Biochemistry

WEEK 10 / VITAMINS AND MINERALS

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
OF VITAMINS  RDA (mg/day):
 Great Britain: 30
 Organic compound that is essential in small amounts  United States and Canada: 60
 Must be obtained from dietary sources  Germany: 75
 Human body can’t synthesize in enough amounts
 Essential for proper functioning of the body VITAMIN B
 Needed in micro and milligram quantities, compare to
 The preferred and alternative names for the B vitamins
50 to 200 grams per day for the major food
 Thiamin (vitamin B1)
 RDA of vitamin b12: Adult - 2.0 microgram/day
 Riboflavin (vitamin B2)
 1 Gram of vitamin B is sufficient for 500,000 people
 Niacin (nicotinic acid, nicotinamide, vitamin B 3)
 Enough vitamin can be obtained from balanced diet
 Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine, pyridoxal, pyridoxamine)
 Supplemental vitamins may be needed for pregnant
 Folate (folic acid)
women or after illness
 Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) – contains metal atom
 Many enzymes contain vitamins as part of their
 Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5)
structures - conjugated enzymes
 Biotin – hair growth and nails, no tin atom
 Synthetic and natural vitamins are same
 Exhibit structural diversity
 13 Known vitamins
 Major function: B Vitamins are components of
 Two Classes
coenzymes
WATER SOLUBLE FAT SOLUBLE  NOTE: For two B vitamins in niacin and vitamin B6 are
cannot be stored in the body can be stored in the body more than one form of the vitamin exist
regular supply is needed regular supply is not needed
Excess is excreted in urine, Toxic if large amount is fat-SOLUBLE VITAMINS
safe to intake large amount ingested
Unstable to heat and light, Fairly stable at normal VITAMINS A, D, E, K
cooking or boiling liquids cooking temperature
Vitamin C, B Vitamin A, D, E, K  Involved in plasma membrane processes
 More hydrocarbon like with fewer functional groups
 Structures as a whole are non-polar
WATER-SOLUBLE VITAMINS
VITAMIN A
VITAMIN C
 Has role in vision - only 1/1000 of vitamin A is in retina
 Humans, monkeys, apes and guinea pigs need dietary
 3 Forms of vitamin A are active in the body
vitamins
 Derived from b-carotine
 Maintains iron in the oxidation state, int his role VitC is
 Preform Vitamin A are called retinoids
functioning as antioxidant
 Foods from animals including egg yolk and dairy
 Co-substrate in the formation of structural protein
products contain compound retinyl esters that are
collagen
easily hydrolyzed to retinoids in the intestine
 Iron serves as cofactor – non-protein or metallic ion
that is required for an enzymes activity as a catalyst, FUNCTIONS OF VITAMIN A
it can be considered as helper molecules
 Vision: In the eye- vitamin A combines with opsin
 Involved in metabolism of certain amino acids
protein to form the visual pigment rhodopsin which
 100 mg/day saturates all body tissues - Excess vitamin
further converts light energy into nerve impulses that
is excreted
are sent to the brain.
 Adrenal gland – contain higher concentration of Vit C
 Rich in Vitamin C: citrus fruits

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 Regulating Cell Differentiation - process in which  Essential in blood clotting, formation of prothrombin
immature cells change to specialized cells with  Needed in biosynthesis of other proteins in plasma,
function. bone and kidney
 Examples: Differentiation of bone marrow cells  Two major forms; K1 and K2
white blood cells and red blood cells.  K1 (Phylloquinon) found in dark green, leafy
 Maintenance of the healthy of epithelial tissues via vegetables, it has a side chain that is predominantly
epithelial tissue differentiation. saturated, one C-C double bond present
 Epithelial Tissue – covers outer body surfaces as  K2 (Menaquinone)is synthesized by bacteria that grow
well as the lining internal cavities and tubes like in colon, it has several C-C double bonds
skin, lining of mouth, stomach, lungs, vagina  Found in animals and human
 Lack of vitamin A causes such surfaces to become  Dietary need supply: ~1/2 synthesized by bacteria and
drier and harder than normal. 1/2 obtained from diet
 Reproduction and Growth: In men, vitamin A  Half of the human body’s vitamin k is synthesized by
participates in sperm development. In women, normal intestinal bacteria, other half comes from diet
fetal development during pregnancy requires vitamin  Found in vitamin K supplements
A.  Active in the formation of proteins involved in
regulating blood clotting
VITAMIN D
 Only spinach and cabbage are particularly rich in
 Two forms active in the body: Vitamin D2 and D3 vitamin K
 Vitamin D3 – produced in the skin of humans and
animals by the action of sunlight or ultraviolet
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF
 Vitamin D2 – differs from vit D3 only in the side MINERALS
chain structure, produced from plant sterol through  Unlike vitamins which are organic substances, minerals
the action of light are inorganic substances which is needed in small
 Sunshine Vitamin: Synthesized by UV light from sun amounts that must be obtained from food
 It controls correct ratio of Ca and P for bone  Minerals can be divided into two groups:
mineralization (hardening)  Major Minerals – large quantities, amount-wise,
 As a hormone it promotes Ca and P absorption in the dividing line between major and trace mineral is
intestine 5 grams, some are a.k.a electrolytes
VITAMIN E  Ex: C, P, K, S, Cl, S, Mg
 Trace Elements – tiny amounts, there are more
 Four forms of Vitamin Es: a-, b-, g- and d-Vitamin E than a dozen trace minerals
 Differs structurally in one substituents  Ex: Fe, Z, Cu, Mn, I, Se
 Alpha-tocopherol is the most active biological active
form of Vitamin E major function of minerals
 Peanut oils, green and leafy vegetables and whole  Body building – teeth and bones
grain products are the sources of vitamin E  Control of body processes, especially the nervous
 Primary function: Antioxidant – protects against system
oxidation of other compounds  Essential part of body fluids and cells
 Important in preventing the oxidation of  Form part of enzymes and other proteins necessary for
polyunsaturated fatty acids, also protects vitamin A the release of energy
from oxidation.
 Action involves giving up the hydrogen present on its Examples of minerals
hydroxide group to oxygen containing free radicals
 After the vitamin e is spent, the reaction with vitamin c iron
restores the hydrogen atom
 Functions: Production of hemoglobin in red blood cells
 Important location: Lungs – the exposure of cells to to carry oxygen in the blood
oxygen
 Sources: Red meat, liver, eggs, bread, green vegetables
VITAMIN K  Deficiency: Anemia – low hemoglobin and hematocrit

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  Inability to produce RBC  Metabolism – biochemical process of combining
the nutrients with oxygen to release the energy that
calcium our bodies need to function
 Functions: Teeth and bones, blood clotting, nerve and  Sources: Milk, eggs, yogurt, seafood, iodized salt
muscle contraction, heart regulation  Disease: involved Goiter – abnormal enlargement of
 Sources: Dairy products, fortified white bread, green thyroid gland
vegetables, nuts and seeds
magnesium
 Deficiency: Stunted growth can cause rickets and
osteoporosis  Required for the production and release of parathyroid
 Rickets – softening and weakening of bone of a hormone
children  Functions: Muscle contraction, DNA synthesis, controls
 Osteoporosis – commonly on adults, causes bone to blood sugar and blood pressure, cofactor of enzymes
become weak and brittle, most commonly occurs in  Sources: Cheeses, cocoa, chocolate, nuts, beans
the hips, wrist, or spine  Deficiency: hypocalcemia – low in blood calcium levels,
secondary condition , it appears as the consequences
phosphorus of hypomagnesemia
 Functions: Bones and teeth accompanied by calcium,  Low magnesium = low calcium
muscle contraction Major minerals
 Sources: Dairy products, nuts, meat, fish, oats, cocoa
 Deficiency: rarely deficient but could cause tiredness  Volume and Osmotic Regulation – minerals involved
and depression are sodium, chloride, and potassium
 Myocardial Rhythm and Contractility – potassium,
sodium magnesium, and calcium
 Cofactor in enzyme activation – magnesium,
 Functions: Maintains water balance in the body and
calcium, and zinc
controls body temperature, helps you sweat when
 Regulation of adenosine triphosphate – magnesium
body temperature rises
 Acid-base balance- bicarbonate, calcium ,
 Sources: Cheese, smoked meats, fish, table salt,
chlorine/de
 Deficiency: deficiency is highly unlikely
 Blood coagulation – calcium and magnesium
potassium  Neuromuscular excitability – magnesium, calcium, K
 Production and use of ATP from glucose –
 Functions: Muscle contraction and in maintaining body magnesium and phosphate
fluid. It is necessary for the building of muscle and for
normal body growth.
 Sources: Banana, celery, meat, fruits, milk, grains,
legumes, raisins, dates, figs
 Deficiency: dry skin, acne, muscle spasms or weakness

zinc
 Functions: Aids the immune system. Cofactor in
enzymes. Needed for the senses of smell and taste
 Sources: Meat esp. lamb meat, oats, eggs, nuts
 Deficiency: Retarded growth
 Excess: Enlarged liver - hepatomegaly

iodine
 Functions: Thyroid gland function (controls how
quickly the body uses energy) and body metabolism