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Vitamins and Minerals

PowerPoint originally prepared byShanta Adeeb

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The Nature of Vitamins

Vitamins are organic (carbon) compounds needed for normal function, growth and maintenance.

Vitamins are cofactors, they don’t do anything by themselves.

They are not a source of calories.

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The Nature of Vitamins

Organic cofactors – what is a cofactor?– Water analogy, scissor analogy

Physiological role – specific metabolic function Prevents disease – unlike “supplements” which

may promote “some thing” or have general metabolic effect

(ex. Omega 3s, fibers)

Natural = Synthetic (except Vitamin E)

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The Nature of Vitamins

Nutritional Value lost by:– Light– Heat– Oxidation– Bacteria– Enzymes– Insects– (Nutritional value of baby

food must be assured.)

Effect of packaging on nutrient loss in milk.

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The Nature of Vitamins

Food processing can preserve nutrients.

Vitamin Requirements Daily Values (DV): standard nutrient intake values

developed by FDA– Includes DRIs (Daily Recommended Intakes for

Individuals) and (DRVs) Daily Recommended Values (Proteins, etc.)

– Disease prevention– Best met through a consumption of a wide

variety of foods

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Vitamin Requirements

Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI): recommendation for individuals (more accurate, but would be impossible to label)– Age– Gender– Pregnancy– Lactation

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Vitamin Requirements

Daily Reference Values (DRV): standards established for protein and other dietary components lacking a RDA or nutrient standard

Constitute part of the Daily Values (DV) used on food labels

Dietary Supplements $6 Billion Market

They are classified as “Nutritional Supplements” They are not foods, and not drugs.*

Supplements are “Product intended to supplement the diet and contains vitamins, minerals, botanicals, amino acids, and their extracts.”

NOT consumed as a food replacement Loosely regulated, “not evaluated by FDA”

By definition a “drug” is used to “prevent, treat or cure” disease. These terms cannot be used with supplements.

Use of some supplements is backed by scientific data.

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Dr. Montville’s Favorite Supplements

Glucosamine Omega 3 Folic acid Ginko baloba Ground rhino’s horn.

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Fat Soluble Vitamins

A – orange, carotenoids, vision, antioxidant- used as color and antioxidant

D – we make it with sunlight, deficiency causes rickets, in milk, regulates Ca:P ratios

E – tocopherols, antioxidants, role in preventing stroke, cancer, heart disease- used as antioxidant

K – contributes to blood clotting factor

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Vitamin A

Lots of double bonds, good anti-oxidant

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Vitamin A

Carrotinoids Used in food industry as a colorant (orange) (label friendly)

Antioxidant (label friendly) Stored in liver Important for sight

– Deficiency causes ~500,000 cases of “night blindness” worldwide

Genetically engineered rice with high Vitamin A can prevent night blindness

Carrotenosis

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Vitamin D

Also known as calciferol due to its role in calcium absorption

Main role is to maintain calcium and potassium levels

It is the only fat soluble vitamin that we can make- in the presence of sunlight

Can be made from cholesterol

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Vitamin D

Can be stored in fat tissues (as can all fat soluble vitamins)

Elderly and shut ins are at risk- not enough sunlight We get vitamin D form fortified milk and cereal Toxicity is very dangerous

– Occurs only from excess supplementation– Can lead to calcium deposits in kidneys, heart

and blood vessels

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Vitamin D

Rickets can be caused by lack of sunlight, but also from insufficient

calcium. Vitamin D linked to calcium absorption.

(Rickets reported in NYC.)

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Vitamin E

A family of eight naturally occurring compounds Used as an anti-oxidant in foods Since aging is considered an “oxidation” reaction,

many “anti-oxidants” are used as dietary supplements

Deficiencies are not well understood Role is stroke, cancer, heart, and immune response Americans spend $300 million per year on vitamin E

supplements

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Vitamin K

Contributes to synthesis of seven blood clotting factors

Can be reactivated to continue biological action

Works as a cofactor for an enzyme that makes two bone proteins

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Water Soluble Vitamins

Relatively cheap to add to food

Only Vitamin C is used for its functionality

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Water Soluble Vitamins

B1, thiamine B2, riboflavin B6, pyridoxamine B12

Biotin Panothenic acid Niacin Folacin Vitamin C

Water Soluble Vitamins Vitamin B1

– Thiamine– Involved in carbohydrate metabolism– Helps body metabolize glucose, affects central

nervous system– Deficiency causes Beri beri (Singlese, “I can’t, I can’t”)

B2- riboflavin– Energy metabolism

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Water Soluble Vitamins

B6 - Pyridoxamine– Neurotransmitter, co-enzyme in over 100

reactions

B12 – – Development of red blood cells– Lack of it makes one anemic– Hard for vegans to get

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Water Soluble Vitamins

Biotin – – Involved in fatty acid synthesis– Deficiency causes skin disease and hair loss

Panthothenic acid– Found in many foods– Essential for metabolism of carbohydrates,

protein, alcohol and fat

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Water Soluble Vitamins

Choline– A major component of cell

membranes– Folacin = Folate = Folic

acid– Deficiency causes neural

tube defects – in utero– Took Rutgers Professor 20

years to for FDA approval as enrichment Why?

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Vitamin C

Ascorbic acid Very inexpensive to add to food, marketing

tool. Antioxidant Deficiency leads to bleeding gums,

hemorrhages High in citrus fruits, limes, (Limeys)

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Vitamin C - Scurvy

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Niacin (B3)

Energy metabolism Disease – pellagra – The Four D’s

– Dermatitis– Diarrhea– Dementia– Death

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Minerals

Issues– Absorption– Bioavailability

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Minerals

Percent of Body weight– Calcium

2%– Phosphorus 1%– Potassium 0.3%– Sulfur 0.2%– Sodium 0.1%– Chloride

0.1%– Magnesium 0.05%– Iron 0.04%

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Minerals

Calcium– 99% is structural– ~25% absorption– Vitamin D aids absorption– 75% is obtained from 75% is obtained from

dairy productsdairy products– Many products are

fortified with it– Built in youth, lost in

maturity Very hard for vegans to get enough calcium

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Calcium

Osteoporosis – a pediatric disease with geriatric consequences

– 1.5 million fractures each year- major cause of subsequent mortality (25% within one year)

– 14 billion in direct health cost– 25 million women at risk– DRI women 600 – 800

mg/day

National Osteoporosis Foundation www.nof.org

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Calcium

Risk Factors- By Mayo Clinic staff

Your gender. Age. Race.

Frame size. Eating disorders.

Low calcium intake.Excess soda consumption (Ca:P ratio).

The link between osteoporosis and caffeinated sodas isn't clear, but caffeine may interfere with calcium absorption and its diuretic effect may increase mineral loss. In addition, the phosphoric acid in soda may contribute to bone loss.

Bone density can be improved at any time.

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Soda is the devil’s drink

Extra calories Poor nutrient

density Interferes with

calcification Replaces more

nutritious drinks

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Minerals

Phosphorus – Easily absorbed by the body– Enhanced by Vitamin D– Deficiency are rare– Soda, phosphoric acid

Potassium– A primary electrolyte in blood– Associated with lower blood pressure– Athletes

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Minerals

Sodium and Chloride– Added during processing– Enhances flavor– We consume 2X of what we need (DV = 2.4

grams, 1/10 ounce) (show)– Excess Sodium can lead to hypertension

High blood pressureSalt sensitivity – genetics and race

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Salt – Uses in Food

Enhances other flavors, cuts cost Salty taste, per se Increases consumer acceptance Raises boiling point of liquids (pasta) Masks bitter tastes Food safety Water binding

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Minerals

Sulfur– Necessary for collagen formation

Magnesium– Abundant in plants

Minerals Iron

– Most common and easily preventable deficiency– Needed for oxygen absorption, immune function,

developmental performance– Poor absorption from plant sources– Low iron causes anemia, especially in menstruating

women– Toxicity

6 – 12 vitamins with 100% iron content will kill a small child

(The dose makes the poison.)

Fortification vs Enrichment Fortification - restores lost nutrients due to processing

Enrichment – adds nutritional value to meet a specific standard

 

                                       

                        

Old London Restaurant Style Croutons. Seasoned Sourdough.

Enriched Bread, [Enriched Flour (Flour, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid),Water,Yeast,Sugar,Salt,Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil ,Vinegar,Ascorbic Acid] Bean Oil with BHT added as a Dextrin

“Enriched UraniumEnriched Uranium