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Vitamins Medical Biochemistry Approach: Lecturer: Chatchawin PETCHLERT, PH.D
Vitamins Medical Biochemistry Approach: Lecturer: Chatchawin PETCHLERT, PH.D
Vitamins
Medical Biochemistry Approach
Lecturer:
Chatchawin PETCHLERT, Ph.D.
o Chemical structure
o Classification: Fat-soluble & water-soluble vitamins
o General functions
o Synthesis vitamin A, D, E & K
o Specific functions
o A, D, E & K
o B-group & C
o Anti-oxidative action: β-carotene, vitamin E, C
o Requirements
o Cow’s milk & vitamins
o Check your knowledge
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
VITAMIN
VITA AMINE
(life) (containing nitrogen)
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
A retinol phototransduction
B1 thiamin carbohydrate metabolism
B2 riboflavin redox, respiration
B3 niacin redox
B5 pantothenic acid TCA, FA and cholesterol
pyridoxine
AA metabolism
B6 pyridoxamine
glycogenolysis
pyridoxal
B7 biotin gluconeogenesis, TCA, FA, AA
B9 folic acid 1C metabolism
B12 cobalamin 1C&H metabolism
C ascorbic acid hydroxylation
D cholecalciferol bone remodeling
E -tocopherol antioxidant
phytylmenaquinone coagulation
K
multiprenylmenaquinone bone remodeling
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Vitamin-Like Substances
Choline Acetyl choline, Phospholipids
Bioflavonoids Antioxidants
Inositol Phospholipids
Vitamins : Overview
First recognized that there were substances in foods that were
“vital to life” in the early 1900s.
Vit. A deficiency can cause blindness; a lack of the B vitamin –
niacin can cause dementia; and a lack of vit. D can retard bone
growth.
Vit. C not only prevents the deficiency disease scurvy, but also
seems to protect against certain types of cancer.
Vit. E seems to help protect against some facets of CVD.
Vit. B folate helps to prevent birth defects.
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Vitamins : Overview
Vitamins differ from CHOs, fats, and proteins in the following
ways:
Structure. Vitamins are individual units; they are not linked together
(as are molecules of glucose or amino acids).
Function. Vitamins do not yield usable energy when broken down;
they assist the enzymes that release energy from CHOs, fats, and
proteins.
Food contents. The amounts of vitamins people ingest daily from
foods and the amounts they require are measured in g or mg, rather
than g.
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Vitamins : Functions
Essential for many processes in the body
Vitamins play a role in digestion & utilization of
— Protein
— Fat
— Carbohydrates
Vitamins are components of enzymes (coenzyme particularly water-
soluble vitamins)
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Vitamins : Bioavailability
Bioavailability: the rate at and the extent to which a nutrient is absorbed and
used.
Precursors: substances that precede others; with regard to vitamins, compounds
that can be converted into active vitamins; also known as provitamins.
Determining the bioavailability of a vitamin is a more complex task
because it depends on many factors, including:
efficiency of digestion and transit time through the GI tract.
previous nutrient intake and nutrition status.
other foods consumed at the same time that may inhibit or enhance the
absorption of individual vitamins and minerals.
method of food preparation (raw, cooked, or , processed).
source of the nutrient (synthetic, fortified, or naturally occurring).
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
To minimize the oxidation of vitamins, store fruits and vegetables that have been cut
in airtight wrappers and juices that have been opened in closed containers (and
refrigerated them).
To prevent losses during washing, rinse fruits and vegetables before cutting.
Fat-Soluble
Vitamins
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Vitamin A
Vit. A was the first fat-soluble vitamin
to be recognized.
Precursors are carotenoids such as
-carotene.
Different forms of vit. A are active in
the body: retinol, retinal, and retinoic
acid.
A special transport protein, retinol-
binding protein (RBP), picks up vit. A
from the liver, where it is stored, and
carries it in the blood.
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Forms of Vitamin A
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Roles of Vitamins A
Promoting vision
Participating in protein synthesis and cell
differentiation (and thereby maintaining the
health of epithelial tissues and skin)
Supporting reproduction and growth
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Recommendation
RDA : 900 g RAE/day (male)
700 g RAE/day (female)
1 g RAE = 1 g retinol
= 2 g -carotene (supplement)
= 12 g -carotene (diet)
= 24 g of other vit. A precursor carotenoids
Bitot’s spot
Conjunctival xerosis
Corneal scar
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Toxicity = Hypervitaminosis A
Bone defects osteoporosis (consuming
large amounts), increased activity of osteoclast
Birth defects teratogenesis risk (excess vit.
A before the 7th week of pregnancy appear to be
the most damaging)
Yellow skin but not harmful
Acne Accutane is made from vit. A but is
chemically different. It is effective against the deep lesion of
cystic acne. It is highly toxic, however, especially during
growth, and has caused birth defects in infants when women
have taken it during their pregnancies.
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Vitamins D (calciferol)
The body can synthesize vit. D by
sunlight exposure.
Vit. D comes in many forms, the 2
most important being a plant version
called vit. D2 or ergocalciferol and an
Roles of Vitamin D
Recommendation
Adequate Intake (AI) :
Adults: 5 g/day (19-50 y)
10 g/day (51-70 y)
15 g/day (70 y)
Toxicity = Hypervitaminosis D
Elevated blood Ca2+
Calcification of soft tissues (blood vessels, kidney, heart, lung,
tissues around joints)
frequent urination
Precaution
prolong exposure to sunlight degrades vit. D precursor in the skin.
prolong exposure to sunlight increase the risk of skin cancer.
sunscreens with sun protection factors (SPF) of 8 and higher also
prevent vit. D synthesis.
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Vitamin E (Tocopherol)
Vit. E was discovered in vegetable oils
necessary for reproduction in rats and named
this antisterility factor – tocopherol.
-Tocopherol is the only one with vit. E
activity in the human body. The other
tocopherols are not readily converted to -
tocopherol in the body, nor do they perform the
same roles.
RDA : 15 mg/day
Antioxidant (stabilization of cell membranes,
regulation of oxidation reactions, protection of
PUFA and vit. A)
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Toxicity
rare
extremely high dose of vit. E may interfere with blood-clotting action
of vit. K and enhance the effects of drugs used to oppose blood clotting
causing hemorrhage.
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Vitamin K
Vit. K can be obtained from a nonfood source.
Bacteria in the GI tract synthesize vit. K that the
body can absorb.
K stands for the Danish word koagulation
(“coagulation” or “clotting”)
AI Men : 120 g/day Women : 90 g/day
Synthesis of blood-clotting proteins and bone
proteins
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Water-Soluble
Vitamins
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)
Thiamin is the vitamin part of the coenzyme TPP
(Thiamin pyrophosphate), which assists in energy
metabolism.
reaction removes 1-C from pyruvate to make
acetyl CoA + CO2 and participates in a similar
step in TCA cycle where it helps convert 5-
carbon compound to 4-carbon compound.
Thiamin occupies a special site on the membrane of
nerve cells.
RDA : Men: 1.2 mg/day Women: 1.1 mg/day
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
Riboflavin serves as a coenzyme in many reactions,
FMN (Flavin mononucleotide) and FAD (Flavin
adenine dinucleotide), which can accept and then
donate 2 hydrogens in TCA cycle and delivers them to
the electron transport chain.
RDA : Men: 1.3 mg/day Women: 1.1 mg/day
The greatest sources of riboflavin come from milk
and milk products.
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
The name niacin describes 2 chemical structures:
nicotinic acid and nicotinamide.
The body can easily convert nicotinic acid to
nicotinamide, which is the major form of niacin in the
blood.
The 2 coenzyme forms of niacin, NAD (nicotinamide
adenine dinucleotide) and NADP (nicotinamide
adenine dinucleotide phosphate), participate in
numerous metabolic reactions.
Niacin can be made in the body from its precursor,
tryptophan.
RDA : Men: 16 mg NE/day Women: 14 mg NE/day 1 niacin equivalent; NE = 1 mg niacin
= 60 mg Trp
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Toxicity
Biotin
Biotin plays an important role in metabolism as a
coenzyme that carries activated CO2. This role is critical in
TCA cycle.
Biotin delivers one-carbon to pyruvate, thus replenishing
oxaloacetate. The biotin coenzyme also serves crucial roles
in gluconeogenesis, fatty acid synthesis, and the
breakdown of certain fatty acids and amino acids.
The 2 coenzyme forms of niacin, NAD (nicotinamide
adenine dinucleotide) and NADP (nicotinamide adenine
dinucleotide phosphate), participate in numerous
metabolic reactions.
Niacin can be made in the body from its precursor,
1 niacin equivalent; NE = 1 mg niacin
tryptophan. = 60 mg Trp
RDA : Adults : 30 g/day
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
occur in form pyridoxal and pyridoxamine.
they can be converted to the coenzyme PLP
(pyridoxal phosphate), which is active in amino
acid metabolism
The conversion of the amino acid, Trp to niacin
or to the neurotransmitter, serotonin also depend
on PLP as does the synthesis of heme, nucleic
acids and lecithin.
RDA : Adults (19-50 y): 1.3 mg/day
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Toxicity
depression, fatigue, irritability, headaches, nerve damage causing
numbness and muscle weakness leading to an inability to walk and
convulsions, skin lesions
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Toxicity
mask vit. B12-deficiency symptoms
Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Science, Burapha University Vitamins
Toxicity
Nausea, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, headache, fatigue, insomnia,
hot flashes, rashes