Principles of Nutrition-

NUTR 001

Spring 2016-2017

Vitamins
Dr. Sara Khalife
 Vitamins

• Definition

• Functions

• Classification

• Fat-soluble vitamins

• Water-soluble vitamins
 Vitamins

• Organic compounds,
• Essential micronutrients
• Do not provide calories.

Vitamins are classified on the basis of solubility into two groups

A. Fat-soluble vitamins: include vitamins A, D, E, and K.

B. Water-soluble vitamins: include vitamin C and B complex group
(thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folic acid,
pantothenic acid, and biotin).
 Functions
• Many vitamins act as coenzymes or as part of enzymes
responsible for promoting essential chemical reactions.
Best Dietary Sources of Vitamins:

Food Group Vitamins

- Meat, poultry, fish, - Thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6,

beans. vitamin B12, folic acid, pantothenic acid.

- Milk and milk products: - Vitamins A, D, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin

B6, vitamin B12.
- Bread and cereals - Thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, folic
acid, pantothenic acid, biotin.
- Fruits & vegetables - Vitamins A, C, K, riboflavin, folic acid.
- Fats and oils - Vitamins A, E.
 Fat Soluble Vitamins
There are four fat-soluble vitamins with distinct and separate
roles, vitamins A, D, E, and K.

General properties
• Soluble in fat and fat solvents.
• They are absorbed with other lipids.
• Absorbed into the lymphatic system then to the liver.
• Small amounts are excreted in bile.
• Intake in excess of daily needs is stored in the body.
• Not absolutely necessary in the diet every day.
• Have precursors or provitamins (A & D).
• Contain only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
• Toxic in high doses.
 Fat Soluble Vitamins
Deficiency

Vitamin Deficiency
- Vitamin A - Night blindness, xerophthalmia, keratomalacia,
infection, cutaneous changes.
- Vitamin D - Rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.
- Vitamin E - No known specific deficiency.
- Vitamin K - Poor blood clotting (rare) in newborn and after long
use of oral antibiotics.
 Vitamin A (Retinol)

• Fat-soluble vitamin.
• Biological active form of vitamin A is found only in foods of animal
origin.
• The precursors (provitamins) of vitamin A are known as
carotenoids and found in many plants.
• Of carotenoids, B-carotene is the most active, is converted into
retinol in the wall of small intestine before being absorbed
 Vitamin A (Retinol)

Functions
• Vision in the dim light.
• Growth promotion.
• Normal bone development.
• Necessary for normal reproduction.
• Maintenance and strengthening the immune process.
• Necessary for wound healing.
• Antioxidant and therefore may have a role as anticancer [B-
carotene] (not conclusive).
 Vitamin A (Retinol)

Food Sources

A. Active Vitamin A:
• Foods of animal origin such as liver (richest source), eggs, full-
cream milk and milk products.
• Butter
• Breast milk is an excellent source of active vitamin A.
• Cod-liver oil is by far the richest source of active vitamin A but is
only used for therapeutic purposes.
 Vitamin A (Retinol)

Food Sources

B. B-carotene:
B-carotene, which is a provitamin A is found in:
• Dark green and leafy vegetables such as spinach, broccoli,
watercress, parsley…etc.
• Yellow-orange vegetables such as carrots, pumpkins, sweet
potatoes and squash.
• Yellow-orange fruits such as cantaloupe, oranges, mango,
peaches, and apricots
 Vitamin D (Calciferol)

• Vitamin D is recognized as the “sunshine vitamin.”

• It is a hormone

• It is produced in the body by the action of the ultraviolet light on

the skin.

• Vitamin D is thus described as a prohormone because it does not

need to be supplied from source outside the body.
 Vitamin D (Calciferol)

Functions
• Vitamin D is a nutrient essential for proper bone formation. It helps
in the regulation of the amount of calcium and phosphorus in the
blood, and these minerals are important components of bone
formation.
• Vitamin D regulates the amount of calcium and phosphorus in the
blood through the following:
- Vitamin D helps in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from
the intestine.
- Vitamin D act on the kidney by reabsorbing the calcium from the
kidneys.
- Vitamin D acts on bones by mobilizing calcium or precipitating in the
bones to keep the level of calcium constant in the blood.
 Vitamin D (Calciferol)
Sources
Skin: by the action of the ultraviolet light on the skin.

Diet: foods of animal origin such as eggs, milk, butter, and fish-liver
oils (the richest source).

Fortified foods: foods fortified with vitamin D such as milk, infant

cereals, breakfast cereals, and bread.

Supplements: are given when the need for vitamin D is high such as
young children, and elderly.
 Water-Soluble Vitamins
• Most of the water-soluble vitamins are components of essential
enzymes systems.
• According to their metabolic functions, they are divided into:

- Vitamins involved in energy release and formation in the

metabolism of CHO, fat, and protein and include: thiamin (B1),
riboflavin (B2), niacin, vitamin B6, biotin, and pantothenic acid.

- Vitamins involved in blood formation and include: vitamin C,

vitamin B6 , vitamin B12, and folic acid.
 Water-Soluble Vitamins
General Properties
• Soluble in water.
• Absorbed into the blood
• Excreted in urine.
• Minimal storage of dietary excess.
• Must be supplied in the diet every day.
• Deficiency symptoms develop rapidly.
• Contain besides carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen other
elements such as cobalt and sulfur.
• Generally do not have precursors.
• Needed by simple & complex organisms
• Toxic only at megadose levels (> 10 times RDA).
 Water-Soluble Vitamins
Vitamins involved in energy release and in the metabolism of CHO,
fat, and protein and include:

- Thiamin (B1),
- Riboflavin (B2),
- Niacin (B3),
- Vitamin B6,
- Biotin,
- Pantothenic acid.
 Water-Soluble Vitamins
Food sources
Thiamin
Pork, liver, organ meats, legumes, whole grains, enriched cereals &
bread, wheat germs, potatoes and yeast.

Riboflavin
Milk & dairy products, organ meats, green leafy vegetables,
enriched cereals & bread, eggs

Niacin
Fish, liver, meat, eggs, poultry, legumes, many grains, enriched
cereals & bread, milk, peanuts
 Water-Soluble Vitamins
Food sources

Pantothenic acid
Present in all plant & animal foods. Eggs, liver, kidney, salmon and
yeast are best sources

Biotin
Liver, kidney, egg yolk, mushrooms, peanuts, yeast, milk, most
vegetables, banana, grapefruits, tomato, watermelon, &
strawberries.

Vitamin B6
Pork, organ meats, yeast, whole grain cereal & wheat germ,
chicken, legumes, potatoes, banana, oatmeal.
 Water-Soluble Vitamins
Vitamins involved in blood formation [Anemia preventing
vitamins] and include:

• Folate Synthesis of DNA & RNA

Essential for red blood cells maturation
• Vitamin B12

• Vitamin B6 [hemoglobin synthesis]

• Vitamin C [enhance absorption of iron]

 Water-Soluble Vitamins
Vitamin Deficiency
- Vitamin C - Scurvy, delayed wound healing, poor absorption of iron.

- Thiamin -Beriberi.
- Riboflavin - Glossitis, angular stomatitis, cheilosis, personality changes.

- Niacin - Pellagra.
- Vitamin B6 - Microcytic hypochromic anemia not responding to iron
supplements.
- Vitamin B12 - Megaloblastic anemia, pernicious anemia (genetic), nerve
damage.
- Folic acid - Megaloblastic anemia, glossitis, Neural tube defects

- Pantothenic acid - No specific known deficiency in human.

- Biotin - No specific known deficiency in human.
 Water-Soluble Vitamins

Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)

Vitamin C is the antiscorbutic vitamin. It is easily oxidized in

solution on exposure to heat especially in the presence of copper
or iron and alkaline pH.
 Water-Soluble Vitamins
Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)

Functions
• It is necessary for collagen formation.
• It is necessary for dentin formation of the teeth to protect it
from decay or mechanical injury.
• It facilitates the absorption of ferrous iron as a reducing agent,
and counter-act the effect of tannins (in tea) and phytates (in
whole grains) which inhibit iron absorption.
• It is indirectly involved in thyroid and adrenal function.
• It facilitates the absorption of calcium and converts inactive folic
acid into active one.
• It enhances the immune system and therefore promotes
resistance to infection.
• Antioxidant and therefore act as anti-carcinogenic.
 Water-Soluble Vitamins
Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)

Food Sources

• Vitamin C is found exclusively in foods of plant origin.

• The best sources of vitamin C are fresh vegetables and fruits.
Guava, citrus fruits [oranges, grapefruits, mandarins, and
lemon], strawberries, cantaloupe, and melon are rich fruit
sources. Dark green leafy vegetables, broccoli, sweet pepper,
and spinach are rich sources