A, D, E and K

Lymph then blood/protein carrier

Long term Less readily excreted remain in fat storage sites

Directly into blood Short term Kidneys detect and remove in urine

Source
fish liver oils, butter, milk, peaches, apricots, sweet potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, leafy vegetables

Rhodopsin and vitamin A

The Retinoids (Vit.A)

3 forms of vitamin A important for health -Retinal -Retinoic acid -Retinol (key player; can be converted to other forms) -carotene (a carotenoid or pigment) in yellow/orange foods is a potent provitamin A

Beta carotene to vitamin A

Night blindness Leading cause of blindness in third world countries Cell keratinization Dry skin Xerophthalmia (dryness of cornea & conjunctiva) Reproductive failure Abnormal skeletal development/maintenance Immune dysfunction

 curable early stage after 8 days vitamin A incurable late stages

Necrosis of cornea

Corneal scar after treatment

In females:
Increased abortions Neonates born dead/weak Deformed young: no eyeballs; hydrocephalus

In males:
Keratinization of testicular epithelium

Vitamin A deficient calf lack of coordination and weakness

 Skeletal malformations, spontaneous fractures, internal hemorrhages Overconsumption of beta carotene from food sources may cause skin to turn yellow but is not harmful Birth defects and miscarriage Decalcification, joint pain, fragility Dry itchy skin (caution about acne treatments) Hair loss
Destruction of epiphyseal cartilage and bone matrix

Vitamin D = calciferol Vitamin D2 = ergocalciferol

Completely synthetic form produced by the irradiation of the plant steroid ergosterol Plant source cannot be used by birds Produced photochemically by the action of sunlight or ultraviolet light from the precursor sterol 7-dehydrocholesterol Animal source required by birds

Vitamin D3 = cholecalciferol

Vitamin D: The Sunshine Vitamin

Not always essential

- Body can make it if exposed to enough sunlight - Made from cholesterol in the skin

- Fat soluble - Stable to heat - Resistant to oxidation - Unaffected by cooking - Vit. D has greater potency
2

than Vit. D3 in humans

Physiologic Action
- increase the absorption of calcium and phosphorous from the small intestine increases release of calcium and phosphate in the bones necessary for normal growth and development Required in the proper activity of parathyroid hormone

- a-Tocopoherol : colourless pale yellow oil - Stable to heat, but is destroyed by ultraviolet light and by oxidizing agents - Prevents oxidation of vitamin A an unsaturated fatty acids - Protect lung tissues from damage by oxidants by pollutant in the air - Selenium (pancreatic) metabolism - Helpful in diets of pregnant and lactating woman - Treating older persons suffering from circulatory
problems.

and

The term vitamin E refers to a family of eight related compounds, the tocopherols and the tocotrienols The four major forms of vitamin E are designated a, b, d, g, on the basis of the number and position of the methyl group on the chromanol ring
R3 R2 O CH3 CH3 CH3 CH3

CH3 HO R1

Rare typically associated with fat mal-absorption or excessive intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) Erythrocyte hemolysis and hemolytic anemia
-Red blood cell breaks open and spill the contents, perhaps due to PUFA oxidation -Observed among newborns of several species -Vitamin E treatment resolves hemolytic anemia

Prolonged deficiency causes neuromuscular dysfunction; affects the spinal cord and the retina
-exposure of PUFAs to oxygen and intake of mineral oils

muscular weakness, creatinuria, fragile red blood cells

- Mal-absorption in intestines

Normal rat with welldeveloped fetuses (day 16 of pregnancy)

Vitamin E deficient rat (day 16 of pregnancy)

Wide range of safe intake compared to other fat soluble vitamins (toxicity rare)
Extreme high doses (50- to 100-fold above recommended intakes) may affect the blood clotting effects of vitamin K and may lead to increased risk of hemorrhage

Forms of Vitamin K
K1, phylloquinone
Chloroplasts in plants

K2, menaquinone
Bacterial synthesis

K3, menadione
Synthetic, water soluble form Complexed to improve stability

Properties

o stable to heat oDestroyed in acidic and alkaline solution oUnstable to light and oxidizing
agents

Clotting factors are synthesized in the liver as inactive precursors - vitamin K converts them to their active forms
Conversion of prothrombin to thrombin, an active enzyme
Formation of fibrinogen to fibrin, leading to clot formation Stimulates bone formation and decreases bone resorption

Primary deficiency rare; secondary deficiency occurs when fat absorption is impaired or following long-term or highdose administration of antibiotics (they kill the bacteria in large intestine)
Newborn babies with sterile GI tract; single vitamin K dose given to prevent hemorrhage

Prolonged clotting time

Generalized hemorrhages

Spontaneous hemorrhages under the skin in chick receiving a vitamin K-deficient diet for first 15 days of life

Normal chick the same age but fed a diet with sufficient levels of vitamin K

Hemorrhagic disease in first few days of life; death caused by subdural hemorrhage

Not common except with oversupplementation

Phylloquinone and menaquinone are relatively nontoxic
Jaundice; brain damage

Menadione toxic to skin and respiratory tract in high doses