VITAMINSCHAPTER 18

• Definition of vitamins: complex organic substances important to the body.

• Vitamins work with enzymes to perform a specific purpose in the body.

• Enzymes speed up reactions that would otherwise proceed to slowly to sustain cell life.

Groups of Vitamins

• Water Soluble and Fat Soluble• Water Soluble

–Not stored in the body–Deficiencies appear rapidly–Vitamins C and B-Complex

B-Complex

• Thiamin – (B 1 ) needed to metabolize carbohydrates.–Food source is pork, peanuts,

wheat germ–Easily destroyed by oxidation

and degraded by high temperatures

• Riboflavin-(B 2) Important for growth. Found in broccoli and milk

• Niacin – releases energy from carbohydrates, fats, and protein.

• Vitamin B 6 - Helps body use carbohydrate and protein. Keeps nervous system healthy. Found in Poultry, whole grains, and legumes.

• Vitamin B 12 – helps body use carbohydrate, fat, and protein and teams with folate to build blood cells. It is needed for healthy nervous system.

• Folacin (Folate or Folic Acid) Prevents birth defects of the brain and spinal cord.

• Pantothenic Acid – helps body release energy from carbohydrates, fat, and protein and helps produce cholesterol. Found in meat, eggs, milk, and whole grains.

• Biotin-Helps body use carbohydrate, fat, and protein. Found in green leafy vegetables, whole grains, and egg yolk.

VITAMIN C

• Found in citrus fruit, potatoes, tomatoes, broccoli, bell peppers, and cabbage.

• Helps prevent cell damage. Is an antioxidant (it is oxidized instead of the other cells)

• Helps form collagen in connective tissue

• Promotes iron absorption

• Assists in forming hard teeth.• Helps the body heal wounds

and resist infection.

FAT SOLUBLE VITAMINS

• Vitamins A D E K• Dissolve in fat not water, are

stored in the body. • Deficiencies are slow to show.

Vitamin A

• Found in butter, egg yolk, and cheese.

• Functions = Maintains healthy skin and mucous membranes, normal vision, bone development, and red blood cells.

Vitamin D

• Found in eggs and fish oils and Sunshine.

• Functions =Needed for growth and repair of bones and teeth. Works with calcium and phosphorus making them available to be used.

Vitamin E

• Functions as an antioxidant protecting vitamin A and lipids from oxidation damage.

• Found in soybean oil and wheat germ oil

Vitamin K

• Functions -Necessary for blood to clot and allows bones to absorb minerals needed for growth.

• Found in milk and dark green leafy vegetables.

• Vitamin Precursor – a compound that can be changed into a vitamin.vitamin. –Beta CaroteneBeta Carotene an orange plant pigment that can be changed into vitamin A in the intestines and liver.

•Sources of beta carotene are carrots, spinach, broccoli, sweet potatoes, and apricots.

•Tryptophan may be a precursor for niacin.