B5

all are micronutrients soluble in… (remember “like dissolves like”) water have many polar functional groups vitamins B and C fat (insoluble in water) mostly non-polar hydrocarbon chains or rings can accumulate in fatty tissue vitamins A, D, E, and K

Vitamin A (retinol) insoluble in water (soluble in fat) only one “spot” where hydrogen bonding can occur with water

Vitamin B soluble in water many polar –OH groups, O, NH… lots of places for hydrogen bonding to occur

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) soluble in water many polar –OH groups and C-O bonds lots of places for hydrogen bonding to occur

Vitamin D (calciferol) insoluble in water only one place for hydrogen bonding

This is NOT nearly enough to make the entire molecule polar

Vitamin K insoluble in water only two “spots” (not enough) where hydrogen bonding can occur with water

Compare the structures of vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin D (B.5.3) Vitamin A Vitamin D Vitamin C

DeficiencyEffect ironanemia (insufficient O 2 transported) iodinegoiter (enlarged thyroid) vitamin Cscurvy (bleeding lesions, rotten gums) vitamin Drickets (softening of the bones) proteinmarasmus (growth retardation and wasting) and Kwasiorkor = micronutrients

Solutions? providing food rations composed of vitamin and mineral enriched foods adding nutrients to commonly consumed foods genetic modified food providing nutritional supplements