Vitamins and Minerals

1. Vitamins and Minerals PowerPoint originally prepared by Ahmed M. Alafeefy

2. 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.

3. 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)

4. The Nature of Vitamins • Nutritional Value lost by: • Light • Heat • Oxidation • Bacteria • Enzymes • Insects • (Nutritional value of baby foodmust be assured.) Effect of packaging on nutrient loss in milk.

5. The Nature of Vitamins • Food processing can preserve nutrients.

6. 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

7. Vitamin Requirements • Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI): recommendation for individuals (more accurate, but would be impossible to label) • Age • Gender • Pregnancy • Lactation

8. 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

9. 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 definitiona “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.

10. Dr. Montville’s Favorite Supplements • Glucosamine • Omega 3 • Folic acid • Ginko baloba • Ground rhino’s horn.

11. 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

12. Vitamin A Lots of double bonds, good anti-oxidant

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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.)

17. 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

18. 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

19. Water Soluble Vitamins • Relatively cheap to add to food • Only Vitamin C is used for its functionality

20. Water Soluble Vitamins • B1, thiamine • B2, riboflavin • B6, pyridoxamine • B12 • Biotin • Panothenic acid • Niacin • Folacin • Vitamin C

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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?

25. 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)

26. Vitamin C - Scurvy

27. Niacin (B3) • Energy metabolism • Disease – pellagra – The Four D’s • Dermatitis • Diarrhea • Dementia • Death

28. Minerals • Issues • Absorption • Bioavailability

29. 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%

30. Minerals • Calcium • 99% is structural • ~25% absorption • Vitamin D aids absorption • 75% is obtained from dairy products • Many products are fortified with it • Built in youth, lost in maturity Very hard for vegans to get enough calcium

31. 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

32. Calcium

33. 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.

34. Soda is the devil’s drink • Extra calories • Poor nutrient density • Interferes with calcification • Replaces more nutritious drinks

36. 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

37. 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 pressure • Salt sensitivity – genetics and race

38. 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

39. Minerals • Sulfur • Necessary for collagen formation • Magnesium • Abundant in plants

40. 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.)

41. Fortification vs Enrichment • Fortification - restores lost nutrients due to processing • Enrichment – adds nutritional value to meet a specific standard

42. Enriched Uranium “Enriched Uranium