Micronutrients: superfood and health
1. introduction
Marasmus = general calorie deficiency. Low energy diet.
Kwashior = protein deficiency. A lot of fat but way too low protein. A lot of fat but cannot pack
the fat for transport. Often die of infectious disease, because they cannot make new DNA
because of lack of protein.
In raw food diet problems are anemia and rickets/osteoporosis.
Micronutrients are vitamins, minerals, amino acids and essential fatty acids.
Marginal compounds can be made by yourself, but helpful to digest additional.
2. Vitamins
Vitamin A: crucial for vision. Retinol is a precursor for retinol (vision) & retinoic acids
(signaling molecules). It starts from beta carotene. There is a poor absorption of carotene.
Retinoic acid actions:
binds to receptors and makes heterodimers (RXR). When At-Ra is present, transcription can
start. Needed in lymph node development. Retinoid levels in utero determine the lymph node
size!! >> affect immune response later in life.
- On adult immune: retinoic acid for Tcell differentiation > go to the intestine. In B cells
induce IgA in the gut.
Hypervitaminosis A = birth defect, skin irritation, liver cirrhosis
Vitamin B: most involved in metabolic pathways > to generate ATP.
Vitamine B9 = FH4. needed to prevent spina bifida. FH4 converts methyl groups for purine,
dTMP and making methionine.
DNA synthesis requires vitamin B9 and also B12. B12 is needed to donate to the methyl
group.
Vitamine B12 = deficiency leads to anemia. Especially in older people. Is very needed for the
uptake of a lot of proteins.
Vitamin C: ascorbic acid = as an antioxidant. Deficiency leads to scurvy. A defect in collagen
synthesis, not as strong as it should be. Collagen intertwines and combines to fibers. Need
modification to make this rope super strong, done by:
proline/lysine + a-Kg > ascorbate > 4-hydroxyproline residue. The side chains allow the tight
binding.
Ehlers Danlos syndrome = defect/mutation in fibrous protein.
Vitamin D: deficiency leads to rickets. Can be synthesized in UV
light. Vitamin D3 is made into calcitriol. Strong interaction with
calcium
Osteoclast = secrete acids that breakdown bone
Osteoblast = from fibroblast, synthesize the bone
Calcitriol acts on: make dimer with RXR > gene transcription.
Vitamin D has a suppressive effect on the immune system
(autoimmunity), prevent neuroinflammation.
Vitamine E: antioxidant in aging. Protect lipid lysis .
Vitamin K: needed in the making of y-carboxyglutamate, needed in clotting blood.
1. introduction
Marasmus = general calorie deficiency. Low energy diet.
Kwashior = protein deficiency. A lot of fat but way too low protein. A lot of fat but cannot pack
the fat for transport. Often die of infectious disease, because they cannot make new DNA
because of lack of protein.
In raw food diet problems are anemia and rickets/osteoporosis.
Micronutrients are vitamins, minerals, amino acids and essential fatty acids.
Marginal compounds can be made by yourself, but helpful to digest additional.
2. Vitamins
Vitamin A: crucial for vision. Retinol is a precursor for retinol (vision) & retinoic acids
(signaling molecules). It starts from beta carotene. There is a poor absorption of carotene.
Retinoic acid actions:
binds to receptors and makes heterodimers (RXR). When At-Ra is present, transcription can
start. Needed in lymph node development. Retinoid levels in utero determine the lymph node
size!! >> affect immune response later in life.
- On adult immune: retinoic acid for Tcell differentiation > go to the intestine. In B cells
induce IgA in the gut.
Hypervitaminosis A = birth defect, skin irritation, liver cirrhosis
Vitamin B: most involved in metabolic pathways > to generate ATP.
Vitamine B9 = FH4. needed to prevent spina bifida. FH4 converts methyl groups for purine,
dTMP and making methionine.
DNA synthesis requires vitamin B9 and also B12. B12 is needed to donate to the methyl
group.
Vitamine B12 = deficiency leads to anemia. Especially in older people. Is very needed for the
uptake of a lot of proteins.
Vitamin C: ascorbic acid = as an antioxidant. Deficiency leads to scurvy. A defect in collagen
synthesis, not as strong as it should be. Collagen intertwines and combines to fibers. Need
modification to make this rope super strong, done by:
proline/lysine + a-Kg > ascorbate > 4-hydroxyproline residue. The side chains allow the tight
binding.
Ehlers Danlos syndrome = defect/mutation in fibrous protein.
Vitamin D: deficiency leads to rickets. Can be synthesized in UV
light. Vitamin D3 is made into calcitriol. Strong interaction with
calcium
Osteoclast = secrete acids that breakdown bone
Osteoblast = from fibroblast, synthesize the bone
Calcitriol acts on: make dimer with RXR > gene transcription.
Vitamin D has a suppressive effect on the immune system
(autoimmunity), prevent neuroinflammation.
Vitamine E: antioxidant in aging. Protect lipid lysis .
Vitamin K: needed in the making of y-carboxyglutamate, needed in clotting blood.
