Chapter 8: Vitamins

Groups of people most likely at risk for developing a vitamin deficiency disease?

- Elderly Adults - Individuals with anorexia nerovsa - Alcoholics

What are roles of vitamins>

- Involved in the growth and development of tissues - Regulates a variety of body processes.

Consequences of excess vitamin D consumption include:

- depositing calcium in soft tissue - interference of cellular function

Infants whose skins have developed an orange or yellowing hue must likely have eaten a lot of baby food containing:

- green beans - carrots - winter squash

What criteria must a nutrient meet to be classified as a vitamin?

- signs and symptoms of a health problem occur if the nutrient is missing from the diet. - the nutrient occurs in commonly eaten foods. - the body cannot make it at all or in sufficient quantities to maintain good health.

Why is it not necessary to consume 100% of every vitamin each day?

- your body can synthesize vitamin D. - Bacteria in your lower intestinal tract can produce certain vitamins. - Body cells can store vitamins to some extent.

How many calories are provided form 60mg of vitamin C?

0

What describes the degree of potency of a vitamin?

Biological Activity

Many Americans consume less than the recommended amounts of vitamins:

E, D, and choline.

What are foods with good sources of vitamin D?

Fatty fish, skim milk, and whole milk

What are the four B vitamins and one mineral that must be added by the manufactured when a product had been refined?

Folic acid, thiamin, iron, riboflavin, and niacin.

When fresh produce is not available, which type of foods should be purchased in order to receive the highest vitamin content?

Frozen

How does an antioxidant work?

Gives up electrons to radicals.

Only the _____________________________ form of vitamin E is used by the body.

alpha-tocopherol

What is the name of a substance that removes electrons from atoms or molecules?

Oxidant

What would be an appropriate treatment for scurvy?

citric foods such as (lemons and oranges)

Cutting food in large pieces and leaving the skins on foods while cooking will ____________ vitamin loss from the food.

decrease

As a person gets older, their vitamin D production ______________

decreases

Adding a pat of margarine to steamed carrots or tossing vegetables in salad dressing are two ways to improve the absorption of ________ -soluble vitamins.

fat

The _________________ -soluble vitamins are more readily stored in the body than __________________ -soluble vitamins.

fat, water

Vitamins A and D are often added to milk, and ready-to-eat cereals are often sprayed with additional vitamins. These are examples of:

fortification.

A molecule that has been reduced, has __________ one or more electrons.

gained

What is highly reactive and removes electrons from more stable molecules such as proteins, fatty acids, and DNA?

Radical

The deficiency disease casued by a lack of Vitamin C in the diet is called:

Scurvy

The protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen is called __________.

hemoglobin

During infancy, adolescence, and pregnancy, a persons vitamin needs:

increase

Presently there _________ much scientific information that supports claims that megadoses of vitamins can treat or prevent disease.

is not

The skins ability to produce vitamin D from sunlight is _________ in dark skin compared to lighter skin.

less.

Excess consumption of Vitamin A can damage the

liver

When an atom or molecule _________ one or more electrons, it has been oxidized.

loses

What is the adult form of rickets called?

osteomalacia

Microwaving, steaming, and stir-frying are all cooking methods that . . . .

preserve vitamin content of foods.

Because there is not a lot of Vitamin D in our food, our bodies must get ________________ exposure in order to make vitamin D.

sun

An agent that causes birth defects is called a ______________.

teratogen

Folate, vitamin B-12, and vitamin C are all examples of _________- soluble vitamins

water

Vitamin A --> ___________ function Thiamin ---> Energy ______ Folate --> ____________ formation

Immune function Energy metabolism Blood formation

Which statement about vitamins is most true?

More is always better.

True or false: Some radical formation in the body is necessary and provides some benefits.

True

True or false: in general, vitamins occur naturally and synthetic vitamins have similar biological activity.

True

True or false: it is unlikely that there are undiscovered vitamins.

True

The water-soluble vitamins include:

Vitamin C and the B vitamins.

Plant oils such as sunflower, safflower, canola, and olive oils, as well as margarine and salad dressing are rich food sources of:

Vitamin E

Name the fat-soluble vitamins:

Vitamins A, D, E, K

Keeping foods in high humidity and away from air are storage methods that __________ vitamin content.

retain

Children with leg bones that bow under the weight of carrying the upper part of the body is a sign of _____________, a disease resulting from vitamin D deficiency.

rickets

Which disease is characterized by a vitamin D deficiency and leads to soft and misshapen bones in children?

rickets

The _____________________ ______________________ is the primary site of vitamin absorption.

small intestine