This presentation provide the basics of nutrition and nutritional supplements, the classification, sources, therapeutic uses, deficiency symptoms and toxicity.

1. NUTRITIONAL
SUPPLEMENTS
TAHIR ALBASHIR (BSc. Pharm)
albashirtahir@gmail.com
+2348068440615
APRIL, 2023

2. INTRODUCTION
• A nutrient is any substance in food that the body can use to obtain
energy, synthesize tissues, or regulate body processes
• Classified into macronutrients and micronutrients
• A macronutrient is a nutrient that is needed in relatively large amounts
in the diet.
• Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids, Water
• A micronutrient is a nutrient that is needed in relatively small amounts
in the diet.
• Vitamins and Minerals
• Nutritional supplements are products that are ingested in addition
to the regular diet to provide additional health promoting nutrients.

3. VITAMINS
• Vitamins are non-energy yielding organic
compounds, that must be supplied in small quantities
in the diet
• They are essential for normal functioning, growth
and maintenance of the body
• They cannot be synthesized by the body as such,
must be obtained via outside sources

4. VITAMINS…
• Vitamins are traditionally divided into two groups:
• Fat-soluble (A, D, E, K)
• These (except vit K) are stored in the body for
prolonged periods and are liable to cause cumulative
toxicity after regular ingestion of large amounts.
• Some interact with specific cellular receptors
analogous to hormones.
• Deficiencies develop very slowly

5. VITAMINS…
• Water-soluble (B complex, C)
• These are meagerly stored: excess is excreted with
little chance of toxicity.
• They act as cofactors for specific enzymes of
intermediary metabolism.
• Deficiencies may develop quickly if inadequate intake
occurs.

6. VITAMINS…
• The importance of vitamins as drugs is primarily in
the prevention and treatment of deficiency diseases.
• Some vitamins do have other empirical uses in
pharmacological doses.
• Vitamin deficiencies occur due to inadequate intake,
malabsorption, increased tissue needs, increased
excretion, certain genetic abnormalities and drug-
vitamin interactions.

7. Vitamin A (Retinol)
Functions
 Development healthy skin and nerve tissue.
 Aids in building up resistance to infection.
 Functions in eyesight and bone formation.
 Maintenance of spermatogenesis and foetal development.

8. Vitamin A…
Deficiency signs:
 Retarded growth in the young
 Dryness of eye (xerosis)
 Night blindness (nyctalopia)
 Dry and rough skin
 Reproductive disorders.

9. Vitamin A…
Therapeutic uses
• Prophylaxis of vit A deficiency during infancy, pregnancy,
lactation, hepatobiliary diseases, steatorrhoea.
• Treatment of established vit A deficiency:
• Skin diseases like acne, psoriasis, ichthyosis.
Sources
Whole milk, liver, egg yolks, carotene, animal body oils
(cod fish and tuna), legume forages and can be
synthetically produced.

10. Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol)
Function:
 Essential for the proper utilization of calcium and phosphorus to produce
normal, healthy bones.
Deficiency signs:
 Retarded growth
 Misshapen bones (rickets)
 Osteoporosis.
Sources:
Whole milk, forage crops, fish liver oils.

11. Vitamin E (Tocopherol)
Function:
 Antioxidant
 Normal reproduction.
Deficiency signs:
 No clear-cut vit E deficiency syndrome has been described in
humans
 Recurrent abortion, degenerative changes in spinal cord,
skeletal muscle and heart and hemolytic anemia is seen in
animals

12. Vitamin E…
Therapeutic uses
 For its antioxidant property, vit E has been promoted for
recurrent abortion, sterility, menopausal syndrome, toxaemia of
pregnancy, atherosclerosis, ischaemic heart disease, cancer
prevention, several skin diseases, prevention of
neurodegenerative disorders, and many other conditions, but
without convincing evidence of benefit.
Sources:
Cereal grains and wheat germ oil, green forages, egg yolk, oil seeds
(peanut and soybean oil).

13. Vitamin K (Phylloquinone)
Functions
 Necessary for the maintenance of normal blood coagulation.
 Bone mineralization, and cellular growth
Deficiency signs
 Increase in blood clotting time
 Longer and serious hemorrhages from slight wounds or bruises.
Sources
Green leafy forages, fish meal, liver, soybeans, rumen and
intestinal synthesis, and the synthetic compounds.

14. Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)
Functions:
 Antioxidant
 Metabolism of calcium in the body
Deficiency signs:
 Scurvy (swollen and painful joints and bleeding gums)
 Brittleness of bones.
Sources:
Citrus fruits, tomatoes, leafy vegetables and potatoes.

15. Vitamin C…
Therapeutic uses
• Prevention of ascorbic acid deficiency in individuals at
risk and in infants
• Treatment of scurvy
• Postoperatively: though vit C does not enhance normal
healing, suboptimal healing can be guarded against and it
has also been found to accelerate healing of bedsores and
chronic leg ulcers.
• Anaemia: Ascorbic acid enhances iron absorption and is
frequently combined with ferrous.

16. Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
Function
Required for the normal metabolism of carbohydrates
Proper nerve function
Stabilizing the appetite
Promoting growth and good muscle tone.

17. Vitamin B1…
Deficiency symptoms
• The syndrome of thiamine deficiency beriberi is seen in dry and
wet forms:
• Dry beriberi: Neurological symptoms are prominent—
polyneuritis with numbness, tingling, hyperesthesia, muscular
weakness and atrophy resulting in ‘wrist drop’, ‘foot drop’,
paralysis of whole limb, mental changes, sluggishness, poor
memory, loss of appetite and constipation.
• Wet beriberi: Cardiovascular system is primarily affected—
palpitation, breathlessness, high output cardiac failure and ECG
changes.

18. Vitamin B1…
Therapeutic use
 Beriberi
 Acute alcoholic intoxication
 In neurological and cardiovascular disorders, hyperemesis
gravidarum, chronic anorexia and obstinate constipation
Sources:
It is present in the outer layers of cereals,
pulses, nuts, green vegetables, yeasts, egg
and meat.

19. Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
Function:
Necessary for normal embryo development, important in the
metabolism of amino acids and carbohydrates.
Deficiency signs:
 Deficiency generally occurs in association with other deficiencies.
 Characteristic lesions are angular stomatitis; sore and raw tongue, lips,
throat, ulcers in mouth; vascularization of cornea.
 Dry scaly skin, loss of hair; anaemia and neuropathy develop later..
Sources
Milk, egg, liver, green leafy vegetables, grains..

20. Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
Functions
• Energy production
• Maintenance of skin and tongue
• Improves circulation
• Maintenance of nervous system
• Health of the digestive track
Deficiency signs
• Niacin deficiency produces ‘Pellagra’, cardinal manifestations of
which are: dermatitis, diarrhoea and dementia.
• Anaemia and hypoproteinaemia are common in pellagra.

21. Vitamin B3…
Sources:
Liver, fish, meat, cereal husk, nuts and pulses.
Therapeutic uses:
 Prophylactically in people at risk of developing pellagra.
 Treatment of pellagra.

22. Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
Functions:
 Production of red blood cells
 Conversion of tryptophan to
niacin (B-3)
 Immunity
 Nervous system functions
 Reducing muscle spasms,
cramps, and numbness
 Maintaining proper balance of
sodium and phosphorous in the
body
Deficiency signs:
• Seborrheic dermatitis
• Glossitis
• Growth retardation
• Mental confusion
• Lowered seizure threshold or
convulsions (due to fall in brain
GABA levels)
• Peripheral neuritis and
• Anaemia.

23. Vitamin B6…
Sources
Liver, meat, egg, soybean, vegetables and whole grain.
Therapeutic uses
 Prophylactically in alcoholics, infants and patients with deficiency of
other B vitamins.
 To prevent and treat isoniazid, hydralazine and cycloserine induced
neurological disturbances.
 To treat mental symptoms in women on oral contraceptives.
 Anaemia (due to defective haeme synthesis) and homocystinuria
 Convulsions in infants and children.

24. Vitamin B12
Functions
 Proper nerve function
 Production of red blood
cells
 Metabolizing fats and
proteins
 Prevention of anemia
 DNA reproduction
Deficiency signs
 Anemia
 Nerve damage
 Hypersensitive skin

25. Minerals
• Essential inorganic nutrients, required in small
amounts.
• Required for growth, maintenance, reproduction and
lactation.
• Classified as macro minerals and trace minerals

26. The Macrominerals
• Calcium Ca
• Phosphorous P
• Potassium K
• Sulfur S
• Sodium Na
• Chlorine Cl
• Magnesium Mg

27. Calcium (Ca)
Function
Major component of bones and teeth and essential in blood
coagulation, nerve and muscle function and milk and egg production.
Deficiency signs:
Retarded growth, deformed bones (rickets), osteoporosis
Sources
Milk and dairy products, dark green leafy vegetables, oyster shells and
limestone.

28. Sodium (Na)
Function:
Maintains fluid balance in the body
Deficiency signs
Muscle cramps
Sources:
Salt, packaged foods

29. Chloride (Cl)
Function
Maintains fluid balance in the body
Deficiency signs:
Can cause convulsions in infants
Sources:
Salt

30. Phosphorus (P)
Function:
 Essential for the formation of bones, teeth, and body fluids.
 Required for metabolism, cell respiration and normal
reproduction.
Deficiency signs:
Similar to calcium deficiency, lack of appetite, poor
reproduction
Sources
Animal proteins, dairy foods, legumes

31. Potassium (K)
Function:
Maintains fluid balance in the body
Deficiency signs:
Irregular heart beat, Loss of appetite, Muscle cramps
Sources:
Fruits, especially bananas and oranges, meat, poultry and
fish, dry beans, dairy products

32. Magnesium (Mg)
Function:
 Helps build bones
 Helps nerves and muscles work normally
 Regulates body temperature
Deficiency signs:
Heart disease, Heart spasms
Sources:
Dark green leafy vegetables, Whole grain products

33. The Microminerals
• Iodine (I)
• Zinc (Zn)
• Copper (Cu)
• Iron (Fe)
• Selenium (Se)
• Manganese (Mn)
• Molybedenum (Mo)

34. Copper (Cu)
Function:
Helps iron make red blood cells
Deficiency signs:
Weak bones and blood vessels
Sources
Whole grain products

35. Iron (Fe)
Function:
Essential for the function of every organ and tissue
of the body (Hemoglobin).
Deficiency signs-
Goiter (Swelling of the thyroid gland in the neck)
Sources:
Iodized salt, Saltwater fish, Some dairy products

36. Goiters

37. Malnutrition
• When more than 20% of usual body weight is lost,
most physiologic body functions become
significantly impaired
• Malnutrition can also reduce cardiac output, impair
wound healing, and depress immune function
• Nutritional repletion can often reverse these
processes and significantly improve patient outcomes
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38. Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM)
• Most common form of malnutrition
• Most often seen in hospitalized patient with
End-stage liver or renal disease
Cancer cachexia
HIV/AIDS
Severe eating disorder
Long-term recovery from multiple trauma
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39. Kwashiorkor
• “Pot Belly” appearance due to hepatic edema and
fatty liver
• Increased extracellular fluid (edema) and low plasma
albumin levels
• Increase in extracellular fluid may mask underlying weight
loss
• Rapid onset; may develop in a few weeks
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40. Marasmus
• Significant deficit of total body fat and body protein with
a slight increase in extracellular water
• Obvious body wasting
– Skin and bones appearance
• Eyes may be sunken
• Skull and cheekbones may be prominent
• Plasma albumin is often in the low-normal range
• Usually takes months or years to develop
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41. THANK YOU