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VITAMINS AND MINERALS Dr. RAGHU PRASADA M S

MBBS,MDASSISTANT PROFESSOR DEPT. OF PHARMACOLOGYSSIMS & RC.

VITAMINS

Vitamins are organic compounds needed for normal function, growth and maintenance

Cofactors, not energy

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Fat Soluble Vitamins

A – orange, carotenoids, vision, antioxidant- used as color and antioxidant

D – we make it with sunlight, rickets, milk, Ca:P ratios

E – tocopherols, antioxidants, role in preventing stroke, cancer, heart disease- used as antioxidant

K – contributes to blood clotting factor

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Vitamin A

Used in food industry as a colorant (orange) Antioxidant Stored in liver Important for sight

Deficiency causes ~ 500,000 cases of “night blindness” worldwide Xeropthalmia , dry eyes ， dry skin etc

Genetically engineered rice with high Vitamin A can prevent night blindness

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Vitamin D

Also known as calciferol due to its role in calcium absorption

Main role is to maintain calcium and potassium levels

Only fat soluble vitamin we can make in the presence of sunlight

Can be made from cholesterol

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Vitamin D

Can be stored in fat tissues Elderly are at risk Targeting on intestinal mucous, kidney and renal

tubular Promoting absorbance of calcium and phosphor， Being beneficial to formation and calcification of

new bone Deficiency children—— rickets adults——osteomalacia

Toxicity -Can lead to calcium deposits in kidneys, heart and blood vessels

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Vitamin D defeciency

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Vitamin E

A family of eight naturally occurring compounds

Used as an anti-oxidant in foods Since aging is considered an “oxidation”

reaction, many “anti-oxidants” are used as dietary supplements

Deficiencies are not well understood Role is stroke, cancer, heart, and immune

response

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Vitamin K

Contributes to synthesis of seven blood clotting factors

Can be reactivated to continue biological action

Works as a cofactor for an enzyme that makes two bone proteins

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Water Soluble Vitamins

B1, THIAMINE B2, RIBOFLAVIN B6, PYRIDOXAMINE B12 BIOTIN PANOTHENIC ACID NIACIN FOLACIN VITAMIN C

Water Soluble Vitamins

Vitamin B1 Thiamine Involved in carbohydrate metabolism Helps body metabolize glucose, affects central

nervous system Deficiency causes Beri beri

B2- riboflavin Energy metabolism

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Water Soluble Vitamins

B6 - Pyridoxamine Neurotransmitter, co-enzyme in over

100 reactions

B12 – Development of red blood cells Hard for vegetarians to get

Folic Acid

Recently shown as very important for pregnant females to avoid birth defects

function: synthesis of purines, pyrimidines, nucleic acids

sources: yeast, alfalfa meal, full-fat soybeans deficiencies: anemia, large erythrocytes, pale

gills (fish) requirements: 1-4 mg/kg (fish, shrimp)

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Water Soluble Vitamins

Biotin – Involved in fatty acid synthesis Deficiency causes skin disease and hair

loss

Panthothenic acid Found in many foods Essential for metabolism of

carbohydrates, protein, alcohol and fat

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Vitamin C

Ascorbic acid Very inexpensive to add to food, marketing tool.

Antioxidant Deficiency leads to bleeding gums, hemorrhages High in citrus fruits, limes

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Vitamin C - Scurvy

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Niacin (B3)

Energy metabolism Disease – pellagra – The Four D’s

Dermatitis Diarrhea Dementia Death

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Minerals

Percent of Body weight Calcium 2% Phosphorus 1% Potassium 0.3% Sulfur 0.2% Sodium 0.1% Chloride 0.1% Magnesium 0.05% Iron 0.04%

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Minerals

Calcium 99% is structural ~25% absorption Vitamin D aids absorption 75% is obtained form dairy products Many products are fortified with it Built in youth, lost in maturity

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Calcium

Osteoporosis – a pediatric disease with geriatric consequences 1.5 million fractures each year 14 billion in direct health cost 25 million women at risk DRI women 600 – 800 mg/day

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Minerals

PHOSPHORUS Easily absorbed by the body Enhanced by Vitamin D Deficiency are rare

POTASSIUM A primary electrolyte in blood Associated with lower blood pressure Athletes

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Minerals

SODIUM AND CHLORIDE Added during processing Enhances flavor We consume 2X of what we need Excess Sodium can lead to hypertension ▪ High blood pressure

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Minerals

SULFUR Necessary for collagen formation

MAGNESIUM Abundant in plants

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Minerals

IRON Most common and easily preventable deficiency Needed for oxygen absorption, immune function,

developmental performance Poor absorption from plant sources Low iron causes anemia, especially in

menstruating women Toxicity