1. Dr M.Rashid Anjum Community Medicine Department Army Medical College
NUTRITION-V
Dr M.Rashid Anjum
Community Medicine Department
Army Medical College

2. VITAMINS (Micronutrients)
QUESTIONS?
1.What are vitamins?
2.Why these are essential for body?
3.What happens if there is deficiency
of vitamins?

3. VITAMINS Organic Compounds (C-containing) Essential for Growth
Body functions
Maintenance

4. VITAMINS:TWO-GROUPS FAT SOLUBLE WATER SOLUBLE
Vit-A B-VITAMINS & VIT-C
Vit-D B-1 Thiamin
Vit-K B-2 Riboflavin
Vit-E B-3 Niacin
B-6 Pyridoxine
B-12 Cyanocobalamin
Pantothenic acid
Biotin
Folate

5. PROVITAMINS
“An inactive form of a vitamin that the body can convert into an active use-able form.
Example: Carotenoid
Precursor of Vit A in foods of plant origin. Present in many fruits and vegetables.

6. Major Role of Vitamins:
Antioxidants Coenzymes
Vit E B-Vitamins
Vit C Vision
Carotenoids Vit A
Bone Health Blood Clotting
Vit D Vit K
Vit K

7. VITAMIN-A (The Retinoids)
Three active (03) Forms:
Retinol The alcohol form (KEY PLAYER)
(reproduction& bone health)
Retinal The aldehyde form
(night & color vision)
Retinoic acid The acid form
(cell growth & differentiation)

8. Vitamin A interconversions
Retinal
Retinoic acid
Retinol

9. STORAGE &TRANSPORT Liver 90 % Adipose tissues Lungs & kidneys 10%
(stored as retinyl esters)
Transported by retinol binding protein (RBP)
Serum range of RBP = mcg/dL.

10. SOURCES OF VITAMIN-A Animal food 50% (as preformed Vit-A)
Cod liver oil, Milk fat, Meat, Eggs
,Fortified foods like Margarine.
Fruits and Vegetables %
(as provitamin-A , carotenoids)
Carrots,Spinach,Broccoli,Potatoes,
Apricot,Mangoo.Papaya,Pumpkin

11. MEASURING UNIT RAE (Retinol Activity Equivalent)
1 RAE = 1 microgram Retinol
= 12 microgram beta carotene
= 24 microgram carotenoids

12. RECOMMENDED DAILY ALLOWANCE
MALE microgram RAE
FEMALE microgram RAE
PREGNANT WOMEN microgram RAE
LACTATING WOMEN microgram RAE
INFANTS microgram RAE

13. FUNCTIONS OF VIT-A Vit-A and Vision ( Retinal)
Vit-A and cell differentiation (Retinoic acid)
Vit-A and immune functions (Retinoic acid)
Vit-A and reproduction (Retinol+Retinal)
Vit-A and bone health (Retinol+Retinal+Retinoic)

14. BABY TELLING SOMETHING ?

15. VITMIN-A DEFICIENCY
EYE: The signs of vitamin A deficiency are predominantly ocular
Nightblindness
Conjunctival xerosis
Bitot’s spots
Corneal xerosis
Keratomalacia
XEROPHTHALMIA: (dry eyes) includes all ocular manifestations ranging from night blindness to keratomalacia.

16. VITMIN-A DEFICIENCY NIGHTBLINDNESS CONJUNCTIVAL XEROSIS
Lack of vitamin A first causes night blindness or inability to see in dim light.
CONJUNCTIVAL XEROSIS
This is the first clinical sign of vitamin A deficiency. The conjunctiva becomes dry and non-wettable.

17. CONJUNCTIVAL XEROSIS

18. VITAMIN- A DEFICIENCY BITOT’S SPOTS
Bitot’s spots are triangular, pearly-white or yellowish, foamy spots on the bulbar conjunctiva on either side of the cornea. They are frequently bilateral. Bitot’s spots in young children usually indicate vitamin A deficiency. In older individuals, these spots are often inactive sequelae of earlier disease.

19. BITOT’S SPOTS

20. VITAMIN-A DEFICIENCY CORNEAL XEROSIS
The cornea appears dull, dry and non-wettable and eventually opaque. It does not have a moist appearance. In more severe deficiency there may be corneal ulceration. The ulcer may heal leaving a corneal scar which can affect vision.

21. CORNEAL XEROSIS

22. VITAMIN-A DEFICIENCY KERATOMALACIA
Keratomalacia or liquefaction of the cornea is a grave medical emergency. The cornea (a part or whole) may become soft and may burst open. The process is a rapid one. If the eye collapses, vision is lost.

23. KERATOMALACIA

24. EXTRA-OCULAR MANIFESTATIONS
SKIN: Follicular Hyperkeratosis.( goose flesh)
GROWTH :retardation, bone deformities.
IMMUNE FUNCTION:
Increased morbidity and mortality due to respiratory and intestinal infection.
decreased sperm production,female infertility.

25. TREATMENT
All the early stages of xero-ophthalmia can be reversed by administration of a massive oral dose (200,000 IU or 110 mg) of Retinyl Palmitate on two successive days.
Children with corneal ulcers should receive vitamin A whether or not a deficiency is suspected.

26. EPIDEMIOLOGY
An estimated 250 million preschool children and 19 million pregnant women are vitamin A deficient globally.
An estimated to vitamin A deficient children become blind every year, half of them dying within 12 months of losing their sight.

27. PREVENTION
Improvement of diet so as to ensure a regular and adequate intake of food rich in vitamin A
Reducing respiratory tract infections, diarrhoea and measles.
Both are long term measures involving intensive nutrition education of the public and community participation.
Supply of fortified foods .
Vitamin-A capsule iu months
( children 6months years)

28. THANKYOU