Chapter 9
What is a coenzyme?
- Molecule that combines with an enzyme to activates it and helps it do its job.
- Without it we would be unable to produce the energy necessary for sustaining life
For the following micronutrients please know their functions in the body, what happens if a
person is deficient in the micronutrient and what happens if you take too much.
- Vitamins and minerals don’t contain calories
Thiamin: (B1)
- Thiamin supports carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism.
- Deficiency results in a disease beriberi (disease in muscle wasting and nerve damage
caused by thiamin deficiency) → 2 FORMS
▪ wet beriberi affects the heart and circulatory system
▪ dry Beriberi affects nerves
Riboflavin: (B2)
- Riboflavin supports the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats.
- Deficiency is called ariboflavinosis→ Causes fatigue and weakness
Niacin:
- Niacin supports metabolism, DNA replication and cell differentiation
- Required for us to synthesize cholesterol
- Two forms of niacin are nicotinamide and nicotinic acid
- Deficiency is called pellagra
o Symptoms: dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia and death.
, o High doses taken long term can cause liver damage, glucose intolerance and
blurred vision
Vitamin B6:
- Vitamin B6 is involved in:
o Amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism
o Breaking glycogen into glucose
o Neurotransmitter and heme synthesis
o Immune function
o Metabolism of other nutrients
o Decreasing stroke risk
o Sensory neuropathy has been documented in people taking high dose vitamin
B6 supplements.
o Deficiency causes anemia, convulsions, depression, confusion and inflamed
patches on the skin
- Vitamin B6, folate and vitamin B12 are required for the healthy development of red
blood cells
- Vitamin B6 is required for the first step of heme synthesis
o Deficiency can lead to microcytic hypochromic anemia
Vitamin B12:
- Metabolism of amino acids and breakdown of fatty acids
- Helps to maintain myelin sheath of nerves
- Prevents the buildup of homocysteine, activates folate.
- Deficiency causes:
o Insufficient intake—> Strict vegans who do not take supplements or eat fortified
food.
o Malabsorption→ Atrophic gastritis, Pernicious anemia
Pantothenic Acid:
- required for all energy pathway
- Pantothenic acid is a widespread of load supply, these deficiencies are very rare
Biotin:
- required for all energy pathways.
- Biotin is a coenzyme for 5 enzymes that are critical in metabolism of carbohydrate, fat,
protein and in gluconeogenesis.
- Biotin is also produced by GI flora, but absorption is low.
Iodine:
- Iodine is required for the synthesis of thyroid hormones (TH)
- Iodine deficiency and toxicity causes the thyroid gland to enlarge (goiter)
Chromium:
- Chromium is important in carbohydrate metabolism
- Enhances the ability of insulin to transport glucose to cells.
, - Metabolism of RNA and DNA.
- Role in immune system and growth.
- Deficiency and toxicity are uncommon
Manganese:
- Manganese assists in energy metabolism and bone health.
- Assist enzymes involved in energy metabolism.
o involved in formation of urea.
o involved in synthesis of protein found in bone and cartilage.
o component of an antioxidant enzyme system.
- Deficiency and toxicity are uncommon
Sulfur:
- stabilize 3D shape of proteins.
- assists the liver in detoxification of alcohol and drugs.
- helps maintain acid-base balance.
- Body can obtain sulfur from consumption of protein-containing foods, therefore no
DRI for sulfur.
- No toxicity or deficiency symptoms associated with intake.
What is oxidation?
- Oxidation is a chemical reaction in which atoms lose electrons
What are free radicals? How are they formed and what damage can they do in the body?
- A highly unstable atom with an unpaired electron in the outer shell.
- When a stable atom loses an electron during oxidation. It is left with an odd number of
electrons, unpaired electrons.
- Free radicals can form within the phospholipid bilayer of cell membranes and steal
electrons from stable lipid heads.
- Free radicals can destabilize other molecules and damage our cells
How do antioxidants work?
- Antioxidants work by stabilizing free radicals or opposing oxidation
o it is a compound that has the ability to prevent or repair the damage caused by
oxidization
- Antioxidant vitamins donate electrons to stabilize free radicals
For the following micronutrients please know their functions in the body, what happens if a
person is deficient in the micronutrient and what happens if you take too much.
- Vitamin E: Antioxidants (donate electrons to free radicals)
o Protect cells and cell membranes from oxidation
o Important for normal nerve and muscle function
o boosts absorption of vit. A if Vit. A intake is low
o Supplementation above RDA can increase risk of prostate cancer in men and
premature mortality
o Deficiency is rare symptoms could be erythrocytes hemolysis, loss of muscle,
What is a coenzyme?
- Molecule that combines with an enzyme to activates it and helps it do its job.
- Without it we would be unable to produce the energy necessary for sustaining life
For the following micronutrients please know their functions in the body, what happens if a
person is deficient in the micronutrient and what happens if you take too much.
- Vitamins and minerals don’t contain calories
Thiamin: (B1)
- Thiamin supports carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism.
- Deficiency results in a disease beriberi (disease in muscle wasting and nerve damage
caused by thiamin deficiency) → 2 FORMS
▪ wet beriberi affects the heart and circulatory system
▪ dry Beriberi affects nerves
Riboflavin: (B2)
- Riboflavin supports the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats.
- Deficiency is called ariboflavinosis→ Causes fatigue and weakness
Niacin:
- Niacin supports metabolism, DNA replication and cell differentiation
- Required for us to synthesize cholesterol
- Two forms of niacin are nicotinamide and nicotinic acid
- Deficiency is called pellagra
o Symptoms: dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia and death.
, o High doses taken long term can cause liver damage, glucose intolerance and
blurred vision
Vitamin B6:
- Vitamin B6 is involved in:
o Amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism
o Breaking glycogen into glucose
o Neurotransmitter and heme synthesis
o Immune function
o Metabolism of other nutrients
o Decreasing stroke risk
o Sensory neuropathy has been documented in people taking high dose vitamin
B6 supplements.
o Deficiency causes anemia, convulsions, depression, confusion and inflamed
patches on the skin
- Vitamin B6, folate and vitamin B12 are required for the healthy development of red
blood cells
- Vitamin B6 is required for the first step of heme synthesis
o Deficiency can lead to microcytic hypochromic anemia
Vitamin B12:
- Metabolism of amino acids and breakdown of fatty acids
- Helps to maintain myelin sheath of nerves
- Prevents the buildup of homocysteine, activates folate.
- Deficiency causes:
o Insufficient intake—> Strict vegans who do not take supplements or eat fortified
food.
o Malabsorption→ Atrophic gastritis, Pernicious anemia
Pantothenic Acid:
- required for all energy pathway
- Pantothenic acid is a widespread of load supply, these deficiencies are very rare
Biotin:
- required for all energy pathways.
- Biotin is a coenzyme for 5 enzymes that are critical in metabolism of carbohydrate, fat,
protein and in gluconeogenesis.
- Biotin is also produced by GI flora, but absorption is low.
Iodine:
- Iodine is required for the synthesis of thyroid hormones (TH)
- Iodine deficiency and toxicity causes the thyroid gland to enlarge (goiter)
Chromium:
- Chromium is important in carbohydrate metabolism
- Enhances the ability of insulin to transport glucose to cells.
, - Metabolism of RNA and DNA.
- Role in immune system and growth.
- Deficiency and toxicity are uncommon
Manganese:
- Manganese assists in energy metabolism and bone health.
- Assist enzymes involved in energy metabolism.
o involved in formation of urea.
o involved in synthesis of protein found in bone and cartilage.
o component of an antioxidant enzyme system.
- Deficiency and toxicity are uncommon
Sulfur:
- stabilize 3D shape of proteins.
- assists the liver in detoxification of alcohol and drugs.
- helps maintain acid-base balance.
- Body can obtain sulfur from consumption of protein-containing foods, therefore no
DRI for sulfur.
- No toxicity or deficiency symptoms associated with intake.
What is oxidation?
- Oxidation is a chemical reaction in which atoms lose electrons
What are free radicals? How are they formed and what damage can they do in the body?
- A highly unstable atom with an unpaired electron in the outer shell.
- When a stable atom loses an electron during oxidation. It is left with an odd number of
electrons, unpaired electrons.
- Free radicals can form within the phospholipid bilayer of cell membranes and steal
electrons from stable lipid heads.
- Free radicals can destabilize other molecules and damage our cells
How do antioxidants work?
- Antioxidants work by stabilizing free radicals or opposing oxidation
o it is a compound that has the ability to prevent or repair the damage caused by
oxidization
- Antioxidant vitamins donate electrons to stabilize free radicals
For the following micronutrients please know their functions in the body, what happens if a
person is deficient in the micronutrient and what happens if you take too much.
- Vitamin E: Antioxidants (donate electrons to free radicals)
o Protect cells and cell membranes from oxidation
o Important for normal nerve and muscle function
o boosts absorption of vit. A if Vit. A intake is low
o Supplementation above RDA can increase risk of prostate cancer in men and
premature mortality
o Deficiency is rare symptoms could be erythrocytes hemolysis, loss of muscle,
