Vitamins

There are two chapters for suggested reading from Lippincott: Chapter 28: Vitamins and Chapter 29: Minerals (full disclosure: We will not be going over minerals in class, and this is more of an FYI). The short descriptions and videos listed below are some of the big-picture, high-yield points. The reading and the class session will go into more depth and detail. The reading guides are also posted.

As I have said in other modules, this reading guide is for people who need help focusing on these chapters. Most students DO NOT need to use the guide or do the reading for these two chapters.

Micronutrients: Vitamins. Lippincott® Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry, 8e. Medical Education: Health Library.

Micronutrients: Minerals. Lippincott® Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry, 8e. Medical Education: Health Library.

Read Chapter 28. These are the things you should know and be able to explain after completing this part of the course.

Folic acid

• In what kinds of reactions is folate a necessary cofactor?

• What is the common symptom of folate deficiency?

• Under what circumstances is folate supplementation considered very important?

Cobalamin (Vit B₁₂)

• In what kinds of reactions is cobalamin a necessary cofactor?

• What is the source of vitamin B₁₂?

• How is B₁₂ taken up by the body?

• What is the common presentation of B₁₂ deficiency?

• What is the folate trap?

Ascorbic acid (Vit C)

• In what kinds of reactions does vitamin C (ascorbate) participate?

• What else does vitamin C do?

• What disease is caused by vitamin C deficiency?

Pyridoxine (Vit B₆)

• In what kinds of reactions is pyridoxal phosphate (the active form of Vit B₆) a necessary cofactor?

• What is the most common way to develop a pyridoxine deficiency?

Thiamine (Vit B₁)

• In what kinds of reactions is thiamine pyrophosphate (the active form of Vit B₁) a necessary cofactor?

• How is thiamine deficiency diagnosed?

• What diseases are caused by thiamine deficiency? What is the difference between them?

Niacin

• What important cofactor is synthesized from niacin?

• What disease is caused by niacin deficiency?

• What condition is effectively treated by high dose niacin supplementation?

Riboflavin (Vit B₂)

• What important cofactors are synthesized from riboflavin (Vit B₂)?

Biotin

• In what type of reactions is biotin a necessary cofactor?

• What is the factor in egg whites that binds and sequesters biotin? Is this a danger of eating raw eggs?

Pantothenic Acid

• What important cofactor is synthesized from pantothenic acid?

Vitamin A

• What are the three forms of vitamin A?

• In what form is vitamin A transported from the gut and stored in the liver?

• What form of vitamin A is released from the liver to target tissues?

• By what mechanism does vitamin A effect changes in function in most cells?

• What specific function does vitamin A have in the retina?

• What conditions is vitamin A used to treat?

Vitamin D

• Where do we acquire vitamin D, and where in the body is it activated by hydroxylation?

• By what mechanism does vitamin D effect changes in function in most cells?

• What does vitamin D participate in regulating in the body and how?

• How does vitamin D deficiency cause rickets? Does this make sense?

Vitamin K

• In what type of reactions is vitamin K a necessary participant?

• Why is vitamin K deficiency unusual, but more common in newborns than children or adults?

Vitamin E

• What is the primary function of vitamin E?

Read Chapter 28. These are the things you should know and be able to explain after completing this part of the course.
 

Mineral classifications

• What are the different classifications of minerals (Fig. 29.1)

• Are these required?

Macrominerals

• Why is calcium important? Where does the majority of calcium reside?

• What is the function of calcium in metabolism?

• What is phosphorus used for in the body? What is the major form? Where is it found?

• How are serum levels of calcium and inorganic phosphate controlled? (Fig. 29.2 and 29.3)

• What is calcitriol, and why is it important?

• Why is parathyroid hormone important in serum calcium?

• Where is the majority of magnesium located?

• What is the function of magnesium?

• What is the function of sodium and chloride? How do they relate to hypertension?

• What is potassium used for in the cell?

Microminerals

• What is the function of copper? (Fig. 29.5)

• Where is it acquired in the diet?

• What can occur if there is a deficiency in copper?

• What is Menkes Syndrome? (Fig. 29.6) What enzyme is affected? How is it treated?

• What is Wilson disease? (Fig. 29.6) What enzyme is affected? How is it treated?

• Why is iron important? Where is it located?

• How is iron obtained in the diet?

• How is iron taken up in the intestine? (Fig. 29.8)

• What does vitamin C do regarding iron uptake?

• How is iron stored and transported?

• What is ferritin? What is the transferrin receptor?

• Can you have iron overload?

• What is manganese and where is it required (Fig. 29.10)

• What is the function of zinc?

• What is the importance of chromium and fluorine?

Ultra trace minerals

• What is the function of iodine? How is it utilized? (Fig. 29.13 and 19.14)

• What hypothyroidism?

• What is hyperthyroidism?

• What is a goiter? How does it occur?

• What is the function of selenium?

• What is the function of molybdenum? (Fig. 29.17)

Classification of all the vitamins (i.e., water soluble, fat soluble, energy releasing, etc.)
Megaloblastic anemia as it relates to Folate.

• Vitamin A

  • Types

  • Function

  • Transport

• Vitamin B12

  • Intrinsic factor/how absorbed

  • “Folate trap”

• Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

• Beriberi and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (thiamine deficiencies)

  • Assay?

  • Enzymes?

• Niacin

  • Disease associated

  • What is made from Niacin?

• Vitamin C

  • Disease associated

  • Enzyme associated (that we discussed)

• Pantothenic Acid (vitamin B5)

  • Needed for?

• Vitamin A

  • Types

  • Function

  • Transport

• Vitamin D

  • Production of

  • Function

Minerals

• Function of copper

• Menkes Disease

• Wilson Disease

• Iodine and the thyroid

• Zinc and enzymes that are related to it

• Iron metabolism and enzymes/proteins associated with it

• Magnesium

• Calcium and control of serum levels

• Fluoride