micro nutrients-vitamins

2. People with Increased Nutrient Needs
 Nutrient needs increase during certain stages of
life and so sometimes nutrient supplementation
is needed.
1. Women who lose a lot of blood and therefore a lot of
iron during menstruation each month may need an
_______ supplement.
2. Newborns require a single dose of vitamin ___ at birth.
3. Women of childbearing age need supplements of
_______ to reduce the risk of neural tube defect.
Answers: 1. iron; 2. K; 3. folic acid

3. Vitamins

4. Vitamin (Micronutrients)
 Vitamins are class of organic compounds necessary
for human body, categorized as essential nutrients.
 They regulate chemical reactions by which the body
converts food into energy and living tissues.
 They cannot be synthesized by the body and needed
in small amount.
 Must be obtained by outside sources like food & sun.
 Required for growth, maintenance, reproduction and
lactation etc.

5. Classes of Vitamins
Fat Soluble
Vitamins: stored
in tissues
Examples
A
D
E
K
Water Soluble
Vitamins:
not stored in tissues,
must have constant
supply
Examples
B1, B2,B5,B6 & B12
Niacin(B3)
Folic Acid
C

6. Vitamin A
Vitamin A is essential for the growth of the babies.
 Vitamin A: preformed vitamin, retinol
 IU of vitamin :A=0.3 ug of retinol
Function: development of healthy skin and nerve tissue.
Aids in building up resistance to infection.
Functions in vision and bone formation is important
Deficiency diseases:
Weak growth of the bones/teeth/hairs and skin.
Night Blindness is an early symptom
Also Conjunctival xerosis, Bitot’s spot, corneal xerosis and Keratomalacia.
Extra ocular manifestation s like hyperkeratosis, anorexia and growth
retardation.

7. Vitamin A
Sources of Vitamin A (Animal and plants)are eggs, milk, butter, papaya, mango,
liver fish, liver oil, sweet potatoes, green and yellow vegetables etc.
Treatment: Deficiency can be treated urgently
 Prevention:
 Improvement in diet
 Reducing frequency and severity of contributing factors e.g.: PEM,RTI,Diarrhoea
and measles
 Long term measures: Public awareness and community participation and Vitamins
A supplementation to children every six months.
 RDA= 600 mcg for adults

8. Bitot’s Spots Xerosis Conjunctiva
Corneal Xerosis Keratomalacia

9. Vitamin D
 Vitamin D is essential for body growth.
 Nutritionally important forms ;vitamin D2
(calciferol) , D3 (Cholecalciferol).
 Function: Essential for the proper utilization of calcium
and phosphorus to produce normal, healthy bones.

 Deficiency signs: retarded growth,rickets and
osteoporosis.
 Sources: Whole milk, sun, fish liver oils,egg yolk,butter
etc

10. Vitamin D
RICKETS
 Prevention:
 Sunlight
 Food (Balanced
diet)
 RDA=
400IU(10mcg)
adults

11. VITAMIN E
 Sources: A vitamin that dissolves in fat. It is found in many foods
including vegetable oils, cereals, meat, poultry, eggs, fruits,
vegetables, and wheat germ oil. It is also available as a
supplement.
 Functions: Vitamin E is essential to maintain cell membranes.
 As a fat-soluble antioxidant, it stops the production of reactive
oxygen species formed when fat undergoes oxidation.
 Regular consumption of more than 1,000 mg (1,500 IU) of
tocopherols per day[may be expected to cause hypervitaminosis E.
 Deficiency signs: poor growth, Muscular Dystrophy..
 Vitamin E rapidly destroyed in spoiled fats. That is why
these may cause white muscle disease.
 RDA: 15mg/day

12. VITAMIN K
 plays a key role in helping the blood clot, preventing excessive bleeding.
Unlike many other vitamins, vitamin K is not typically used as a dietary
supplement.
 Two forms K1 and K2
 . Vitamin K1 is obtained from leafy greens and some other vegetables.
Vitamin K2 is a group of compounds largely obtained from meats, cheeses,
and eggs, and synthesized by bacteria.
 Function: necessary for the maintenance of normal blood
coagulation.

 Deficiency signs: blood loses its power to clot or the time needed
for clotting is longer and serious hemorrhages can result from
slight wounds or bruises.

 Sources: green leafy forages, fish meal, liver, soybeans, rumen
and intestinal synthesis, and the synthetic compounds.
 RDA=0.03mg/kg for adults


13. All B vitamins help the body convert food (carbohydrates) into fuel (glucose),
which the body uses to produce energy. These B vitamins, often referred to as
B-complex vitamins, also help the body metabolize fats and protein. B-complex
vitamins are needed for a healthy liver, skin, hair, and eyes. They also help the
nervous system function properly and are needed for good brain function.
All B vitamins are water soluble, meaning that the body does not store them.
 Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
 Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
 Vitamin B3 or Vitamin P or Vitamin PP (niacin)
 Vitamin B5 (panthotenic acid)
 Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine and pyridoxamine)
 Vitamin B7 or Vitamin H (biotin)
 Vitamin B9 or Vitamin M and Vitamin B-c (folic acid)
 Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)
Water soluble vitamins

14. Thymine B1
 Function: required for the normal metabolism of carbohydrates.

 Deficiency signs: loss of appetite, muscular weakness, severe
nervous disorders, general weakness and wasting (Beriberi) and
wernicks encephalopathy
 important loss during washings and cooking of rice.
 Sources: raw, whole grains and especially their seed coats and
yeast, milk cereals, meat, fish eggs and fruits.
 Breast milk is important source for infants.
 Important source-Rice and cereals
 Prevention: To educate people to eat well balanced mixed diet
Daily requrirment:1.2 mg

15. Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
 Fundamental role cellular oxidation.
 The word “flavin” comes from the Latin “flavus,” meaning
yellow. So, vitamin B2 gets its name from its color.
 Function: important as cofactor in many enzymes involved in energy
metabolism and act as antioxidant.
 Sources: milk and dairy by-products, yeast, , whole grains, wheat
bran and synthetic riboflavin .
 Deficiency signs: digestive disturbances, general weakness and eye
abnormalities.
 Daily requirement=.1.3mg per day for adults


16. B-3 Deficiency
 Two Types
1.Niacinamide (Nicotinamide)
 2.Niacin (Nicotinic Acid)
 3.Inosital Hexaniacinate is a supplement that gives the cholesterol regulation
without high toxicity.
 Source: Meat, poultry, fish ,legumes and ground nut.
 Pellagra
 gastrointestinal disturbance, loss of appetite
 headache, insomnia, mental depression
 fatigue, aches, and pains
 nervousness, irritability
 Prevention: Good mixed diet
 RDA: 14-6mg/day in adults

18. Pantothenic acid (B5)
 Its name originates from the Greek word ‘pantos’,
meaning ‘everywhere’, as it can be found throughout
all living cells.
 Sources: both plants and animals including meat,
vegetables, cereal grains, legumes, eggs, and milk.
 Long standing evidence of relation b/w pantothenic
acis and cortical function.
- Specific role in biosynthesis of corticosteroids
 Daily requirement =3-12mg or averagely 5mg/day

19. B-6 Pyridoxine
 Three forms: Pyridoxine,Pyridoxol and pyridoxamine
 Plays Important role in the metabolism of aminoacids,fats and carbohydrates.
 Function: Vitamin B6 is also called pyridoxine. It is involved in the process of
making serotonin and norepinephrine, which are chemicals that transmit signals
in the brain. Vitamin B6 is also involved in the formation of myelin, a protein
layer that forms around nerve cells.
 Source: Major sources of vitamin B6 include cereal grains, legumes,
vegetables (carrots, spinach, peas, and potatoes), milk, cheese, eggs, fish,
liver, meat, and flour.
 Vitamin B6 is often used with other B vitamins in vitamin B complex
formulas..
 Deficiency leads to peripheral neuritis
 RDA: 1.2mg/day -1.3mg/day
 Prevention: Bal diet

20. Vitamin B12
Organ metallic compound with a cobalt atom.
Preparation which is therapeutically used is Cynocobalmine
Vitamin B12 helps in the normal functioning of the Folic Acid.
The Vitamin B12 and folic acid are necessary for the
synthesis of the DNA.
Separate role in synthesis of fatty acids in myeline .
Physiologically intrinsic factor is needed for the absorption of
vit:B12 in stomach.
Deficiency of the Vitamin B12 /Folate leads to Megaloblastic
anemia and damages the Nervous System.

21. Vitamin B12
Main sources of Vitamin B12 are milk, eggs, liver
kidney and other animal sources. Not found in
vegetable origin
Synthesize by the bacteria in colon
Liver is main storage site, and as needed in small
quantity so reserve is sufficient for 1-3 years.
 RDA-1-2mcg/day adults
 Pregnancy- 1.2mcg
 Lactation-1.5mcg
 Infants & children 0.2mcg

22. Folates
 Folates= Folacin = Folic acid
 Two forms- Free folates and bound folates
 Function: Folic acid plays role in synthesis of nucleic acid constitutes
chromosomes
 It is needed for development of blood cells in the marrow.
 Source: Latin folia(=leaf) also liver,meat dairy products, eggs,milk fruits
and cereals
 Deficiency may occur from poor diet.Commonly observed in pregnancy
and lactation b/c of increased requrirment
 Megaloblastic anemia,glossitis,dirrhoea.
 Severe def:may leads to infertility and sterlity
Requirment=200mcg/day
Pregnancy=500mcg/day
Lactation=300mcg/day
Children=80-20mcg/day

23. Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)
 Water soluble and heat sensitive
 Function: Potent antioxident and mainly tissue oxidation,
 Collagen synthesis –Connective tissue formation and bones and
catilages so if this support fails then fractures and local
hemorrhages,
 has an effect on the metabolism of calcium in the body
 Deficiency signs: Human deficiency: scurvy (swollen and painful
joints and bleeding gums) and brittleness of bones,Subcutaneous
bruising
 Sources: citrus fruits, tomatoes, leafy vegetables and potatoes.
 Requirement =40 mg/day -adults

24. Bleeding Gums
Sore Gums
Bleeding under Skin
Anemia
No Blood Clotting