What are Vitamins? n Molecules that the body cannot make itself n required in very small amounts n They are water soluble or fat soluble n Need to enable chemical reactions in the body

What do Vitamins Do? n Vitamins are need to assist enzymes to act n Enzymes are needed for chemical reactions in the body n Everything the body does uses chemical reactions including: n muscle contraction n nervous messages n digestion n metabolism

Enzymes n To understand vitamins we must know about enzymes n Every chemical reaction in the body needs an enzyme n Enzymes select which chemical react and how n Enzymes can be controlled so we can determine when they act n Most enzymes need co-factors to activate them

Enzyme Co-factors n Most Enzymes need co-factors to make them work n Mineral co-factors n e.g. Mg, Se, Zn, Al, Na n Organic Co-factors n Vitamins n Non-vitamins

Organic Co-factors n Need in the diet l Vitamins l Some essential amino acids n Not normally need in the diet –Made in the body (Non-vitamins) n eg. Ubiquinone, carnitine, lipoic acid, Choline, inositol n May become essential in diet with age or disease n Dietary supply may assist “optimal health”

Metabolism n Two types of metabolism n Catabolism l Transferring energy from big molecules into more useable forms è eg From sugar to ATP and NADPH n Anabolism l Building new molecules l Protein,lipids and carbohydrates l complex molecules

Vitamins for Catabolism n Extracting energy out of Food n Vitamins Required: n Thiamine [Vitamin B 1 ] n Riboflavin [Vitamin B 2 ] n Niacin (nicotinic acid) [Vitamin B 3 ] n Pantothenic acid for Coenzyme A n Pyridoxine [Vitamin B6 ]

Deficiencies of “catabolic enzymes” n Symptoms are mostly related to lack of available energy l Retarded growth l muscle weakness l brain damage l dermatitis l anaemia l poor digestion

Specific Deficiency diseases n Thiamine --> Berri-berri n Riboflavin --> l Corneal ulceration Cataracts l angular stomatitis (dermatitis in mouth angle) n Niacin --> Pellagra 4Ds l =Diarrhoea, Dermatitis, Dementia and Death n Pantothenic Acid l low blood cholesterol l burning hands

Anabolic vitamins n Used in synthesising larger molecules n Pyridoxine l Interconversion of amino acids n Niacin l as NADPH need for most synthesis reactions l involved in both anabolic and catabolic pathways n Folic acid n Vitamin B 12 n Ascorbic acid n Biotin [Vitamin H]

Deficiencies of “anabolic vitamins” n May be similar to Catabolic inadequacy l as energy is needed for all anabolism n Symptoms are mostly related to tissues that should be tuned over quickly. n Some parts of the body are slowly renewed –less effected Adult brain n Some tissues are replaced very quickly

Tissue that are turned over quickly n Red Blood Cells => Anaemia n Skin cells => Dermatitis n Lining of GIT => diarrhoea and malnutrition n hair => hair loss n bone =>osteomalacia n Immune system => infections and cancer

Specific Deficiency diseases of Anabolic vitamins n Folic Acid n Hospital anaemia –Cooked food kept warm too long n Vitamin B 12 –Pernicious anaemia n lack of ability to absorb vitamin in food –intrinsic factor made in stomach –loss of weight n Vitamin C –Scurvy

Causes of Deficiency Diseases n Dietary inadequacy n Individuals higher requirement n Ingestion of anti-nutritive substances

Dietary Sauces n NO single food has all the vitamins n But some food have NO vitamins n Referred to as “empty kilojoules” e.g.: l white sugar, processed vegetable oil, lollies, alcohol n Complimentary foods l The lack in some foods is made up in others n Hence “Eat a wide variety of Foods” n “Five Food Groups”

Five Food Groups n The lack in each group is made up in others l Group 1 Bread and Cereals Vitamins B1 B2 B3 l Group 2 Milk and Cheese Vitamins B12, Ca l Group 3 Veg and Fruit Vitamin B3, Folate l Group 4 Meats, Fish & Poultry Vitamin B (Group)& Folate, Fe, Zn. l Group 5 Fats and Oils Fat soluble vitamins