1. PowerPoint originally prepared by Shanta Adeeb
Vitamins and Minerals
PowerPoint originally prepared by
Shanta Adeeb

2. The Nature of Vitamins
Vitamins are organic compounds needed for normal function, growth and maintenance
Cofactors, not energy

3. The Nature of Vitamins Organic cofactors Physiological role
Prevents disease (?optimal health?)
Natural = Synthetic (except Vitamin E)

4. For “nutrition” in general
Nutritional Value lost by:
Light
Heat
Oxidation
Bacteria
Enzymes
Insects

5. The Nature of Vitamins FOOD PROCESSING PRESERVES NUTRIENTS
Example: Milk

6. Vitamin Requirements
Daily Values (DV): standard nutrient intake values developed by FDA
Includes DRIs and DRVs
Disease prevention
Best met through a consumption of a wide variety of foods

7. Vitamin Requirements
Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI): recommendation for individuals
Age
Gender
Pregnancy
Lactation

8. Vitamin Requirements
Daily Reference Values (DRV): standards established for protein and other dietary components lacking a RDA or nutrient standard
Constitute part of the Daily Values used on food labeling

9. Dietary Supplements
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.

10. 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

11. Vitamin A

12. 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
Genetically engineered rice with high Vitamin A can prevent night blindness
Carrotenosis

13. 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

14. Vitamin D Can be stored in fat tissues
Elderly and shut ins are at risk
We get it 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

15. Vitamin D

16. 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
Americans spend $300 million per year on vitamin E supplements

17. 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

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

19. Water Soluble Vitamins
B1, thiamine
B2, riboflavin
B6, pyridoxamine
B12
Biotin
Panothenic acid
Niacin
Folacin
Vitamin C

20. Water Soluble Vitamins
Vitamin B1
Thiamine
Involved in carbohydrate metabolism
Helps body metabolize glucose, affects central nervous system
Deficiency causes Beri beri
(Singlese, “I can’t, I can’t”)
B2- riboflavin
Energy metabolism

21. Water Soluble Vitamins
B6 - Pyridoxamine
Neurotransmitter, co-enzyme in over 100 reactions
B12 –
Development of red blood cells
Hard for vegans to get

22. 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

23. Water Soluble Vitamins
Choline
A major component of cell membranes
Folacin = Folate = Folic acid
Deficiency causes neural tube defects
Took Rutgers Professor 20 years for FDA approval. Why?

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

25. Vitamin C - Scurvy

26. Niacin (B3) Energy metabolism Disease – pellagra – The Four D’s
Dermatitis
Diarrhea
Dementia
Death

27. Minerals
Issues
Absorption
Bioavailability

28. 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 %

29. Minerals Calcium 75% is obtained form dairy products 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

30. National Osteoporosis Foundation
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
National Osteoporosis Foundation

31. Calcium

32. 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

33. 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

34. Minerals Sulfur Necessary for collagen formation Magnesium
Abundant in plants

35. 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
6 – 12 vitamins with 100% will kill a small child
(The dose makes the poison.)

36. Fortification vs Enrichment
Fortification - restores lost
nutrients due to processing
Enrichment – adds nutritional value to
meet a specific standard
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
                                                               

37. “Enriched Uranium
Enriched Uranium