action l Works as a cofactor for an enzyme that makes two bone proteins

Water Soluble Vitamins l l 12 Relatively cheap to add to food Only Vitamin C is used for its functionality

Water Soluble Vitamins l l l l l 13 B 1, thiamine B 2, riboflavin B 6, pyridoxamine B 12 Biotin Panothenic acid Niacin Folacin Vitamin C

Water Soluble Vitamins l Vitamin B 1 – Thiamine – Involved in carbohydrate metabolism – Helps body metabolize glucose, affects central nervous system – Deficiency causes Beri beri l B 2 - riboflavin – Energy metabolism

Water Soluble Vitamins l B 6 - Pyridoxamine – l B 12 – – 15 Neurotransmitter, co-enzyme in over 100 reactions Development of red blood cells Lack of it makes one anemic Hard for vegans to get (found in meat)

Water Soluble Vitamins l Biotin – – – l Panthothenic acid – – 16 Involved in fatty acid synthesis Deficiency causes skin disease and hair loss Found in many foods Essential for metabolism of carbohydrates, protein, alcohol and fat

Water Soluble Vitamins l Choline – – 17 A major component of cell membranes Folacin = Folate = Folic acid Deficiency causes neural tube defects – in mother’s uterus Took Rutgers Professor 20 years to for FDA approval as enrichment Why?

Vitamin C l l 18 Ascorbic acid Very inexpensive to add to food, marketing tool. Antioxidant Deficiency leads to bleeding gums, hemorrhages High in citrus fruits, limes, (Limeys)

Vitamin C - Scurvy 19

Niacin (B 3) l l Energy metabolism Disease – pellagra – The Four D’s – – 20 Dermatitis Diarrhea Dementia Death

Minerals l 21 Issues – Absorption – Bioavailability

Minerals l Percent of Body weight – – – – 22 Calcium Phosphorus Potassium Sulfur Sodium Chloride Magnesium Iron 2% 1% 0. 3% 0. 2% 0. 1% 0. 05% 0. 04%

Minerals l 23 Calcium – 99% is structural – ~25% absorption – Vitamin D aids absorption – 75% is obtained from dairy products – Many products are fortified with it – Built in youth, lost in maturity Very hard for vegans to get enough calcium

Calcium l Osteoporosis – a pediatric disease with geriatric consequences National Osteoporosis Foundation www. nof. org 24

Calcium 25

Minerals 26 l Phosphorus – Easily absorbed by the body – Enhanced by Vitamin D – Deficiency are rare – Soda, phosphoric acid l Potassium – A primary electrolyte in blood – Associated with lower blood pressure – Athletes

Minerals l 27 Sodium and Chloride – Added during processing – Enhances flavor – Excess Sodium can lead to hypertension l High blood pressure l Salt sensitivity – genetics and race

Minerals 28 l Sulfur – Necessary for collagen formation l Magnesium – Abundant in plants

Minerals Iron – – Most common and easily preventable deficiency oxygen absorption Poor absorption from plant sources anemia, especially in menstruating women Toxicity l 6 – 12 vitamins with 100% iron content will kill a small child (The dose makes the poison. )

Fortification vs Enrichment l Fortification - restores lost nutrients due to processing Enrichment – adds nutritional value to meet a specific standard l Old London Restaurant Style Croutons. Seasoned Sourdough. Enriched Bread, [Enriched Flour (Flour, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Water, Yeast, Sugar, Salt, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil , Vinegar, Ascorbic Acid] Bean Oil with BHT added as a Dextrin

Enriched Uranium “Enriched Uranium